Touchpad pointer gets stuck often

Bug #991707 reported by Haris Ibrahim K. V.
176
This bug affects 38 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
xorg (Ubuntu)
Expired
Medium
Unassigned

Bug Description

In my Ubuntu 12.04, my mouse pointer gets stuck often. I'm talking about the touchpad and not the external mouse. The first thought would be to check whether we have given the option to lock the touchpad while typing. But, my pointer (touchpad) gets stuck simply often. The slightest of deductions I have been able to make is that this happens sometimes just after using the touchpad scrolling.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: gnome-shell 3.4.1-0ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.37-generic-pae 3.2.14
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-generic-pae i686
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu6
Architecture: i386
Date: Mon Apr 30 12:07:34 2012
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release i386 (20120423)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_US:en
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: gnome-shell
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

Revision history for this message
Haris Ibrahim K. V. (blucalvin) wrote :
affects: ubuntu → gnome-shell (Ubuntu)
Revision history for this message
Launchpad Janitor (janitor) wrote :

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

Changed in gnome-shell (Ubuntu):
status: New → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
Efrain Valles (effie-jayx) wrote :

I can confirm this bug still happens on ubuntu 12.04 final release.

A way to reproduce is hard to detail, but generally while switching windows and a finger on the touchxpad, causes it to work in scroll mode only. So basicall with the move of a finger up or down the scroll is activated.

After trying the different commands for debugging the touchpad returns
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingTouchpadDetection#In_case_Touchpad_features_like_scrolling.2C_tapping.2C_etc_do_not_work_at_all.

I attach my logs

Revision history for this message
Rob Lockhart (bobbylox) wrote :

This effects myself and my wife, just as Efrain describes.

Revision history for this message
Ryan O'Hara (minitech-me) wrote :

If you have a laptop with a function key to turn off the trackpad, try turning it off and on again. That fixes it for me.

Revision history for this message
Adolfo Jayme Barrientos (fitojb) wrote :

(I'm using Synaptics) Another workaround that works for me is switching a virtual terminal (Ctrl+Alt+F1) and then going back to graphical X (Ctrl+Alt+F7), that unblocks the touchpad.

Revision history for this message
binil (mpbinil) wrote :

if u have installed ubuntu touchpad app named "synaptiks". When cursor get stuck just open a terminal ctrl+alt+T and type synaptiks, your cursor will be alright until you shut down ur system.

Revision history for this message
Matt White (mattw922) wrote :

This is still an issue in 12.10, kernel 3.5.0-21-generic. I can reproduce it by simply closing the lid on my Thinkpad T530. I have mine set to only turn off the screen when the lid is closed and not suspend. I can confirm that Adolfo's workaround of dropping to a terminal fixes the issue.

Revision history for this message
Wannes Rombouts (wapiflapi) wrote :

I have the same symptoms but I am not using gnome-shell.
I use i3-wm with the synaptics drivers, so I believe the problem might be comming from somewhere else than gnome-shell. Maybe from the drivers.

Revision history for this message
Wannes Rombouts (wapiflapi) wrote :

I have the same symptoms but I am not using gnome-shell.
I use i3-wm with the synaptics drivers, so I believe the problem might be comming from somewhere else than gnome-shell. Maybe from the drivers.

(sorry for the double comment)

Revision history for this message
Launchpad Janitor (janitor) wrote :

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

Changed in i3-wm (Ubuntu):
status: New → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
flynx (matghart) wrote :

I've been using my laptop for 2 years and never had this problem.

Then I enabled two-finger scrolling and I had an occurrence of this bug.

Switching run levels restored the touchpad operation.

Running Mint 14 and MATE but on an older kernel 3.2.0-23_generic.

Revision history for this message
Andreas Kern (kerna) wrote :

affects me too
another way to unstuck it is to reload the 'psmouse' kernel module

Revision history for this message
Tannalein (tannalein) wrote :

Affected, but I can't figure out how to reproduce it. It happened multiple times while I was playing Diablo II (could Wine be a factor?), so it's not just switching windows. It's not like it's stuck, but rather like it thinks there's another finger on the touchpad and goes into scroll mode. I've also noticed similar behaviour from the keyboard when it comes out of suspend, like ctrl or alt or even space bar are pressed when they really aren't (making spaces in documents sometimes, and, come to think of it, the document was opened through Wine). I don't know if it's related, but it seams to me that in both cases the system registers something pressed or touched when it actually isn't. I usually close the lid so it goes on suspend and it works fine when I bring the system back up.

I'm running Ubuntu 12.04 LTS with Cinnamon 1.6.7. and kernel 3.2.0-40-generic.

Revision history for this message
Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote :

Hitting escape seems to free up my touchpad when it sticks. Still not a great solution though.

Revision history for this message
Chozabu (chozabu) wrote :

I just experienced this problem in Kubuntu 13.10. Came across this bug page through http://askubuntu.com/questions/128265/mouse-pointer-touchpad-getting-stuck-often-in-12-04 where the suggested solution of ctrl+alt+f2 then back to f7 fixed the issue. I did not try pressing escape

no longer affects: gnome-shell (Ubuntu)
no longer affects: i3-wm (Ubuntu)
Changed in xorg (Ubuntu):
importance: Undecided → Medium
Revision history for this message
Alex Forencich (alex-alexelectronics) wrote :

I occasionally experience the same issue in Arch Linux when my touchpad got one 'finger' 'stuck' so that whenever I touch the pad, it scrolls instead of moving the cursor. If I disable scrolling in the settings manager, then nothing happens when I try to use the touchpad. The issue seemed to be resolved after suspending and resuming the computer. I have not tried ctrl+alt+Fx keys, but I imagine that would likely do the same thing.

When the issue last occured, I had just switched desktops to a desktop with a program running on it that seems to hang for a moment before allowing the desktop to render. I presume this may have caused a 'touch release' event to get missed.

Revision history for this message
Launchpad Janitor (janitor) wrote :

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

Changed in xorg (Ubuntu):
status: New → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
Diablo2424 (mattcandy) wrote :

I can also confirm this issue has happened to me on multiple Distro's, this is all running on my CR48 Chromebook from Google (beta test), using a Synaptics touchapd.

LUbuntu 12.04
Fedora 13 (LXDE)
Linux Mint 14
Debian 7.2

and many others I have tried.

I never knew of any of the fixes listed above until just now, and the switching to a VT and back to X worked for me. (ALT+CTRL+F2, then back with ALT+CTRL+F7)

Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Haris Ibrahim K. V., this bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue? If so, could you please test for this with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ .

If it remains an issue, could you please run the following command in the development release from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal), as it will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report:

apport-collect -p xorg REPLACE-WITH-BUG-NUMBER

Thank you for your understanding.

Helpful bug reporting tips:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs

Changed in xorg (Ubuntu):
status: Confirmed → Incomplete
Revision history for this message
Angelicfury1 (angelicfury1) wrote :

This is still an issue with Ubuntu 13.10 x64 (installed image today). I am using a Lenovo T530 laptop with a synaptics touchpad.

Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Angelicfury1, thank you for your comment. So your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you please file a new report by executing the following in a terminal:
ubuntu-bug xorg

Please ensure you have xdiagnose installed, and that you click the Yes button for attaching additional debugging information.

For more on this, please see the official Ubuntu documentation:
Ubuntu X.Org Team, Ubuntu Bug Control, and Ubuntu Bug Squad: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue
Ubuntu Community: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

Please note, not filing a new report will delay your problem being addressed as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding.

Revision history for this message
Michael Del Tito (mdeltito) wrote :

Although I'm no longer on Ubuntu, I can confirm this issue is affecting me on a fresh install of Debian Testing. I have the same machine as Angelicfury1, Thinkpad T530 (which is how I ended up here). I figured I would add some additional info:

This issue occurs reliably for me every time the machine wakes from sleep. The cursor is stuck in position, and the touchpad functions as if the middle button is being held down. In other words, the touchpad is stuck in "scroll" mode. As with the others, dropping to a different runlevel and back "fixes" the issue.

This problem did NOT occur on Ubuntu 12.10 with the latest kernel and drivers from that release, though it's possible my xorg config somehow prevented this issue from occurring.

Revision history for this message
Plurtu (plurtu) wrote :

Has happened to me twice so far on a recent install of Lubuntu 13.10 with a synaptics touchpad.

Only changes from default touchpad configuration:
syndaemon -d -t (disable touchpad tap and scroll when typing)
synclient LockedDrags=1 HorizTwoFingerScroll=1

The most recent scrolling lock occurred when a PDF was loaded in Document Viewer that put some strain on the system. The computer had been suspended and resumed prior to this.

Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Michael Del Tito / Plurtu, thank you for your comment. So your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you please file a new report by executing the following in a Ubuntu terminal:
ubuntu-bug xorg

Please ensure you have xdiagnose installed, and that you click the Yes button for attaching additional debugging information.

For more on this, please see the official Ubuntu documentation:
Ubuntu X.Org Team, Ubuntu Bug Control, and Ubuntu Bug Squad: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue
Ubuntu Community: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

Please note, not filing a new report will delay your problem being addressed as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding.

Revision history for this message
jeread (jeread) wrote :

I have a system lock as soon as I login under xfce4 or xfce4-desktop. The unity logins are OK.

I had to reinstall ubuntu 12.04 and then installed xfce4 according to : https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/first-xubuntu

I have run xfce4 fine before this so I suspect it is a recent problem.
I will try another install of xfce4 tomorrow and see if I can make any progress.

BiddingSystems>Weka xinput list
⎡ Virtual core pointer id=2 [master pointer (3)]
⎜ ↳ Virtual core XTEST pointer id=4 [slave pointer (2)]
⎜ ↳ TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint id=10 [slave pointer (2)]
⎣ Virtual core keyboard id=3 [master keyboard (2)]
    ↳ Virtual core XTEST keyboard id=5 [slave keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Power Button id=6 [slave keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Video Bus id=7 [slave keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Sleep Button id=8 [slave keyboard (3)]
    ↳ AT Translated Set 2 keyboard id=9 [slave keyboard (3)]
    ↳ ThinkPad Extra Buttons id=11 [slave keyboard (3)]
BiddingSystems>Weka xinput list-props "TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint"
Device 'TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint':
 Device Enabled (134): 1
 Coordinate Transformation Matrix (136): 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000
 Device Accel Profile (276): 0
 Device Accel Constant Deceleration (277): 1.000000
 Device Accel Adaptive Deceleration (278): 1.000000
 Device Accel Velocity Scaling (279): 10.000000
 Device Product ID (272): 2, 10
 Device Node (273): "/dev/input/event6"
 Evdev Axis Inversion (280): 0, 0
 Evdev Axes Swap (282): 0
 Axis Labels (283): "Rel X" (144), "Rel Y" (145)
 Button Labels (284): "Button Left" (137), "Button Middle" (138), "Button Right" (139), "Button Wheel Up" (140), "Button Wheel Down" (141), "Button Horiz Wheel Left" (142), "Button Horiz Wheel Right" (143)
 Evdev Middle Button Emulation (285): 0
 Evdev Middle Button Timeout (286): 50
 Evdev Third Button Emulation (287): 0
 Evdev Third Button Emulation Timeout (288): 1000
 Evdev Third Button Emulation Button (289): 3
 Evdev Third Button Emulation Threshold (290): 20
 Evdev Wheel Emulation (291): 1
 Evdev Wheel Emulation Axes (292): 6, 7, 4, 5
 Evdev Wheel Emulation Inertia (293): 10
 Evdev Wheel Emulation Timeout (294): 200
 Evdev Wheel Emulation Button (295): 2
 Evdev Drag Lock Buttons (296): 0

unity is fine I just work better in Xfce4.

Many thanks.

Revision history for this message
jeread (jeread) wrote :

Note: I have lodged an xorg report seperately as I hadn't seen attachment button will resend if further comment.

Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

jeread, thank you for your comment. So your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you please file a new report by executing the following in a Ubuntu terminal:
ubuntu-bug xorg

Please ensure you have xdiagnose installed, and that you click the Yes button for attaching additional debugging information.

For more on this, please see the official Ubuntu documentation:
Ubuntu X.Org Team, Ubuntu Bug Control, and Ubuntu Bug Squad: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue
Ubuntu Community: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

Please note, not filing a new report will delay your problem being addressed as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding.

Revision history for this message
jeread (jeread) wrote :

Dear Christopher,

thank you for your prompt followup. I believe I caused the problem by installing the wrong version of xfce4 on top of ubuntu 12.04 when I did the reinstall. There is also some possibility that I corrupted the OS perl packages.

I have done a re-install. This time I installed 12.04. Then removed all the packages I did not want (gwibber, folks, zeitgeist, and various others) before I let the software update process run. Then I followed the process at:

http://linuxaria.com/article/xfce-4-10-on-ubuntu-12-04?lang=en

which has proved reliable in other ways.

After this I installed perl, cpan for my user and so far so good.

I have had a very good experience with ubuntu but I am going to return to debian and xfce4. The packages in ubuntu seem to be getting a bit intertwined and it is hard to get rid of packages you don't want and have them stay gone. I don't really know what gvfs is for example but I can't get rid of it. zeitgeist is anther hardy package that I have spent a lot of time purging and re-purging.

It would be could if there was a stripped down release. Still I know it is a big job.

Many thanks,

J. E. Read

Revision history for this message
Cerem Cem ASLAN (ceremcem-2) wrote :

I could say the same things in #25. I'm using Debian Testing for a month or so, and it stucked only once so far.

Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Cerem Cem ASLAN, thank you for your comment. So your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you please file a new report by executing the following in a Ubuntu terminal:
ubuntu-bug xorg

Please ensure you have xdiagnose installed, and that you click the Yes button for attaching additional debugging information.

For more on this, please see the official Ubuntu documentation:
Ubuntu X.Org Team, Ubuntu Bug Control, and Ubuntu Bug Squad: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue
Ubuntu Community: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

Please note, not filing a new report will delay your problem being addressed as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding.

Revision history for this message
Bevor (bevor) wrote :

I have the same problem but on PC (no touchpad): https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1328208

penalvch (penalvch)
summary: - Mouse pointer (touchpad) gets stuck often
+ Touchpad pointer gets stuck often
Revision history for this message
Launchpad Janitor (janitor) wrote :

[Expired for xorg (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

Changed in xorg (Ubuntu):
status: Incomplete → Expired
Revision history for this message
isomorphismes (isomorphismes) wrote :

My trackpad is stuck (Ubuntu 12.04). I think Chromium may have messed it up. When I tried to killall chromium-browser to release the pointer it only half-killed the browser (only killing the tabs; I had to killall chromium-browser again to get the windows to close).

The fixes of synaptiks and VT switching did not work for me.

Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

isomorphismes, thank you for your comment. So your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you please file a new report by executing the following in a terminal:
ubuntu-bug xorg

Please ensure you have xdiagnose installed, and that you click the Yes button for attaching additional debugging information.

For more on this, please see the official Ubuntu documentation:
Ubuntu X.Org Team, Ubuntu Bug Control, and Ubuntu Bug Squad: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue
Ubuntu Community: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

As well, please do not announce in this report you created a new bug report.

Thank you for your understanding.

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