Synaptics touchpad stops working

[Jens Finkhäuser]

This is related to, but not the same as issue #868400 - specifically, there are *not* two syndaemon instances running.

A few bits of extra info:

- I've had this issue before upgrading from oneiric to precise, but only in the last few months. When I first used oneiric, all was fine.
- "disable touchpad while typing" is switched *off*.
- touchpad-indicator correctly displays whether or not the touchpad is working.
- This is on a thinkpad, and the nipple mouse continues to work. So do external mice.
- In the login screen prior to starting the desktop, the touchpad *always* seems to work.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: unity 5.10.0-0ubuntu6
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.37-generic 3.2.14
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu6
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,regex,place,compiztoolbox,grid,move,vpswitch,imgpng,gnomecompat,session,snap,animation,resize,mousepoll,resizeinfo,workarounds,expo,ezoom,staticswitcher,wall,fade,scale,unityshell]
Date: Fri Apr 27 13:45:16 2012
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release amd64 (20110427.1)
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
---
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu10
Architecture: amd64
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release amd64 (20110427.1)
Package: linux
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-26.41-generic 3.2.19
Tags: precise
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-26-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm admin cdrom dialout kvm libvirtd lpadmin plugdev sambashare
---
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
AplayDevices:
 **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: CONEXANT Analog [CONEXANT Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu10
Architecture: amd64
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: CONEXANT Analog [CONEXANT Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: jens 3036 F.... pulseaudio
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'PCH'/'HDA Intel PCH at 0xf3a20000 irq 56'
   Mixer name : 'Conexant CX20590'
   Components : 'HDA:14f1506e,17aa21cf,00100000'
   Controls : 20
   Simple ctrls : 10
Card29.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:29 'ThinkPadEC'/'ThinkPad Console Audio Control at EC reg 0x30, fw unknown'
   Mixer name : 'ThinkPad EC (unknown)'
   Components : ''
   Controls : 1
   Simple ctrls : 1
Card29.Amixer.values:
 Simple mixer control 'Console',0
   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined penum
   Playback channels: Mono
   Mono: Playback [on]
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=232e3e6d-c2a8-4cbb-ae19-8352cfe1a984
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release amd64 (20110427.1)
MachineType: LENOVO 4276CTO
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcFB:
 0 inteldrmfb
 1 nouveaufb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-26-generic root=UUID=f5ec9831-9cc8-40e5-9732-2441e85739d9 ro elevator=noop quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-26.41-generic 3.2.19
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.2.0-26-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.2.0-26-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.79
StagingDrivers: mei
Tags: precise staging
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-26-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm admin cdrom dialout kvm libvirtd lpadmin plugdev sambashare
dmi.bios.date: 01/19/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 8BET56WW (1.36 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 4276CTO
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: Not Available
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr8BET56WW(1.36):bd01/19/2012:svnLENOVO:pn4276CTO:pvrThinkPadW520:rvnLENOVO:rn4276CTO:rvrNotAvailable:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.name: 4276CTO
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad W520
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

Full link to that other issue: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-settings-daemon/+bug/868400

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

Tentatively setting package to gnome-settings-daemon as #868400 has that.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Thank you for your bug report, do you get the issue if you do the workaround "gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.mouse active false" from the other bug?

[Colin Rice (dah4k0r)]

That does not fix it.

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

No, that does not fix it.

[nh2 (nh2)]

Confirmed, only one instance running.

[nh2 (nh2)]

Try this: Can you work around it with a simple "killall syndaemon" as well?

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

$ ps afux |grep syndaemon
jens 27147 0.0 0.0 10884 936 pts/2 S+ 10:11 0:00 | \_ grep --color=auto syndaemon
$ killall syndaemon
syndaemon: no process found

No, really doesn't solve anything.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. From a terminal window please run:

apport-collect 989689

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Eric Miao (eric.y.miao)]

As this could be related to the kernel hardware enabling, I've added that as affected as well.

Jens, from the log it looks like you are using Oneiric with a 3.2 kernel (from precise?). Could you do a test with a fresh installed Precise? And if the issue still happens, could you please also make a test with mainline kernel as well? Instructions are documented at: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/MainlineBuilds. Thanks

[Eric Miao (eric.y.miao)]

And if the mainline kernel build still has issue, please try apport-collect to collect more information for debugging. Thanks.

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

$ cat /etc/lsb-release
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=12.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=precise
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 12.04 LTS"
$ uname -a
Linux host 3.2.0-26-generic #41-Ubuntu SMP Thu Jun 14 17:49:24 UTC 2012 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

No, please read the initial bug description. I first encountered this bug on oneiric, yes. But before reporting it, I had upgraded to precise already, and found the bug still existed.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Jens Finkhäuser, thank you for reporting this and helping make Ubuntu better.

Could you please provide the information following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingTouchpadDetection ?

As well, if you could also please test the latest upstream kernel available that would be great. It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please remove the 'needs-upstream-testing' tag. This can be done by clicking on the yellow pencil icon next to the tag located at the bottom of the bug description and deleting the 'needs-upstream-testing' text.

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, for example it will not boot, please add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.

Please let us know your results. Thanks in advance.

[Eric Miao (eric.y.miao)]

Jens, could you maybe do a 'apport-collect -p linux 989689' so more information like dmesg could be available? Thanks.

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

apport information

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

Capturing input events. I waited for the touchpad to not work, then switched to console and captured events.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Missing action items from https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-input-synaptics/+bug/989689/comments/16 .

[Jens Finkhäuser (finkhaeuser-consulting)]

No, no missing action items.

This bug is very old, and existed across many different kernel versions, it's just that you've only now reacted to it, so it seems new to you.

Unless you have reason to believe that recent changes have changed the behaviour (i.e. a source code diff), then installing the mainline kernel isn't going to do any good. It is, however, going to cost me a lot of time I don't have, mainly because I keep losing time due to this bug.

[Jacques Blain (blain-jacques)]

I have also had the same problem on a Dell M11X for the longest time. I think it started with 10.10, am now up to 12.04. it never went away. boy it would be really nice to have a fix. For now I just carry a spare usb mouse with my portable :-(

[Hsin-Yi, Chen (hychen) (ossug-hychen)]

I have similar problem

There are 4 interesting symptom

1. i8042 interrupt trigged when touchpad move up/left/down/right
2. evst shows the coordination when touchpad move up/left/down/right
3. there is no event in XEV when touchpad move up/left/down/right
4. touchpad is still disabled even gnome-settings-daemon is killed

According 1 and 2 we can have conclusion that hardware interrupt and kernel even is generated correctly but there is no any X event in symptom 3.

Since 2.6.35 touchpad is now properly recognized as a Synaptics-type touchpad, the X event is from xorg input synaptic driver .

there were 3 syndaemon process while touchpad is freeze, and the property TouchpadOff is 1
The touchpad works again after I use 'synclient TouchpadOff=0'.

To get the property of touchpad, you can type
$ synclient -l

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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