On Mon, 2002-01-28 at 16:37, Owens, Christopher wrote: > Kind people, > > This is my first question to the list, and it is the first time I have tried > to install linux since the kernel was version 1.2. > > I have installed potato on an old laptop using http. The laptop is an AST > Ascentia 950n, and claims to have a P120, 16MB of RAM, and I have upgraded > the hard drive to a 5.7GB unit. I have net thanks to a PCMCIA network card. > > I think when I installed, I may have had the built-in mouse disabled. When > I try to start X now, I get an error that it can't open /dev/mouse, and, > indeed, there does not seem to be any /dev/mouse. X has never successfully > run on this system. > > Microsoft Mouse Driver version 8.20 works on a DOS boot floppy I have handy, > and the mouse is usable. > > How can I get a /dev/mouse? > > Thanks for any help.
Odds are pretty good that is looks like a PS/2 interface mouse to the kernel. Try (as root) # ln -s /dev/psaux /dev/mouse If you still have trouble, you may need to specify the mouse protocol in /etc/X11/XF86Config or /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 (depending on which version of X you have installed). Search for "/dev/mouse" in that file, and the protocol option should be nearby. If it is wrong, change it to "PS/2". The last thing you may have trouble with is that gpm sometimes works great and sometimes causes all kinds of trouble. Unless you need the mouse working on text-mode consoles, remove gpm and let X handle the mouse by itself. I've had two different laptops using the same style mouse and they've both worked quite well. HTH, -- Stephen Ryan Debian GNU/Linux Technology Coordinator Center for Educational Outcomes at Dartmouth College -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
