Debian hasn't installed /dev/mouse during xf86config

[jenbass]

Typing startx gives "Cannot open mouse (No such file or directory)". On looking, I see /dev/mouse hasn't been created. Can I just create my own with a text editor indicating a softlink to /dev/ttyS*? How do i know which /ttyS* it is using? (Typing "cat" for /dev files usually leaves me with a hanging situation, no doubt I am trying to read them the wrong way as they are actually being created on the hoof.)
Thanks. Jenbass.

[cme]

On my debian (potato) system my mouse is at /dev/psaux

Of course I am using a ps/2 mouse, so if you are doing the same then try this. Let me know how it goes. Good luck.

[sans-hubris]

ln -s /dev/psaux /dev/mouse

/dev/mouse is usually a symlink to /dev/psaux.

[cme]

Good answer... :)

[jenbass]

How brilliant! It worked! Thankyou thankyou thankyou! xwindow is now running on my newly installed debian.
Jenbass.

[jenbass]

(Elation deflating.....)well, it sort of worked....opened the main window but won't do anything apart from flicker about when I move the mouse. Back to the drawing board, but a lot further on.

[bdg1983]

flicker about when I move the mouse

GPM (console mouse driver) running? Known to cause X mouse problems.

[ph34r]

Yah, kill GPM and stop it from starting...

[rod]

I have a PS2 mouse and use GPM on my Debian system. It works quite nicely for me. Try running gpmconfig.

Do you want to change anything (Y/n)? y

Where is your mouse [/dev/mouse]?
>/dev/psaux

What type is your mouse (or help) [ps2]?
>ps2

Set the responsiveness (normally not needed) []? -->just hit enter here

Repeat protocol (enter 'none' to turn repeating off) []?
>none

Do you want to add any additional arguments []? again just hit enter here

Do you want to test this configuration (y/N)? N

That should do it.

Regards,
Rod

[ 03 April 2001: Message edited by: rod ]

[jenbass]

I ran the gpm thing, which gave a blank screen on reboot, I ended up having to fsck manually. Then when it re-started up it seems ok, but now x won't start, it says "SocketCreateListener()...failed, server already running" - I've moved the /tmp/.X0-lock file as suggested but still no joy.
Thanks for the help so far, all - any ideas on this one?
Jenny.

[Nalle]

The flickering (if it is the mouse pointer you mean) doesn't nessecarily have anything to do with the mouse or mouse device.

It's not the mouse that's acting up, but the image of the mouse on the screen. If I'm not mistaken, you have a flickering square that is supposed to represent ypur mouse pointer.

Then you are using to many colors (if you're using 32 bits, try setting it down to 16bit).
It might also be wrong Xserver (like I'm suppsed to use the xsvga -server, but I could use others while loosing some functions or have to live with a flickering square instead of a mouse pointer).

[ 04 April 2001: Message edited by: Nalle ]

[The King Ant]

Try typing "ps auxw | grep X" to see if X really is running. You can also "CTLR+ALT+F#" where # is any number 1-12. X windows is usually around 7, and 1-4 are usually consoles. You can try "killall -9 X" to kill all X Windows.

The flickering mouse could also be caused by specifying incorrect mouse drivers in your XF86Config file. It's the "protocol" line, and you probably want "PS/2", but if that doesn't work you can try looking in the XF86Config man page.

[bdg1983]

How about if we go off to http://www.xfree86.org/current/mouse.html and find out which device to use for your particular mouse? At least you could use the correct device and if that doesn't help, try some of the other suggestions on gpm and the xserver settings.

[jenbass]

Sorry about this , but can I pass you over to a later thread?? http://www.linuxnewbie.org/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=017121
as I seem to have started two posts on the same thing. Sorry.