Further ruminations on debian - mouse ioport this time

[jenbass]

Ta to all for their patience and help on this. I think (only think, mind!) the mouse isn't responding under x because of "/dev/mouse unable to get status of mouse fd (inappropriate ioctl for device)". /proc/ioports doesn't seem to show a setting for ps type mouse stuff, although it has two serial (set) settings. Could this be the problem?
Thanks! Jenny

[bdg1983]

Are you still having this problem?

I noticed a newer thread from you in this forum that still concerns the mouse and was wondering if this thread no longer pertains to your problem.

[jenbass]

No, this is the latest...
mouse is a standard microsoft make, two button, PS/2.
XF86Config is set for
Protocol "Microsoft"
Device "/dev/mouse"
Emulate3Buttons
Emulate3Timeout 50

Nalle says "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 your mouse pointer."....no, the mouse pointer seems to be a pointer, it starts off ok but as soon as it moves up to top of screen it gets stuck. /var/log/messages shows the above error.
Incidentally the image on the screen is twice the size it is supposed to be. (I haven't got as far as working out how to alter that yet, but it may be relevant).
Thanks all!

[nopun]

I am sure I have experienced the same symptoms you describe - I think due to wrong mouse protocol specified in XF86Config file. Try changing it to "ps/2" (from "microsoft").
I seem to be able to mess it up at will by compiling my kernel differently ;) - I have had to use both "microsoft" and "ps/2" in my time.

[jenbass]

Well, whaddya know! That worked! Thanks nopun. I am now seeing the debian window for the first time.
Don't suppose you can further help by telling me how to get it to fit the small 15" monitor I'm using? CTRL/ALT/+ give a HUUUUGE screen, a slightly-too-large screen and a mass-of-flickering screen. (Who's been eating MY porridge?).

[nopun]

I do know the answer to this, but I am not at my box, so if it's not exactly the way I say it is, you know why.
In the XF86Config file, you need to find the relevant "screen" section (normally the first is used), and within that the relevant "display" section (look for default depth).
Once you're there, amend the modes line so that the first "resolution" in the list is the default that you would like to use - delete any that you don't want to use.
Add a line within the display section to set the virtual screen resolution to be the same as the default you want to use. eg:

virtual 800 600

Also, stop eating that hallucinogenic porridge, it's evil!

[jenbass]

There are 4 display subsections, depths 8,16,24,32. The modes for depth 8 are "640x480" "800x600" "1024x768". When I CTL/ALT/+ in X, am I tabbing through those three settings? Does X choose the first one of depth 8 by default as it is first? What is depth? What is "virtual" screen?
Shall I stop asking questions now?

[nopun]

Depth is colour depth (ie 8/16/24/32 bits per pixel). If you are not sure which depth is being used by default, you can make the changes to all display sections.
Yes, you are tabbing through the different modes.
The virtual desktop can be larger than your physical desktop (in terms of pixels), which means you can only see part of it at any one time - a feature that I've never been able to get along with. To prevent this, I have suggested forcing it to be the same as your preferred screen resolution. (I believe the virtual desktop size is set to your largest mode by default, so another way would be to get rid of any that are larger than your preferred resolution in the modes line)
Yes, stop asking questions and stop EATING THE PORRIDGE.

Edit: I'm at my machine now - my config file has the line "DefaultDepth 16" near the front of the Screen section - this tells me which of the Display subsections is used by default (you can of course over-ride this by submitting parameters to "startx").

[ 05 April 2001: Message edited by: nopun ]

[jenbass]

NoPun. You were completely correct. The line Virtual 800 600 in the first section (depth 8) has cured the problem. X is now running beautifully, well-trained mouse and perfectly sized desktop. Many thanks for your help! I'll send you the porridge recipe if you like.......

[nopun]

Ah, so you've got it working good now have you? Now's about the time that I usually decide I want to make some changes and break it again....
8 bpp only gives you 256 colours, which may be ok for what you do, not so good if you're into manipulating photographs or something.
I'm ok for porridge. Whenever I want some, I buy one of those boxes with a picture of a scotsman on the front - it comes with a porridge making "howto" on the back :)