Keyboard&Mouse dead w/X on Gateway?

[IsaacKuo]

I'm trying to install Mandrake 8.2 on a Gateway 550mhz PIII with 128mb RAM. It has an ATI based "Mad Dog" video card with TV output, which is the only unusual hardware item I can think of.

Whenever any sort of graphics mode is active, the keyboard and mouse simply die (both PS/2). I've tried using two different keyboards and two different mice. This meant I had to resort to text install, where there were no problems except for X configuration. Whenever I selected a resolution to test, it would pop up with the test screen with the little Yes/No dialog box, and would just sit there with neither the keyboard nor mouse able to do anything. After the timeout of 5 seconds, it would return to text mode and everything would be fine again.

Anyway, I finished the install and again, the keyboard/mouse die when X comes up.

To be more specific about the keyboard "dying", the Numlock/Shiftlock lights would blank out and ctrl-alt-del would have no effect (nor any other keys). When returning to text mode, the keyboard would be responsive again (lights, ctrl-alt-del, etc).

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[rioguia]

Question 1
How did you configure X (did the install report any problems detecting any hardware)?

if you are using the install configuration, have you tried xf86config--it looks clunky but its very reliable and doesn't require an x session?

Question 2
have your tried (to see if there is an IRQ conflict affecting your mouse/keyboard)using the following from the root command prompt?

cat /proc/interrupts

have you checked (to see if your kernel is correctly detecting your hardware) the output of:

dmesg > somedocumentname.txt

[IsaacKuo]

I configured X using Mandrake's text install mode. It has a basic text menu interface, which allows (but does not require) testing via displaying a test screen. During the test screen display, it has a dialog window with two buttons (Yes/No), but it will timeout after a few seconds back to the text menu interface.

I haven't ever used xf86config, but I'll give it a try tonight. Does it have mouse/keyboard configuration options? The actual X display comes up fine, including Mandrake's graphical login menu. (But of course, not responding to any keyboard or mouse input, there's nothing I can do with it.)

I haven't used those other commands because I didn't know about them. I'll give them a try. Thanks!

I doubt there's an IRQ conflict going on, because everything works fine in Win98 (dual boot).

Anyway, thanks for the help! I'll try it out tonight! :D

[aklrabbi]

Recently I installed Red Hat 8 on an older P2 system with standard hardware.

I have had the same exact problem. I have tried other keyboards as well, without luck. I actually was able to install 8 in the graphical installer without any problems. The keyboard and mouse both worked fine. But now, when it boots into X Windows to login there is no responce from the keyboard or mouse.

If you find out anything let me know.