vostro v13 mouse driver not recognized

This is potentially the same bug that affects Latitudes from the same series (E2 platforms). Vostros are leveraged from Latittudes typically.

If so, this is the patch for the problem:

https://patchwork.kernel.org/patch/118834/

I downloaded the file from the link. How do I apply the patch. I tried:

patch -p Resend-Add-support-for-Intellimouse-Mode-in-ALPS-touchpad-on-Dell-E2-series-Laptops.patch
patch: **** strip count Resend-Add-support-for-Intellimouse-Mode-in-ALPS-touchpad-on-Dell-E2-series-Laptops.patch is not a number

and get an error that patch is not a number?

thanks, Simon

I tried this again with

sudo patch -p0 < Resend-Add-support-for-Intellimouse-Mode-in-ALPS-touchpad-on-Dell-E2-series-Laptops.patch

and got:

patching file b/drivers/input/mouse/alps.c
Hunk #1 FAILED at 63.
Hunk #2 FAILED at 111.
Hunk #3 FAILED at 677.
3 out of 3 hunks FAILED -- saving rejects to file b/drivers/input/mouse/alps.c.rej
patching file b/drivers/input/mouse/alps.h
Hunk #1 FAILED at 26.
1 out of 1 hunk FAILED -- saving rejects to file b/drivers/input/mouse/alps.h.rej
patching file b/drivers/input/mouse/psmouse-base.c
Hunk #1 FAILED at 659.
1 out of 1 hunk FAILED -- saving rejects to file b/drivers/input/mouse/psmouse-base.c.rej

any ideas?

thanks Simon

I'm not sure what you applied that against, but it certainly applies against the current 2.6.35 kernels in maverick. You might need to do some reworking for 2.6.32 or 2.6.33.

I am running 2.6.32-24-generic which I believe is the latest ubuntu version for 10.04. When I applied the patch I copied the patch to the usr/src directory and then issued sudo patch -p0 < patchname.

I have 10.04 software sources set to Long term support releases -- is there a way to get a more recent kernel installed?

I apologize for my lack of knowledge but I have no idea how to rework the patch for a different kernel. I would really like to get this fixed and it would clearly be beneficial to others. Can you suggest how to rework the patch or install a more recent kernel?

thanks, S.

You can turn on the daily kernel team PPA at https://edge.launchpad.net/~kernel-ppa/+archive/ppa

Grab the source package for the kernel, and then you should be able to apply it there.

Okay I added the archive with:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kernel-ppa/ppa
followed by
sudo apt-get update

I was then asked and did re-boot.

I then checked the kernel version with
uname -r
but it was still:
2.6.32-24-generic

So why isn't the ppa updating my kernel? I tried applying the patch just in case but it had the same error as before. Any idea what I am doing wrong with the kernel update. In your email you say "grab the source package for the kernel" but I am not sure what to do other than adding the ppa and doing an update.
thanks S.
thanks, Simon

Thanks to some help from the kernel team, to install the latest kernel:

sudo apt-get install linux-image-generic-lts-backport-maverick

this gave me the latest kernel linux-image-2.6.35-17-generic.

I then tried the patch and got the exact same error as before. So why doesn't the patch apply correctly? I attempted to apply the patch from

/usr/sr
with
sudo patch -p0 < Resend-Add-support-for-Intellimouse-Mode-in-ALPS-touchpad-on-Dell-E2-series-Laptops.patch

any ideas?

thanks, Simon

just for kicks, I applied the patch to the kernel in my ppa: https://launchpad.net/~chogydan/+archive/ppa

It is just a one time thing, in version 2.6.35-17ck. It may take a few days to build.

I recommend that first figure out how to install that kernel package before you attempt to download the source, apply the patch, and then compile on your own.

Hi Dan, are you saying that the patch applied correctly with your version of the kernel? Did you use the same command as me with the patch placed in the /usr/src directory?
sudo patch -p0 < Resend-Add-support-for-Intellimouse-Mode-in-ALPS-touchpad-on-Dell-E2-series-Laptops.patch
 -- thanks Simon

yes the patch applied, but not with that command. If you still want to do it on your own, you will have to look up how to compile a kernel before you learn how to apply a patch.

Hi Dan,

After updating the kernel my wireless stopped working, something to do with the broadcom wireless card so I went back to the earlier kernel with
sudo apt-get remove linux-image-2.6.35-16-generic

So if I understand correctly you are saying I have to learn how to build my own kernel which will take a couple of days to build and then I have to learn how to apply a patch a different way in order to get my mouse to work properly and even then my wireless card would likely not work. Unfortunately I do not have time to do this at the moment. I bought a Dell machine with Ubuntu on assuming Dell would not sell it if it didn't work correctly -- such is life.
Many thanks to you Mario for the help and suggestions.

Hi Dan,

One more question -- if you applied the patch successfully to your version of the kernel can I at least try and install your kernel to see if the patch fixes the mouse problem? In which case what is the command to install your kernel i.e.
sudo apt-get install ???????
I cannot figure out the naming convention to get the right kernel from your ppa
thanks, Simon
p.s. I have a 32-bit install -- hopefully that is not a problem.

First you have to edit your sources:
gksu gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
and add this line:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/chogydan/ppa/ubuntu maverick main

yes, it should be maverick.

Then run:
sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install linux-ck-headers-2.6.35-17ck-generic linux-ck-image-2.6.35-17ck-generic

(I did take a look at the raw directory of the ppa, and also I found it confusing)

Dan,

What is the command for removing your kernel. I noticed that when I did it before the name of the file to remove was different to the file to install. I know I will have to remove your kernel due to the wireless issue so I thought I would ask for the correct removal command before I try the install -- thanks, S.

sudo apt-get autoremove --purge linux-ck-headers-2.6.35-17ck-generic linux-ck-image-2.6.35-17ck-generic

I would think that you should get a menu at boot where you can pick different kernels. Then you wouldn't have to remove one just to get the other working.

dont forget to let me know if it works.

Hi Daniel,

Sorry to be a little slow getting back to you. I tried it last night and then was in mtgs all day today. The kernel installed okay and I rebooted. After rebooting I checked with uname -r and I had your kernel installed. I did notice a crash notification but otherwise my system was running okay with no wireless.

I then tried
grep -i synaptics /var/log/Xorg.0.log
but got no synaptics hits so the driver was not loaded. I also tried side scrolling a web page and it did not work. I then removed the kernel with the command you provided. Any additional ideas? I am happy to try other kernels - thanks Simon

Nope!, I've no idea in the first place. But that answers the question of whether or not that patch helps.

mario,
the vostro v13 has a synaptics touchpad. see http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&releaseid=R254856&SystemID=VOS_N_V13&servicetag=&os=WLH&osl=en&deviceid=16223&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=2&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=0&libid=17&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&source=-1&fileid=373527

i can validate the issue simon raised. touchpad is detected as ps/2 generic mouse. i ordered a v13, ships with ubuntu 9.04. have tried 8.04, 10.04, 10.10 and daniel's patched kernel. nothing helps. i've exhausted dell's technical support options, even sent the machine in for depot repair and it was returned with repair denied. at this point, i'm awaiting a callback from dell customer support to return the machine for a refund. i'm shocked and amazed that dell would offer ubuntu on this device with such a huge touchpad and no support from the os kernel drivers and xorg-input-synaptics driver. makes it virtually impossible to use the machine since the touchpad cannot be disabled while typing, palm-detect, etc, don't work.

i've poked around at patchwork.kernel.org and haven't found a similar dell synaptics patch. so, is there a similar patch to add in the synaptics goodness and undo the psmouse badness?

thanks,
fuggum

Maybe you guys need to run my patched kernel, and also do the following, which I grabbed from the linux bug report:

<quote>
I tried to digg a bit more. I read* on bug #6105 , that maybe psmouse.rate=40
helps, so I modified /etc/default/grub line:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
to:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="psmouse.rate=40 i8042.nomux=1"

Then sudo update-grub, and rebooted.
</quote>

daniel,

bad link in your last post. anyhow, adding the suggested kernel boot parameters, have the following effects.
i8042.nomux=1 > touchpad doesn't work at all, psmouse loads but ps/2 generic mouse doesn't show up in xinput list or /proc/bus/input/devices
psmouse.rate=40 > no effect.

also, just did a full update. same issue with latest kernel - 2.6.35-19-generic #25

not sure what other patches you applied to your kernel, but the original patch in mario's post was for alps.c, alps.h and psmouse-base.c

since this machine has a synaptics touchpad, i doubt the alps patch will help.

thanks for you help, but i think someone at dell needs to provide a patch so this touchpad is properly recognized. since synaptics does indeed provide support to oems for many linux distros including ubuntu, it looks like dell just dropped the ball and decided to ship ubuntu on the v13 anyhow.

cheers ;)

fuggum and daniel,

I agree that Dell needs to supply the fix but the Vostro 13 has been out for years and Dell must have known about this problem for years and has done nothing about it. The problem is published in multiple places and I have been searching for fixes for many months. I am also disappointed that Ubuntu states that the Vostro v13 is CERTIFIED hardware for Ubuntu:
http://webapps.ubuntu.com/certification/hardware/201004-5572/
which totally destroys Ubuntu's credibility.

Fuggum I have had my vostro v13 for a while and doubt Dell would allow me to return it but it sounds like you might be able to get a refund. I am happy to try any fixes.

Cheers, Simon

i've dug around a bit and noticed a bunch of patches related to synaptics and other input devices. i've cloned linus' latest git and am curently compiling the latest upstream kernel on maverick. will let you know if it does any better.

i'm with you simon. i checked that the v13 was certified with 10.04 before ordering. i decided to buy from dell because of my previous experience with my xps m1330n that shipped with 8.04 and is now running 10.04.

rant: my assumption was that the out of the box experience with the vostro v13 would be the same and i wouldn't be stuck with hardware that wasn't supported by ubuntu. the only note i saw was that proprietary drivers are required for wireless. pretty lame as far as my interpretation of "certified".

l8r

@fuggum,
There will be no updates to that kernel. Are you sure you have the right one?

The last comment I made was a quote from the kernel bug report, so the bug reference is for kernel.org, but launchpad interprets it as from launchpad.

Anyway, good luck

dan, got the kernel from the maverick repo, just updated again and got 2.6.35-19-generic #26. btw, saw a notice (used aptitude for upgrade) that the 2.6.35-17 kernel was newly obsoleted, also -14, you may want to check into that before investing more in it...

 gotcha on the bug report bug ;)

so, compiled and tested the upstream kernel and modules 2.6.36-rc2, no help, same with the latest maverick kernel.

anyhow, when i get the return authorization from dell, mine will be in a box on its way back to dell for a refund.

simon, maybe you could off your vostro v13 on ebay or craigslist to someone that wants to run windoze on it and get something that's better supported under linux.

good luck
cheers

simon,

i filed a launchpad bug #632293 related to the v13. you may want to subscribe. my v13 will be in a box on the way back to dell tomorrow. maybe some attention will be given this issue, and a fix released.

good luck
cheers

Fuggum,

There are already 2 launchpad bug reports on this but I guess one more will not hurt. The other 2 were listed in my original comment at the top of the thread. They are:
Bug #380126
Bug #545565
You might want to subscribe to the bug report.

Cheers, Simon

simon,
happy to advise that dell has given me a full refund for the vostro v13, including shipping.

i was aware of the other bug reports, thanks. mine is more regarding the lack of a ***trusted*** hardware certification program.

btw, not sure if you got an answer to your question about the dell recovery media doing a complete hd format. the 9.04 recovery media offers the option to do a complete dell recovery re-installation including repartitioning the drive, creating the diag partition, install partition and reinstall of the os. it also offers an interactive installation option that lets you choose to install as you wish, without wiping the whole disk. perhaps other dell recovery media will also offer these options.

cheers,

Hi Fuggum,

No, I never got an answer as to whether if I did a full install of 9.04
from the Dell CD the driver would work. I wondered if you could remember
if it worked when you got the machine?

thanks, Simon

fuggum wrote:
> Your question #121518 on Dell Recovery changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/dell-recovery/+question/121518
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> fuggum proposed the following answer:
> simon,
> happy to advise that dell has given me a full refund for the vostro v13, including shipping.
>
> i was aware of the other bug reports, thanks. mine is more regarding
> the lack of a ***trusted*** hardware certification program.
>
> btw, not sure if you got an answer to your question about the dell
> recovery media doing a complete hd format. the 9.04 recovery media
> offers the option to do a complete dell recovery re-installation
> including repartitioning the drive, creating the diag partition, install
> partition and reinstall of the os. it also offers an interactive
> installation option that lets you choose to install as you wish, without
> wiping the whole disk. perhaps other dell recovery media will also
> offer these options.
>
> cheers,
>
>

simon,
no, it didn't work out of the box with the factory install, so i applied all the updates, figuring that might fix it, but no help. did a lot of searching and trying different stuff, all to no avail. i noticed that my machine shipped with bios version a02 and there was an update, version a04. so i updated to that, still no help.

dell tech support for ubuntu on the v13 is considerably lacking. essentially, it runs somewhat like this...

1. uninstall then reinstall the xserver-xorg-input-synaptics package.
2. reinstall os, they'll send a usb stick if you want them to. i had created recovery media with the supplied tool.
3. transfer to hardware folks, run system diag.
4. send to depot for repair. returned with "repair denied" status.
5. call support again. oh, you're running ubuntu, call this number...
- they referred me to canonical, who then gave me the number for dell ubuntu support.
6. went over the whole chain of events again. they even had me install from the ubuntu dvd they supply with the machine.
7. at this point i gave up and requested a return for refund.
8. while waiting for the return authorization, i installed xp on it and downloaded and applied all of the dell supplied drivers. i noticed that they pulled the a04 bios, and only showed a02, so i applied that update with xp.

bottom line is the hardware works with xp and the synaptics driver. i even applied the driver listed for the latitude 13 on the vostro 13. both see and report synaptics touchpad.

best of luck,
cheers

Good news, a patch has been proposed for Vostro V13 touchpad : see https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-input-synaptics/+bug/380126?comments=all :D