Arch Linux

jeroenv

Member

Registered: 2004-11-29

Posts: 36

No PS/2 keyboard due to USB mouse

I recently did a big pacman -Syu on my system. The upgrade included a new kernel, from 2.6.10-x to 2.6.11-x. After the upgrade the PS/2 keyboard failed (i start in console mode). The network also failed so i had to perform a hard reset, with many more to follow. The / filesystem has had quite a few fsck's.

So i gave up, took a fresh archlinux iso (7.0) and reinstalled. Same thing, no keyboard. One forum message gave me a clue. I disconnected all USB devices (a mouse and a joystick) and voila the (PS/2) keyboard worked again. And continued to work after i replugged the mouse (i.e. until reboot :x). Now i had the chance to properly configure the system so i had a network connection and telnet facilities. And a working syslog-ng which produced this kernel.log:

with usb mouse installed

Apr  7 22:48:46 primus hdd: ATAPI 40X DVD-ROM CD-R/RW drive, 2048kB Cache, UDMA(33)
Apr  7 22:48:46 primus libata version 1.10 loaded.
Apr  7 22:48:46 primus mice: PS/2 mouse device common for all mice
Apr  7 22:48:46 primus md: linear personality registered as nr 1
Apr  7 22:48:46 primus md: raid0 personality registered as nr 2

without usb mouse installed

Apr  7 22:50:37 primus hdd: ATAPI 40X DVD-ROM CD-R/RW drive, 2048kB Cache, UDMA(33)
Apr  7 22:50:37 primus libata version 1.10 loaded.
Apr  7 22:50:37 primus mice: PS/2 mouse device common for all mice
Apr  7 22:50:37 primus input: AT Translated Set 2 keyboard on isa0060/serio0
Apr  7 22:50:37 primus md: linear personality registered as nr 1
Apr  7 22:50:37 primus md: raid0 personality registered as nr 2

It seems the PS/2 driver is being initialized yet it behaves different when i connect a USB mouse (a MS optical wheelmouse).
Anyone has a clue what could be wrong?

i3839

Member

Registered: 2004-02-04

Posts: 1,185

Re: No PS/2 keyboard due to USB mouse

I have absolutely no clue.

Random tip: make sure you disabled legacy USB emulation or anything similar in the BIOS. Also look for other suspicous options. Near zero chance that disabling usb keyboard support helps too...

jeroenv

Member

Registered: 2004-11-29

Posts: 36

Re: No PS/2 keyboard due to USB mouse

I have absolutely no clue.

Random tip: make sure you disabled legacy USB emulation or anything similar in the BIOS.

Yes, that was the cause of it all. It now works ok. This could have saved me a lot of trouble. Thanks for the tip .

i3839

Member

Registered: 2004-02-04

Posts: 1,185

Re: No PS/2 keyboard due to USB mouse

Seems like my gut knows more than I suspected. Anyway, good luck.