Ubuntu – How to get Elantech trackpad to be identified properly, curently has no extended functionality

hardwareinput-devicesmousesamsungtrackpad

I have a Samsung RF510 laptop computer. Upon installing Ubuntu 10.10 onto it I could not get the trackpad to function properly. It works as a basic mouse (point and click) but had no functionality for edge scrolling or any of the multitouch settings the trackpad is capable of.

I discovered the reason is a known issue where the Ubuntu kernel will improperly detect an Elantech trackpad as a logitech PS/2 wheel mouse, and as such will gain none of the functionality that seems to be coded for synaptics trackpads.

Is there any way to get this working properly? I would like basic scrolling/zooming/etc I've been used to using these features for as long as I can remember.

Best Answer

If you're able to upgrade to Ubuntu 11.10, that already has built-in support for your touchpad in the kernel.

Related Solutions

Ubuntu 14.04 – Fix Trackpad Bug from 3.15 Kernel

To answer your questions: At the bottom of the patch page you linked it says that the patch is present in 3.15. Kernel version 3.15 has been released, and version 3.16 will be the default kernel in Utopic Unicorn. If you want to install kernel 3.15 in Ubuntu 14.04, download the appropriate packages (what are they?) from the mainline kernel PPA or install them using apt and ppa technology, which I recommend, because then you keep your kernel updated. Be aware that other issues may come up when you install a newer kernel.

Ubuntu – How to get two-finger scrolling working on the trackpad

I got this working recently for a friend's Yoga 2 by patching the psmouse kernel module to recognize the trackpad. Here's how I did it (from memory and browser history):

wget 'https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1166442/+attachment/3941591/+files/psmouse-elantech-x551c.tar.gz'
sudo dkms ldtarball --force psmouse-elantech-x551c.tar.gz
sudo dkms install -m psmouse -v elantech-x551c
sudo rmmod psmouse && sudo modprobe psmouse

You have to restart X (or reboot) afterwards.

Sources:

Ubuntu bugreport in particular comments #137 and #161
Evilcodingmonkey

In case it doesn't work give us the output of:

cat /proc/bus/input/devices

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Ubuntu 14.04 – Fix Trackpad Bug from 3.15 Kernel

Ubuntu – How to get two-finger scrolling working on the trackpad

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