Mouse Pointer visible but not movable (R.O.C.)[SOLVED]

[Cariboo]

Hello All,
I'm kindly asking for more help in the matter posted HERE:http://www.vectorlinux.com/forum2/index.php?topic=5440.0
Could somebody, who has an older computer (1997-98) and VL running, please post the "Input Device Section 'Mouse' of the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf" here?
Thanks

[uelsk8s]

the serial mouse usually uses /dev/ttySO
you can test yours in a console without having X running by typing "cat /dev/ttyS0" and moving the mouse.
If the mouse is working you will see caracters on the screen. press CTRL+C to quit.
if that works then put this
  Option      "Device" "/dev/ttyS0"
in the mouse section of your xorg.conf file

[Cariboo]

Thank you, uelsk8s, for the reply....
I did what you had suggested, but I couldn't get any reaction from moving the mouse after entering

Code:

cat /dev/ttyS0

.
I also tried ttyS1....nothing happened!
As I already mentioned, the mouse is working when I use a boot CD (EBCD by M. Kupchik for example)

[nightflier]

Try booting the live disc, then look in the live xorg.conf to see if you can find the information there.

[Cariboo]

Try booting the live disc, then look in the live xorg.conf to see if you can find the information there.

I cannot find xorg.conf...where do I have to look?
I can find /etc
but there is no /X11/xorg.conf

BTW: Which editor is available in the console?
vi and vim don't work!
What else could I use to see the content of a file?

[nightflier]

I have not used EBCD. It looks like a very minimal rescue disc. It's text mode only, right? In that case there will be no xorg.

The file manager is Volkov Commander (vc) which is similar to Midnight Commander. Try using it to manage and edit files. Hit the F keys for help and actions.

If I can find a serial mouse in my parts bin I'll enable a serial port and see if I can get it working in VL. Stay tuned.

[Cariboo]

I have not used EBCD. It looks like a very minimal rescue disc. It's text mode only, right? In that case there will be no xorg.

Yes, you are right, it's text mode only.....

If I can find a serial mouse in my parts bin I'll enable a serial port and see if I can get it working in VL. Stay tuned.

Serial mouse....does it mean it is connected to a ttyxx port? Is this an issue of IRQ Interrupt Request settings?
I appreciate your help..It would be great if I could this running..

[nightflier]

Serial mouse....does it mean it is connected to a ttyxx port?

Yea.. a serial mouse use a plug like you described. The serial ports are addressed as tty01 etc. (equivalent of COM1 etc. in DOS).

Can you enter a terminal in EBCD and try uelsk8s' suggestion?

[Cariboo]

Can you enter a terminal in EBCD and try uelsk8s' suggestion?

Thank you nightflier for the response.
Yes I can, I have 12 boot options:

Emergency Boot CD by M. Kubchik
Boot Options:
1.  System Software...
2.  File Manager
3.  AIDA16: Hard ware Information
4.  Rescue Linux
5.  NT Password Editor
6.  Memtest
7.  Drive fittness test
8. Registry tool for Windows XX
9.  Smart boot manager
10. More info
11. Skip CD-ROM boot
12. Boot 1st IDE HDD

I used 3. to check how the mouse is identified and it said the mouse is a " LGI800B Logitech MouseMan Serial" mouse.
If I use option 4. I can open a terminal and I tried uelsk8s' suggestion but there is NO reaction when I move the mouse.
 
On the other hand, when I choose 1. , what I normally do to access my hard drive for partitioning purposes (fdisk), it says "Micrsoft MS-DOS 7.1 Startup Menu" and I am asked if I wish to load the mouse driver. If I say yes, in all the following menus the mouse works just fine.
Is there a linux mouse driver to install? Where can I find it?
Any suggestion is very much appreciated!!!

[Cariboo]

If I can find a serial mouse in my parts bin I'll enable a serial port and see if I can get it working in VL. Stay tuned.

How do you do that?
I opened the computer and I found out that the mouse is connected to a 'com1' plug on the motherboard.
I thought this is equivalent to 'tty1' for linux?
What am I missing? What do I do wrong? Please help!
There are lots of old computers with serial mice out there! I want all to see them running VL!

[nightflier]

The serial and parallel ports can be enabled/disabled in BIOS. I have gotten into the habit of disabling them, as it has been years since I have used either.

See if the mouse works in text mode. Try command /sbin/vsrvset and check the box for gpm. If it works, you should get a blocky mouse cursor.

[Cariboo]

The serial and parallel ports can be enabled/disabled in BIOS. I have gotten into the habit of disabling them, as it has been years since I have used either.
See if the mouse works in text mode. Try command /sbin/vsrvset and check the box for gpm. If it works, you should get a blocky mouse cursor.

Thanks, nightflier, for your patience.....found a solution...I had to edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf this way:

Entry in /etc/X11/xorg.conf for configuring the "Logitech MouseMan Serial" mouse
which is connected to COM1 plug on the motherboard.

Section "InputDevice"
       
        Identifier      "Mouse1"
        Driver          "mouse"
       
        Option          "Device"        "/dev/ttyS0"
        Option          "Protocol"      "Microsoft"
       
EndSection

It works...
Problem SOLVED Thank you all..

[nightflier]

Nice work, Cariboo.

Looks like all you needed was a little encouragement.