[SOLVED] Dell XPS 15z Cypress Trackpad not detected: seeking basic functionality

[Stephen Swensen]

Hello,

I have Dell XPS 15z with a Cypress Trackpad which is not detected running PCLOS KDE 2012.08, kernal 3.2.18.pclos2.pae.bfs. From my research, I understand that drivers for full support of the Cypress Track are simply not supported in this version of the Linux kernel. But it seems it is a known issue and specifically Project Sputnik has or is working on support (e.g. http://bartongeorge.net/2012/06/20/sputnik-update-touchpad-driver-now-available/)...

It would be great if I could somehow update my kernel to fully support my trackpad, but I'd also be content with basic support (i.e. no gestures but move with the pad and click with the buttons)... I know, or strongly suspect, that "basic" support should be achievable in PCLOS since I've been able to do it with Linux Mint following the instructions at https://wiki.another distro.com/HardwareSupport/Machines/Laptops/Dell/XPS/15z under the Trackpad section. (I tried and failed to port those instructions to PCLOS, specifically the command rmmod psmouse failed with "Module psmouse does not exist in /proc/modules").

Any guidance towards a solution would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Stephen

[Just17]

I suspect the reason for the failure is that the module was not previously loaded .....  

In a terminal su to root and do

lsmod

to see the list of loaded modules

modprobe <module>

to load a module

and

lsmod

again to confirm its presence.

When you have tested it and decided you want to load it at each boot then put the module name into

/etc/modprobe.preload

with other such modules that are required to be loaded at boot.

At least that is how I would approach the situation .....  it might work for you  

[Stephen Swensen]

Hi Just17 - thanks for your help and apologies for taking so long to follow up.

It seems I don't have the psmouse module available?! When I execute modprobe psmouse I get the message FATAL: Module psmouse not found.

[Just17]

Do, in a terminal,


locate  -i  psmouse

I get

Code: [Select]

locate -i psmouse
/usr/src/linux-3.2.18-pclos1/drivers/input/mouse/psmouse-base.c
/usr/src/linux-3.2.18-pclos1/drivers/input/mouse/psmouse.h

Post back what you get please.

[Stephen Swensen]

I get no output whatsoever.

[Just17]

You might try installing and running this kernel

3.2.18-pclos1

to see if you get the psmouse module.

[Stephen Swensen]

No luck. Installed and booted 2.3.1.8-pclos1 and locate -i psmouse still gives no output.

[Just17]

Presumably the kernel-source was installed too ......  but I noticed that I have kernel-firmware and kernel-firmware-extra also installed.

Other than that I have no ideas ......

[Just17]

A suggestion from a friend .........

add the following boot option to the boot stanza in your /boot/grub/menu.lst file

psmouse.proto=imps

Apparently the psmouse module is built-in to the PCLOS kernels which explains why you cannot modprobe or rmmod it.

......  or so I am told 

(hopefully I relayed the message correctly    )

[Stephen Swensen]

That did it, basic trackpad functionality is now working! Thanks!

[Just17]

That did it, basic trackpad functionality is now working! Thanks!

That is good news 

[sling-shot]

[Stephen Swensen]

Please tell if it was the line for boot suggested by Just17 alone that did the trick or change of kernel?
It looks like a good candidate for adding to our hardware database.