touchpad sometime works and sometimes doesn't

[YouCanToo]

Am working on a laptop of a customer. Here are the specs

This is running on PCLinuxOS2009.2 fully updated with KDE4.3

Acer Aspire 5732Z
Pentium 64bit Duel Core 2.2GHz
4 gig memory
Kernel version Linux 2.6.27.31.tex5
250 gig hard drive
AlpsPS/2 ALPS GlidePoint Touch Pad
Atheros Wireless 802.11 b/g/n using the ath9k module
Atheros AR8132 / L1c Gigabyte Ethernet Module unknown with this kernel - This works in Mandriva 2010

The problem is that the touch pad works sometime, and sometimes it doesn't. There has been no pattern that I can see.  When it stops working I can sometimes reboot and it will work again, but most times it doesn't.  I don't know when it is going to work or not. I carry a wireless mouse to use just in case.

Here is the information that PCC gives me about the touch-pad

Connection
Bus: ‎isa
Vendor ID: ‎0x0002
Device ID: ‎0x0008
Sub vendor ID: ‎0x0000
Sub device ID: ‎0x0000
Features
Emulated wheel: ‎No
Misc
Vendor: ‎
Description: ‎AlpsPS/2 ALPS GlidePoint
Module: ‎mouse1


Anyone got any ideas how to the touch-pad to work all the time every time?
Thanks for any and all help.

[T6]

does top command in konsole shows something using lots of cpu or zombie apps?

a crazy idea, imwheel is installed or hanging?

try removing it, i know it is just for scrollwheel but since it is a touchpad and could have a section dedicated to work as scrollwheel could be giving problems

[YouCanToo]

does top command in konsole shows something using lots of cpu or zombie apps?

I see nothing taking CPU time or any zombie apps

[/quote]

a crazy idea, imwheel is installed or hanging?

try removing it, i know it is just for scrollwheel but since it is a touchpad and could have a section dedicated to work as scrollwheel could be giving problems
[/quote]

I did remove "imwheel' and it made no difference.   Thanks for the ideas

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[Duvid]

Have you tried a Live CD to eliminate an OS problem. It could be a mechanical problem where one fingered contact shows up as the intermittent problem. Canned air could help, although getting underneath the pad might might be necessary.

[YouCanToo]

Have you tried a Live CD to eliminate an OS problem. It could be a mechanical problem where one fingered contact shows up as the intermittent problem. Canned air could help, although getting underneath the pad might might be necessary.

I swapped back in the original hard drive with Windows 7 Home Premium on it and the touch pad works fine. I have a gut feeling that it need a newer kernel than I have currently

2.6.27.31.tex5