Drag functionality on Dell Laptop not functioning correctly

[TerryH]

Just re-installed PCLinuxOS 2011.6 KDE. I have Dell D620 Core Duo T2600 2.16 GHz 2.5 GB RAM.  The laptop has 2 sets of 2 mouse buttons, above and below the touchpad.

The problem I am experiencing is that the top left mouse button does not work when attempting to do a click and drag actions.  When I click within a text box the cursor is positioned where I click, but nothing occurs when I attempt to drag.  The lower left button works as expected for this action. 

Both sets of buttons work correctly for other actions as expected.

Any assistance woould be much appreciated.

[ElCuervo]

I have never encountered this pointing device, but I'm wondering what application you're using to set it up. There are several different ones in the repository and it seems like at least one of them should work.

I hate touchpads anyway, and I'm using a mouse on this one right now - as usual.

[menotu]

I hate touchpads anyway, and I'm using a mouse on this one right now - as usual. 

+1 to that - my fingers just can't get their head around touchpads!! 

[horusfalcon]

Just re-installed PCLinuxOS 2011.6 KDE. I have Dell D620 Core Duo T2600 2.16 GHz 2.5 GB RAM.  The laptop has 2 sets of 2 mouse buttons, above and below the touchpad.

I have a D620 also, a bit slower than yours and with less RAM, but I've found it to be a good steady machine running PCLinuxOS since about 2009.1.  I presently run 2010.07 KDE with all updates to yesterday, and I field most of the other desktops (except GNOME full) on the machine for demo purposes.  (Yeah, I upgraded the hard drive... )

See if your upper buttons work differently with the J-stick (the "eraser head" pointing device in the center of the keyboard). 
Mine seems to work like that:  if I try to drag using the pad and the upper button, no go, but the J-stick (between G & H, actually) will drag just fine.  This behavior may be by design.  I hardly ever use the J-stick as it is very fast and hard to control for my thick fingers.

Most of the time I use my Logitech V220 wireless USB mouse.  Much better feel and still very portable.  A newer model, the M310 has the look and feel of the V220 but a micro-sized receiver that only sticks out of the USB port about 1/8" or so.  Very much worth the $30 bucks or so.

Off-topic Question:  how are you getting to 2.5 gigs of RAM?  Do you have 3 GB installed and are sharing 512 Megs with a video card or something?  (Do you have the Nvidia video card or the intel?  Be aware that the Nvidia card has a history of overheating - keep your airflow path clean!)

The problem I am experiencing is that the top left mouse button does not work when attempting to do a click and drag actions.  When I click within a text box the cursor is positioned where I click, but nothing occurs when I attempt to drag.  The lower left button works as expected for this action. 

Both sets of buttons work correctly for other actions as expected.

Yeah, I notice this on my Dell, too, just never considered it a problem as such. 

Any assistance woould be much appreciated.

Well, at least I could confirm your symptom, and maybe add a bit more data.  I'm definitely in the "use a mouse" camp here.  It'll save your wrist in the long run.

Later On,
D

[TerryH]

Off-topic Question:  how are you getting to 2.5 gigs of RAM?  Do you have 3 GB installed and are sharing 512 Megs with a video card or something?  (Do you have the Nvidia video card or the intel?  Be aware that the Nvidia card has a history of overheating - keep your airflow path clean!)

Thanks for all the info.  I'm used to using the lower button in conjunction with the  touch pad now, so its not a problem anymore.  

I have the Intel onboard video, so no problems at all.  I also put a new HD in it as it only had 40 GB, so I put a WD 120 GB in it.  It ended up with 2.5 GB of RAM, following an upgrade to 4GB. It started crashing all the time, so I isolated each of the RAM modules and ran Memtest 86+.  One of the 2 GB sticks had failed so I put a 512 MB stick back in.  

See if your upper buttons work differently with the J-stick

The upper button works with the J-stick, but unfortunately I can't work with the J-stick.  I can't control it, it's all over the place.

[horusfalcon]

{clip: my previous}

Thanks for all the info.  I'm used to using the lower button in conjunction with the  touch pad now, so its not a problem anymore.  

I have the Intel onboard video, so no problems at all.  I also put a new HD in it as it only had 40 GB, so I put a WD 120 GB in it.  It ended up with 2.5 GB of RAM, following an upgrade to 4GB. It started crashing all the time, so I isolated each of the RAM modules and ran Memtest 86+.  One of the 2 GB sticks had failed so I put a 512 MB stick back in.

Hmm... from the D620 Service Manual (at http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/latd620/en/SM/memory.htm#wp1084976)

NOTICE: If you remove your original memory modules from the computer during a memory upgrade, keep them separate from any new modules that you may have, even if you purchased the new modules from Dell. If possible, do not pair an original memory module with a new memory module. Otherwise, your computer may not function at optimal performance.

I see no mention of dual-channel mode here, but suspect you may be slowing things down a bit by using that old 512 MB stick with your new stuff.  Might try working without it?

If you do upgrade to 4 GB in the future, make sure you use the latest PAE or PAE/bfs kernel or you won't see all the RAM.

{clip: my previous}

The upper button works with the J-stick, but unfortunately I can't work with the J-stick.  I can't control it, it's all over the place.

Yeah, that's a common complaint about the J-sticks in general (not just on Dell machines).  Grab yourself a good wireless mouse, man.  You'll be happier that way.

Later On,
D