How can I get my mouse to work with Ubuntu boot disks?
April 17, 2010 12:46 PM Subscribe
Two different USB mice freeze when using 3 different Ubuntu versions on my Dell desktop. Should I give up, and if so, what sort of linux version should a new user like me try?
I really like what I've seen of Ubuntu, but when trying to use desktop version 9.10 from the boot disk the mouse freezes in a minute or less. I'm left only with the keyboard. I tried using boot disks of desktop versions 10.4 and 8.10 as well, but it just took longer to happen with 10.4 and shorter with 8.10.
I really don't want to give up, but whenever I find someone online having the same problem with 9.10, their question is never solved. (This includes the Ubuntu forums.) Anybody have any ideas? And if not, can anybody recommend a linux version that is good for beginners?
I really like what I've seen of Ubuntu, but when trying to use desktop version 9.10 from the boot disk the mouse freezes in a minute or less. I'm left only with the keyboard. I tried using boot disks of desktop versions 10.4 and 8.10 as well, but it just took longer to happen with 10.4 and shorter with 8.10.
I really don't want to give up, but whenever I find someone online having the same problem with 9.10, their question is never solved. (This includes the Ubuntu forums.) Anybody have any ideas? And if not, can anybody recommend a linux version that is good for beginners?
Best answer: this thread says that a similar problem is fixed by a BIOS update from Dell. If you have a functional windows isntallation you should be able to update the BIOS from that...
(it seems that other distros have the same problem...)
posted by ennui.bz at 1:00 PM on April 17, 2010
(it seems that other distros have the same problem...)
posted by ennui.bz at 1:00 PM on April 17, 2010
I use Debian, and I find it to be more 'worky' than Ubuntu usually is. If you're already familiar with Ubuntu, you'll be at home with Debian.
posted by fuq at 1:36 PM on April 17, 2010
posted by fuq at 1:36 PM on April 17, 2010
Just as another data point, I have two desktops (1 Dell) and a laptop (Dell) running Ubuntu, from 9.10 to 10.4; one of them has 3 USB pointing devices plugged into it and they all work.
What you are trying to do should work just fine...hope you figure out the problem.
posted by circular at 2:45 PM on April 17, 2010
What you are trying to do should work just fine...hope you figure out the problem.
posted by circular at 2:45 PM on April 17, 2010
Best answer: ubuntu is a good choice. agreed with mwongozi, this is very likely to be fixed by updating the bios (enter the service tag in at support.dell.com, look for bios update or flash bios update. sometimes it is easier to do this from another system, make the floppy there, then boot to it (you have a floppy drive? if not, you need to hope for an executable version of the bios update, or for a friend with a usb floppy drive)
posted by kimyo at 5:09 PM on April 17, 2010
posted by kimyo at 5:09 PM on April 17, 2010
Response by poster: Thank you very much everyone. I didn't even know about support.dell.com. BIOS updated and I'm using 9.10 right this moment! :)
posted by Jenesta at 6:22 PM on April 17, 2010
posted by Jenesta at 6:22 PM on April 17, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
1. Connect the mouse via a powered USB hub.
2. Install a USB PCI card and connect it to that.
posted by Mwongozi at 12:56 PM on April 17, 2010