Ubuntu
linux-source-2.6.15 package

PS2 keyboard problem

Bug #54836 reported by Zoltan Peczoli on 2006-08-01

This bug report is a duplicate of: Bug #83066: no ps/2 keyboard with kernel 2.6.15-27-686-smp. Edit Remove

Affects		Status	Importance	Assigned to	Milestone
	linux-source-2.6.15 (Ubuntu)	New	High	Unassigned

Bug Description

Binary package hint: linux-image-2.6.15-26-686

PS/2 keyboard is not detected by the kernel. Before the kernel boot, eg. in grub the keyboard works as it should, but during kernel boot it stops working. Strange thing, if I keep pressing keys all throughout the bootup process, then the keyboard will work. No keypresses, no keyboard. The same is true for the kernel version included on the install CD. It's quite a disturbing bug, when you can't install Ubuntu because you can't type...

Tried with several keyboards, same result. Also tried with several computers from the same batch, same result. Went and bought a PS2->USB adaptor and all of a sudden everything worked.

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Richard de Bruin (richdb) wrote on 2006-11-01:

The same problem here ... PS2 don't work but USB no problems.

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Ben Collins (ben-collins) wrote on 2007-01-29:

Can you attach (do no paste into comments) via the web interface the output of "dmesg" with and without working ps2?

Perhaps use USB keyboard during this test to produce the needed output.

Thanks

Changed in linux-source-2.6.15:
status:	Unconfirmed → Needs Info

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Kyle McMartin (kyle) wrote on 2007-01-29:

Ideally, could you use a usb keyboard to install, install ssh, remove the keyboard, and boot with a ps2 connected. Then, ssh in, and run "dmesg" and attach the output to this bug, please.

Also, does this effect edgy?

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Zoltan Peczoli (peczoli) wrote on 2007-01-30:

dmesg output with the keyboard on PS2 Edit (25.3 KiB, text/plain)

Here's the dmesg for the PS2 keyboard. (The PS2->USB adapter is still connected but there's no keyboard or mouse attached to it).

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Zoltan Peczoli (peczoli) wrote on 2007-01-30:

dmesg output with the keyboard on USB Edit (25.2 KiB, text/plain)

Just for reference, here's dmesg when the keyboard is connected to USB.

And to answer your question, yes, edgy is still affected. I'm using 2.6.17-10-generic #2 SMP and the problem report is valid for this kernel too. The box is a HP dc7600C.

Matt Zimmerman (mdz) on 2007-01-30

Changed in linux-source-2.6.15:
status:	Needs Info → Unconfirmed

Matt Zimmerman (mdz) on 2007-01-30

Changed in linux-source-2.6.15:
importance:	Undecided → High

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Kyle McMartin (kyle) wrote on 2007-01-31:

Any chance I could coax you into testing the Herd 2 or Herd 3 Feisty cds? If this bug is still present in 2.6.20 it represents a major issue with the upstream kernel and we will work to get it fixed.

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Kyle McMartin (kyle) wrote on 2007-01-31:

Just thought of something. Can you try booting with "i8042.nopnp" or "i8042.i8042_nopnp" and see if that fixes this on dapper or edgy?

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Philipp (phkappler) wrote on 2007-01-31:

The bug doesn't show anymore with Feisty Herd 2, at least on my system. However, neither of the suggested i8042 boot options brings back my keyboard and mouse on Dapper or Edgy.

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Zoltan Peczoli (peczoli) wrote on 2007-01-31:

Diff: PS2 boot without and with keypresses Edit (2.3 KiB, text/plain)

I can confirm Philipp's report, the i8042 boot options did not help. I'll try Herd 2 when I have some time. In the meantime, here's a diff between two dmesgs. The first boot is a normal PS2 boot which results in no keyboard. The second boot was exactly the same but I kept pressing Ctrl to make it recognize the keyboard.

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Zoltan Peczoli (peczoli) wrote on 2007-01-31:

#10

Feisty Herd 2 installer works properly here too.

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Hans Vermeersch (hansvermeersch) wrote on 2007-02-16:

#11

same problem here, I use the 2.6.17-11-generic kernel in edgy. Same problem with the 2.6.17-10-generic.
I had the same problem in Dapper (bug #83066) when I installed the i686 kernel with smp support.
I have a intel processor with HT. I think it has something to do with the smp kernels.

A work around that helps for me: install the i386 kernel

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Samuel (samuel-chenal) wrote on 2007-02-16:

#12

Hi,

Same problem. I haven't tried the usb keyboard actually. My choice was:

- disable HT capability in the bios
- run the 686 kernel

It doesn't work as fast as if I used the HT capability (one single processor instead of two virtual processors), but it works faster as if I used the 386 kernel.

I will try the usb or Feisty Herd when it will be released.

s@m