Touchpad stopped working but still recognized [SOLVED]

Message

halcon · Post by **halcon** » Mon Sep 15, 2025 12:16 am

Hi.

After upgrading gentoo-sources from 6.14.4 to 6.15.9 my touchpad stopped working. It is still recognized by the system because I see these lines:

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dmesg | grep -i touchpad
[    3.683568] input: ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad as /devices/platform/i8042/serio1/input/input7
[    5.032466] input: ELAN2305:00 04F3:3122 Touchpad as /devices/platform/AMDI0010:03/i2c-0/i2c-ELAN2305:00/0018:04F3:3122.0001/input/input10

Is there some trick to get it working again?
(The same upgrade broke the screen brightness, I resolved it by echoing bigger (than it was) numbers to /sys/class/backlight/amdgpu_bl0/brightness)

halcon · Post by **halcon** » Wed Oct 08, 2025 9:25 pm

Well, I practically never use the touchpad, because I like mouse more, but I wonder why it stopped working, and I would like to understand that

Here is my current kernel config (for 6.15.9). The kernel is compiled in the *old* way, just from gentoo-sources.

Here is the (relevant parts of) output of some commands:

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# libinput list-devices
...
Device:                  ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad
Kernel:                  /dev/input/event6
Id:                      serial:0002:000e
Group:                   9
Seat:                    seat0, default
Size:                    107x54mm
Capabilities:            pointer gesture
Tap-to-click:            disabled
Tap-and-drag:            enabled
Tap button map:          left/right/middle
Tap drag lock:           disabled
Left-handed:             disabled
Nat.scrolling:           disabled
Middle emulation:        disabled
Calibration:             n/a
Scroll methods:          *two-finger edge 
Scroll button:           n/a
Scroll button lock:      n/a
Click methods:           *button-areas clickfinger 
Clickfinger button map:  left/right/middle
Disable-w-typing:        enabled
Disable-w-trackpointing: enabled
Accel profiles:          flat *adaptive custom
Rotation:                n/a
Area rectangle:          n/a

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$ xinput --list
⎡ Virtual core pointer                          id=2    [master pointer  (3)]
⎜   ↳ Virtual core XTEST pointer                id=4    [slave  pointer  (2)]
⎜   ↳ PixArt USB Optical Mouse                  id=10   [slave  pointer  (2)]
⎜   ↳ ELAN2305:00 04F3:3122 Touchpad            id=11   [slave  pointer  (2)]
⎜   ↳ ELAN2305:00 04F3:3122 Mouse               id=12   [slave  pointer  (2)]
⎜   ↳ ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad                  id=14   [slave  pointer  (2)]
⎣ Virtual core keyboard                         id=3    [master keyboard (2)]
    ↳ Virtual core XTEST keyboard               id=5    [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Power Button                              id=6    [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Video Bus                                 id=7    [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Power Button                              id=8    [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Sleep Button                              id=9    [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ AT Translated Set 2 keyboard              id=13   [slave  keyboard (3)]

What else could be of help?

My X was one time configured according to instructions in that topic, I start it as

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startx -- vt1

, and I have only these two files inside /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d:

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Section "InputClass"
	Identifier		"keyboard catchall"
	Driver			"libinput"
	MatchIsKeyboard		"on"
	MatchDevicePath		"/dev/input/event*"
#	Option	"XkbModel"	"pc105"
	Option  "XkbLayout"	"us,ru(winkeys)"
	Option	"XkbOptions"	"grp:ctrl_shift_toggle,terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp"
EndSection

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Section "Files"
EndSection

^^ the second one is 20opengl.conf, evidently, it should have been removed a long time ago

Post by **pietinger** » Thu Oct 09, 2025 1:48 pm

halcon,

It's a shame that no one has responded here yet.

I'll try with my modest knowledge.

If you've done a kernel update without making any other changes to the system, then it's very likely that this is the cause of the problem. But that may not be the case. It could also be that you had already activated some kernel modules in the old kernel that didn't cause any problems before, but are now causing problems (you have activated a lot of unnecessary modules). However, it could also be due to the X.11 configuration.

Is it an Intel or AMD machine?

Also test what happens when you remove all manually created X.11 configuration files (move them somewhere else).

You have actually activated everything that an i2c touchpad needs (i2c, pinctrl, hid-multitouch, I2C_HID_ACPI). Therefore, I would recommend the following procedure:

Boot with our LiveCD (NOT the minimal or admin CD) and do number 2 of:
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pieti ... _you_start

Create a completely new kernel configuration with ONLY the necessary modules... preferably 6.17, because a new option has been added in 6.16 that I highly recommend (YESSS):
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pieti ... 16#Remarks

The best place to start is here:
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pieti ... figuration

...and in the "Basic Settings" section, select the link to:
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pieti ... ent_Kernel

BTW: I also recommend a completely new kernel configuration because I have seen this:

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# CONFIG_USB_PCI_AMD is not set
# CONFIG_IRQ_REMAP is not set

halcon · Post by **halcon** » Thu Oct 09, 2025 2:23 pm

Hi pietinger,

Thank you for your reply,

If you've done a kernel update without making any other changes to the system

Actually, maybe, not only. As I almost don't use touchpad, I can't be absolutely sure.

Is it an Intel or AMD machine?

AMD.

preferably 6.17

Already upgraded to 6.16.11, with the same result.

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# CONFIG_USB_PCI_AMD is not set
# CONFIG_IRQ_REMAP is not set

Is it so bad? As I see in the descriptions, USB_PCI_AMD should really be an important thing for an AMD machine... Ok, I am going to enable it. But IRQ_REMAP... Some virtualization thing. Do you think I need it?

Boot with our LiveCD (NOT the minimal or admin CD) and do number 2 of:

Maybe I find the time to do it all. That's not a new laptop, and not my main machine...

EDIT

you have activated a lot of unnecessary modules

For example?..

EDIT2

Also test what happens when you remove all manually created X.11 configuration files (move them somewhere else).

Tested. Nothing changed.

EDIT3

Installed xev and checked the touchpad with it. Nothing happens at all, neither for moves, nor for clicks.

Post by **pietinger** » Thu Oct 09, 2025 2:55 pm

halcon wrote:Thank you for your reply,

You know you are very Welcome!

halcon wrote:But IRQ_REMAP... Some virtualization thing. Do you think I need it?

It depends on your BIOS settings. Do you have VT-d (and/or VT-x) enabled?
It is safe to enable it in every case.

halcon wrote:For example?..

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# Maybe the problem comes from here; this is the reason we need the "lsmod" after booting with our LiveCD
CONFIG_INPUT_MOUSE=y
CONFIG_MOUSE_PS2=y
CONFIG_MOUSE_PS2_ALPS=y
CONFIG_MOUSE_PS2_BYD=y
CONFIG_MOUSE_PS2_LOGIPS2PP=y
CONFIG_MOUSE_PS2_SYNAPTICS=y
CONFIG_MOUSE_PS2_SYNAPTICS_SMBUS=y
CONFIG_MOUSE_PS2_CYPRESS=y
CONFIG_MOUSE_PS2_LIFEBOOK=y
CONFIG_MOUSE_PS2_TRACKPOINT=y
-> AFAIK this is only for very old elan devices: CONFIG_MOUSE_PS2_ELANTECH=y
CONFIG_MOUSE_PS2_ELANTECH_SMBUS=y
CONFIG_MOUSE_PS2_FOCALTECH=y
CONFIG_MOUSE_PS2_SMBUS=y
-> ? CONFIG_MOUSE_ELAN_I2C=y
-> ? CONFIG_MOUSE_ELAN_I2C_I2C=y
-> ? CONFIG_MOUSE_ELAN_I2C_SMBUS=y
CONFIG_MOUSE_SYNAPTICS_I2C=y
CONFIG_MOUSE_SYNAPTICS_USB=y

# AFAIK only Intel machines have this; but I am unsure here
CONFIG_RMI4_CORE=y
CONFIG_RMI4_F03=y
CONFIG_RMI4_F03_SERIO=y
CONFIG_RMI4_2D_SENSOR=y
CONFIG_RMI4_F11=y
CONFIG_RMI4_F12=y
CONFIG_RMI4_F30=y
CONFIG_RMI4_F3A=y

CONFIG_I2C_CCGX_UCSI=m
CONFIG_I2C_ALI1535=m
CONFIG_I2C_ALI1563=m
CONFIG_I2C_ALI15X3=m
CONFIG_I2C_AMD756=m
CONFIG_I2C_AMD8111=m
CONFIG_I2C_AMD_MP2=m
CONFIG_I2C_I801=m
CONFIG_I2C_ISCH=m
-> Maybe the only needed (change to built-in because you have the correct CONFIG_PINCTRL_AMD=y): CONFIG_I2C_PIIX4=m
CONFIG_I2C_NFORCE2=m
CONFIG_I2C_SIS5595=m
CONFIG_I2C_SIS630=m
CONFIG_I2C_SIS96X=m
CONFIG_I2C_VIA=m
CONFIG_I2C_VIAPRO=m

# Have you really a designware PCI controller?
CONFIG_I2C_DESIGNWARE_CORE=m

CONFIG_PINCTRL_INTEL=y
CONFIG_PINCTRL_SUNRISEPOINT=y

CONFIG_HID_A4TECH=y
CONFIG_HID_APPLE=y
CONFIG_HID_BELKIN=y
CONFIG_HID_CHERRY=y
CONFIG_HID_CHICONY=y
CONFIG_HID_CYPRESS=y
-> ? CONFIG_HID_ELAN=y
CONFIG_HID_EZKEY=y
CONFIG_HID_KYE=y
CONFIG_HID_GYRATION=y
CONFIG_HID_KENSINGTON=y
CONFIG_HID_LENOVO=y
CONFIG_HID_REDRAGON=y
CONFIG_HID_MICROSOFT=y
CONFIG_HID_MONTEREY=y
-> Maybe the only needed: CONFIG_HID_MULTITOUCH=y
CONFIG_HID_NTRIG=y
CONFIG_HID_PANTHERLORD=y
CONFIG_PANTHERLORD_FF=y
CONFIG_HID_PETALYNX=y
CONFIG_HID_SAMSUNG=y
CONFIG_HID_SONY=y
CONFIG_HID_SUNPLUS=y
CONFIG_HID_RMI=y
CONFIG_HID_TOPSEED=y
CONFIG_HID_SENSOR_HUB=y

halcon · Post by **halcon** » Thu Oct 09, 2025 3:00 pm

Ouch, I did it.

The problem was in Fn + F9

That hotkey combination disables the touchpad on RedmiBooks.

Post by **pietinger** » Thu Oct 09, 2025 3:02 pm

P.S.: There is a chapter in my wiki article:
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pieti ... C_Touchpad

Post by **pietinger** » Thu Oct 09, 2025 3:03 pm

halcon wrote:Ouch, I did it.

The problem was in Fn + F9

That hotkey combination disables the touchpad on RedmiBooks.

Great you found it.

halcon · Post by **halcon** » Thu Oct 09, 2025 3:04 pm

pietinger wrote:

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# Maybe the problem comes from here; this is the reason we need the "lsmod" after booting with our LiveCD

Thank you, I am going to look carefully at all your recommendations!

BTW, when I upgrade kernels, I always look at your articles, like that:
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pieti ... 15_to_6.16