USB not working in Gentoo installation. Pls. Help!!!

[Despect]

To start off with, I'm fairly new to Linux, but only the "Build your kernel and install everything from the ground up" aspect of it. That being said, I'm sure I'm just doing something stupid...

Anyway, I can't seem to get my USB mouse to work on my Dell Inspiron 1000 system. Searches through the internet and forums are only bringing up stories of how, "It just worked on mine," and no explanation of what I might need to do...

I'm fairly sure it's my USB that is not being loaded correctly, but I have all the options in my kernel that I believe should be the culprit already integrated straight in before compile time...

I've been through the Gentoo Installation guide, and the Mouse installation guide, etc...

My touchpad mouse works fine, however being the kinda anal person that I am I want my USB to work as well. (Seeing how it doesn't wanna seem to load anything else either...)

I've also had a friend ssh into my console and check out a few things for me. He's as perplexed as I am. And he's been building his own kernels for years now. (Think he said he's up to about 2000 diff. compiles...)

So please, if anyone has a kernel options list that I need for a Dell Inspiron 1000 or maybe something that I need to install for my USB to function, it would be GREATLY appreciated. Thx!

~Despect

[01mf02]

What happens if you try a different Linux flavour like Ubuntu (they have a LiveCD) to test if it works there?

[Despect]

Thing is, I'm trying to get the hang of Gentoo because I have a job offer to help service remote VPNs set up in a Gentoo environment.

So I'm trying to learn the entire gentoo system, from kernel, to portage and emerge... etc...

Regardless, the distro should be able to handle my USB, considering that the LiveCD which I boot with the gentoo option works with my USB mouse just dandy.

Just seems that when I build my own kernel and boot in that it doesn't work... Also, when I lsusb it only gives me one entry, and it's mostly a bunch of zeros... not like when I lsusb in the LiveCD at all...
_________________
C:\
C:\DOS\
C:\DOS\RUN

RUN\DOS\RUN

[falconorb]

I had the same issue with nvidia hardware. I happened upon this bit of documentation.
http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/usb-guide.xml

I think you might be missing the HID option in the kernel config. At least I was. I had a number of nvidia drivers to enable in the kernel as well.

Under USB support
<<<excerpt from that usb-guide.xml>>>
(Then the HID bits.
You have to select HID input support if you have a USB keyboard,
mouse, joystick or any other USB input device)
--- USB Input Devices
<*> USB Human Interface Device (full HID) support
[*] HID input layer support
<<<end of excerpt>>>

After a recompile, the /dev/input directory had a new option, mouse0.

After that, it is all on 'xorg.conf'.

[Despect]

If only it was that simple.

But, alas, I have that enabled in my kernel. In fact, I went through the specific guide that your link already points to.

Really just totally confused on this whole thing...

Anyway, these are all great ideas. Keep 'em comin'. I may have missed something... (obviously I have...)

But if anyone has a gentoo kernel running on a DELL Inspiron 1000... please post me your kernel config... It almost has to be in there that I'm makin' the mistake...
_________________
C:\
C:\DOS\
C:\DOS\RUN

RUN\DOS\RUN

[falconorb]

My experience with the nvidia hardware is similar to yours. Essentially, some chipset support is not enabled in your kernel. In the case of my hardware, it will not boot if the ATA nvidia hardware is not a part of the kernel. Also, I had an HP laptop with ALi chipset which required a kernel hack (later added as support) in order to enable the USB due to funny irq channels. According to specs, you have SiS chipsets on that machine, the M650 and the 962L.

I saw a couple of options in the kernel.
Processor Type and Features --> Dell Laptop Support {seems too obvious}
Device Drivers --> USB Support --> I would make sure EHCI, OHCI, and UHCI are all checked. Just to be safe.
Device Drivers --> ATA/ATAPI/MFM/RLL Support --> SiS5513 Chipset Support
Device Drivers --> Character Devices --> /dev/agpgart && SiS chipset Support
Device Drivers --> Character Devices --> Direct Rendering Manager && SiS video cards
Device Drivers --> Graphics Support --> SiS/XGI Display Support
Device Drivers --> Sound --> Advanced Linux Sound Architecture --> PCI Devices --> Intel/SiS/nvidia/AMD/ALi AC97 controller
Device Drivers --> Sound --> Advanced Linux Sound Architecture --> PCI Devices --> Intel/SiS/nvidia/AMD MC97 controller


When this works, you should see a /dev/input/mouse0 or some mouse# when the mouse is plugged in. If you cat that file and move the mouse, it shows all those funny characters. That is when you know it works...

I reason that the video card, sound card, ATA controller are part of the SiS650 and the SiS962. Since they are integrated into the same chipset as the USB function, then you might not get the full function out of the chipset unless the individual devices are enabled. For example, you might see video, but the USB function might not be fully enabled. That is about the best I can suggest. If you find anything else that says SiS or Silicon Integrated Systems, then I would enable it and its parent options. I hope that works.

[Despect]

K. Thanks guys. Got it working now.

Just continuously recompiled my kernel back and forth with diff. options until finally I came across what was wrong.

Not entirely sure which option fixed it, however rebuilding the kernel and trying again since I have a working kernel will soon tell me what EXACTLY I need installed.

Tip for any other newbs like myself. Don't just enable everything when you dunno what you need... That didn't work for me in USB, however when I selected just the right components everything worked fine.

~Despect
_________________
C:\
C:\DOS\
C:\DOS\RUN

RUN\DOS\RUN