Dell Alps touchpad driver

**aboud** · January 7th, 2013

I have struggled a lot before I found a solution for my Dell inpiron touchpad driver.

I have downloaded pieces of the driver from different sources and compiled them before I had work driver.

In the attached tar file I have included a simple install script that will compile and backup and install new touchpad driver (psmouse.ko).

**anohigisavay** · February 14th, 2013

Woa this really helped a lot! Thank you!

**kalyanvarma** · February 17th, 2013

This has been very helpful thanks a lot!

**Jayjewels93** · February 19th, 2013

Sorry, I'm still somewhat new to Ubuntu. How do I install this touchpad driver on my system? step-by-step would be great, as I said, I'm still getting the hang of this. Thanks in advance!

**sixel** · February 19th, 2013

I'm with Jayjewels93 don't know how to run the install script

**zAo** · February 26th, 2013

Can someone give me a hint?

Code:

/usr/src/psmouse-alps-dst-0.4/dkms.conf must have PACKAGE_VERSION set to alps-dst-0.4

------------------------------
Deleting module version: alps-dst-0.4
completely from the DKMS tree.
------------------------------
Done.
/usr/src/psmouse-alps-dst-0.4/dkms.conf must have PACKAGE_VERSION set to alps-dst-0.4
This places the psmouse.ko dlkm in /lib/modules/3.8.0-7-generic/updates/dkms

Creating symlink /var/lib/dkms/psmouse/alps-dst-0.4/source ->
                 /usr/src/psmouse-alps-dst-0.4

DKMS: add completed.

Kernel preparation unnecessary for this kernel.  Skipping...

Building module:
cleaning build area....
make KERNELRELEASE=3.8.0-7-generic -C /lib/modules/3.8.0-7-generic/build M=/var/lib/dkms/psmouse/alps-dst-0.4/build/src psmouse.ko....(bad exit status: 2)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/share/apport/package-hooks/dkms_packages.py", line 22, in <module>
    import apport
ImportError: No module named apport
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 3.8.0-7-generic (i686)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/psmouse/alps-dst-0.4/build/make.log for more information.
Build failed
DKMS make.log for psmouse-alps-dst-0.4 for kernel 3.8.0-7-generic (i686)
Tue Feb 26 21:17:10 CET 2013
make: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.8.0-7-generic'
  CC [M]  /var/lib/dkms/psmouse/alps-dst-0.4/build/src/psmouse-base.o
/var/lib/dkms/psmouse/alps-dst-0.4/build/src/psmouse-base.c: In function ‘__check_smartscroll’:
/var/lib/dkms/psmouse/alps-dst-0.4/build/src/psmouse-base.c:64:1: warning: return from incompatible pointer type [enabled by default]
  CC [M]  /var/lib/dkms/psmouse/alps-dst-0.4/build/src/synaptics.o
/var/lib/dkms/psmouse/alps-dst-0.4/build/src/synaptics.c: In function ‘set_input_params’:
/var/lib/dkms/psmouse/alps-dst-0.4/build/src/synaptics.c:1153:3: error: too few arguments to function ‘input_mt_init_slots’
In file included from /var/lib/dkms/psmouse/alps-dst-0.4/build/src/synaptics.c:29:0:
include/linux/input/mt.h:78:5: note: declared here
/var/lib/dkms/psmouse/alps-dst-0.4/build/src/synaptics.c:1165:3: error: too few arguments to function ‘input_mt_init_slots’
In file included from /var/lib/dkms/psmouse/alps-dst-0.4/build/src/synaptics.c:29:0:
include/linux/input/mt.h:78:5: note: declared here
make[1]: *** [/var/lib/dkms/psmouse/alps-dst-0.4/build/src/synaptics.o] Error 1
make: *** [psmouse.ko] Error 2
make: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.8.0-7-generic'

**macsym** · February 26th, 2013

Hello Aboud,

I have a Dell Vostro 3360 running Ubuntu 64 bits. I could use my touchpad to move the mouse but the multitouch (especially for 2-finger scrolling) wasn't working so I installed dkms add psmouse/alps-dst-0.4 with a custom alps.c I found on a forum (can't remember where). Everything was fine until this morning (I guess the computer autoupdated itself and this driver doesn't work anymore) . My mouse was completely blocked so I used an external USB mouse to purge dkms psmouse/alps-dst-0.4. I was able to move the mouse via the touchpad again but 2-finger scrolling wasn't working so I decided to download and run your script.

My problem is my mouse is now completely blocked again and I don't know how to remove your files (I didn't find any uninstallation script).

Could you please explain me how I can completely remove your solution? At least I'll be able to move my mouse again.

Thank you for any help.

PS: look what xinput and dkms remove returns:

max@max-Vostro-3360:~$ xinput
⎡ Virtual core pointer id=2 [master pointer (3)]
⎜ ↳ Virtual core XTEST pointer id=4 [slave pointer (2)]
⎜ ↳ PS/2 Mouse id=12 [slave pointer (2)]
⎜ ↳ AlpsPS/2 ALPS GlidePoint id=13 [slave pointer (2)]
⎜ ↳ USB Optical Mouse id=15 [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)]
↳ Laptop_Integrated_Webcam_E4HD id=10 [slave keyboard (3)]
↳ AT Translated Set 2 keyboard id=11 [slave keyboard (3)]
↳ Dell WMI hotkeys id=14 [slave keyboard (3)]
max@max-Vostro-3360:~$ sudo dkms remove psmouse/alps-dst-0.4 --all
[sudo] password for max:
Error! There are no instances of module: psmouse
alps-dst-0.4 located in the DKMS tree.
max@max-Vostro-3360:~$

**rodrigob** · March 12th, 2013

Thanks a lot, just saved my day !

rodrigob.

**thomaspot** · March 29th, 2013

Aboud.. You made my day. ThanX

**stash1071** · April 12th, 2013

I ran into a problem trying to install the driver as well, and then my touchpad was completely disabled. Unfortunately, I didn't save the error, but if you look at the install script it thankfully makes a copy of psmouse.ko before trying to install the new one. The copy should be in the directory from where you ran the install script as psmouse.ko.org. I copied it back to /lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/drivers/input/mouse/psmouse.ko and restarted and touchpad and mouse work again.