Keyboard/mouse problems with Ubuntu

[yccda]

This is pretty baffling since I've been using Ubuntu 12.10 perfectly for the past month.

In the past 2 days, after getting past the BIOS and GRUB screen (where my keyboard works as evidenced by the light up of my caps lock button) to the Ubuntu login page, my touchpad and keyboard for my laptop has about 9/10 chance of not working. (If I restart it enough times it'll eventually work).

I even reinstalled Ubuntu and that didn't fix it. Then I tried installing ArchLinux and I had the same problems.

Strangely, Windows works perfectly for me...

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

Edit: The laptop is a Lenovo U410 Ultrabook.

[itrogers]

I think the first step to solving the problem would be listing the make and model of your laptop.

[yccda]

Updated.

Anyway I wanted to add that if I plug in my mouse, then it will work even though my touchpad and keyboard doesn't.

For some reason, I'm guessing that Linux isn't detecting my touchpad/keyboard about 90% of the time, even though it was working perfectly before...

[UltimateCat]

The other day I learned that by hitting Shift + F4 disaled my Vaio laptop's keyboard- -
Anyway:

Got it you have a a Lenovo U410 Ultrabook.

What you have going on is a tad bit odd. Even has me somewhat baffeled-

:~$ 32bit or 64bit archietecture?...Nevermind; found it-

Here's the spec's:
http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/te...u-series/u410/

[UltimateCat]

Ok you have a 'AccuType keyboard'....Have to learn more and need more information-
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Lenov...d-265669.shtml

Troubleshooting a Lenovo but desktop (might help)
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/diag...ID=MIGR-4Y67AW

Keyboard Not Working
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-3...ing/td-p/50076

I see that you have the NVIDIA® GeForce® 610M (1GB)....Is it the Optimus one?
Not sure if that could be the culprit or not-

Not the expert on this but trying to help.

Now that I found the specs maybe itrogers can diagnose or advise-

[UltimateCat]

I think the first step to solving the problem would be listing the make and model of your laptop.

he did in his OP after he mentioned his appreciation:-

[itrogers]

Have you checked the physical connection for the keyboard and touchpad? UltimateCat found a thread on Lenovo indicating it might be the hard connection:

Keyboard Not Working
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-3...ing/td-p/50076

The fact that it works sometimes is definitely odd. Are you aware if you updated any software prior to the issue occurring?

[yccda]

I'm not using the Nvidia Geforce. My laptop comes with 2 graphics cards, and I configured the BIOS so that I use the Intel HD 4000 only.

Honestly I have no idea if it's a hardware or software problem. All I know is that my laptop works perfectly when it's booted, until it enters Ubuntu.
I'm just insanely confused why reinstalling Ubuntu hasn't fixed this... Even if updating was a problem, reinstalling 12.10 should have fixed this.

I'm thinking it might be a kernel bug, but then again, I might not have any idea of what I'm talking about.

And it's not just my laptop that doesn't work but also my touchpad. Currently I even installed Ubuntu 13.04, and I still need to reboot my laptop about 5 times for my keyboard and touchpad to function.

[yccda]

Also one interesting thing is that sometimes when I boot my laptop, I get the Ubuntu purple screen, where you can choose Ubuntu or 'Advanced Options'.

Other times my computer screen skips that and goes immediately to the login screen.

Is this normal or is this a sign of some software/hardware error?

[UltimateCat]

If it is hardware failure the only way I know would be to run:

Memtest

Great diagnostics tool (if) it's a memory issue-
http://www.memtest.org/

Even if updating was a problem, reinstalling 12.10 should have fixed this.

Your right because all of the kernel modules and kernel drivers in use would help.

Sometimes with hardware issue's using the most current stable cutting edge version of the kernel will help.
But not sure if that will solve the keyboard/mouse issue in this case.

Sometimes a purple screen and than bypasses that and goes right to log in--
Heavy dust build up can cause this. Depending on the age of the laptop. Fan failure can cause overheating and make
the boot up process go wacky too-

You could run "rkhunter" that is if you are suspicious of a root kit.
Unlikely because Linux is pretty secure but occasionally it happens.


Might be time to call in the Linux Ninja's:-