Xorg 1.6 + evdev + hal = puzzling keyboard behavior

[Sylvain Raybaud]

On Wednesday 8 July 2009 04:43:18 you wrote:
> > When I start X (kde4) it is as if a key was constantly pressed. This
> > key changes each time. I've got a console which pops up automatically
> > when I log in, and I see it being filled, for example, with the
> > character '2'. If I use kdm the problem starts at the login screen,
> > with characters being repeatedly written in the "login" field. Some
> > random characters are also displayed. It is not only printable
> > characters, from the behavior I can guess that, for example, arrow
> > keys are also "pressed".
> >
> > It happens regardless of the content of xorg.conf (with or without
> > InputDevice sections, whith either kdb or evdev as a driver, and even
> > with no xorg.conf at all). I have got evdev built in the kernel and
> > evbug as a module. If I stop hald and use kdb and mouse as drivers
> > for input devices the problem disappears.
>
> What happens if you add
>
> Option "AutoAddDevices" "false"
>
> to xorg.conf ServerFlags section?

Surprisingly, I've got working keyboard and mouse, although I would have 
thought that with no InputDevice section and AutoAddDevices=false in xorg.conf 
I would have got nothing. It seems that X "automagically" detects my keyboard 
and mouse because at the end of /var/log/Xorg.0.log I have got the following 
lines:

(WW) <default pointer>: No Device specified, looking for one...
(II) <default pointer>: Setting Device option to "/dev/input/mice"
(--) <default pointer>: Device: "/dev/input/mice"
(==) <default pointer>: Protocol: "Auto"
(**) Option "CorePointer"
(**) <default pointer>: always reports core events
(==) <default pointer>: Emulate3Buttons, Emulate3Timeout: 50
(**) <default pointer>: ZAxisMapping: buttons 4 and 5
(**) <default pointer>: Buttons: 9
(**) <default pointer>: Sensitivity: 1
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "<default pointer>" (type: MOUSE)
(**) <default pointer>: (accel) keeping acceleration scheme 1
(**) <default pointer>: (accel) filter chain progression: 2.00
(**) <default pointer>: (accel) filter stage 0: 20.00 ms
(**) <default pointer>: (accel) set acceleration profile 0
(II) <default pointer>: Setting mouse protocol to "ExplorerPS/2"
(II) <default pointer>: ps2EnableDataReporting: succeeded
(**) Option "CoreKeyboard"
(**) <default keyboard>: always reports core events
(**) Option "Protocol" "standard"
(**) <default keyboard>: Protocol: standard
(**) Option "AutoRepeat" "500 30"
(**) Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
(**) <default keyboard>: XkbRules: "xorg"
(**) Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
(**) <default keyboard>: XkbModel: "pc105"
(**) Option "XkbLayout" "us"
(**) <default keyboard>: XkbLayout: "us"
(**) Option "CustomKeycodes" "off"
(**) <default keyboard>: CustomKeycodes disabled
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "<default keyboard>" (type: 
KEYBOARD)
(II) config/hal: Adding input device ImExPS/2 Logitech Explorer Mouse
(EE) config/hal: NewInputDeviceRequest failed (8)
(II) config/hal: Adding input device AT Translated Set 2 keyboard
(EE) config/hal: NewInputDeviceRequest failed (8)
(II) 3rd Button detected: disabling emulate3Button


However, not so suprisingly hal or at least kde fails to detect a pluged in 
usb HDD.

here is hal's log :
http://perso.crans.org/raybaud/messages.AutoAddDevicesFalse.gz

and xorg.conf
http://perso.crans.org/raybaud/xorg.conf

thanks!

best regards,

-- 
Sylvain