Problem with checking battery status
R31 laptops have a problem where anytime ACPI or APM events are polled (e.g. checking battery status), causes the mouse to jerk around the screen clicking on things. Also sometimes repeating keypresses are generated.
Causes
Anomaly in the way the kernel driver handles the i8042 keyboard/mouse controller in the R31.
Related Symptoms
These messages in dmesg seem to be related:
psmouse.c: TrackPoint at isa0060/serio4/input0 lost synchronization, throwing 2 bytes away. psmouse.c: TrackPoint at isa0060/serio4/input0 lost synchronization, throwing 2 bytes away.
Workarounds
Don't query the battery. Remove any battery applets from your panel.
Possible Solution
Use the following kernel parameter, without quotes, at boot: "i8042.nomux=1". Add this to your "append=" line in lilo.conf or append it to the kernel line in the menu.lst of your grub configuration.
References
- http://kruemel.rnbhq.org/r31.html#bug_batteryquery
- http://webrum.uni-mannheim.de/math/froeser/r31_linux.html
- http://forum.kanotix.net/PNphpBB2-viewtopic-t-6424.html
- http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/archive/25/2005/04/2/308437
- http://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2003/12/msg03632.html
- http://www.systura.com/linux/thinkpadr31.php
