After the installation the USB mouse does not function any longer

Support knowledgebase (usbmice64)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: Version 6.4
This article refers to an older version of SuSE Linux. Therefore some of the informations given in this article may be outdated or the article may contain stale links.

Symptom:

Your USB mouse or modem works during the installation, but after the restart of the computer it doesn't.

Cause:

Unfortunately Linuxrc does not transfer the parameters correctly, if a USB keyboard isn't used at the same time.

Solution:

You have to enter the drivers in the configuration file /etc/rc.config. Since there are two different USB controllers, you have to test by loading the modules by hand, which driver you need. First load the USB core driver:
modprobe usbcore
Now you have to try, which module fits for your controller, either usb-uhci or usb-ohci. Execute as follows:
modprobe usb-uhci
If you don't see the message,
/lib/modules/2.2.14/misc/usb-uhci.o: init_module: Device or resource busy
/lib/modules/2.2.14/misc/usb-uhci.o: insmod /lib/modules/2.2.14/misc/usb-uhci.o 
/lib/modules/2.2.14/misc/usb-uhci.o: insmod usb-uhci failed
then usb-uhci is the right driver for your computer. Otherwise type the command:
modprobe usb-ohci
If that also fails, the output of the command dmesg may give you a hint on what went wrong.

Now edit the file /etc/rc.config as root. Look up the line that begins with the word INITRD_MODULES. There may be other drivers in that line, e.g. if you boot from a SCSI hard drive. You will need to keep the other drivers. Add the names of the necessary USB driver modules:

INITRD_MODULES="usbcore usb-uhci input hid mousedev keybdev"
or
INITRD_MODULES="usbcore usb-ohci input hid mousedev keybdev"
Here only the second module differs, usb-uhci or usb-ohci. Then execute as root the command
mk_initrd
Afterwards run lilo the from yast menu:
System administration -> Kernel and boot configuration -> LILO configuration
Keywords: USB, MOUSE, INSTALLATION, BOOT, KDE, XWINDOW, X11, MODEM, KEYBOARD, INTERNET

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