Choppy wireless mouse and keyboard

English Hardware
1

Hi Everyone.

I have installed OpenSuse Leap 15 and the first thing I notice is that all my wireless mice and keyboards become choppy sometimes. Wireline keyboard and mice work just fine.

I have tried the experiment with several wireless mice (logitech) and one wireless keyboard. However, all result in the same problem.

Everything works fine like 60% of the time and then the choppiness sporadically sets in.

The last keyboard/mouse set I tried was using “Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver” USB receiver.

Any ideas on what to try?

Thank You!

2

Does https://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php/534756-Touchpad-behaving-rather-oddly seem to match your experience at all?

Which DE do you use, Gnome, KDE, other?

inxi -Gxxb

will provide this along with your hardware info which you can paste here using code tags from above the input window: #]. (You likely need to install inxi first, using YaST or zypper.)

Whatever you are using now, try something else. Simplest is usually IceWM, installed by default along with KDE or Gnome. Places to look for clues to trouble include ‘journalctl -b’, ‘dmesg | less’, and /var/log/Xorg.0.log, for strings like input, mouse or failed. Output from dmesg and journalctl can be shared with us rather simply by redirecting output to a file, then using the susepaste command to upload, followed by providing the upload URL here. Instead of the susepaste command, you can go directly to https://susepaste.org/ in web browser and upload.

3

Thanks! I am using XFCE4.

Below is the output of inxi --Gxxb


System:    Host: research Kernel: 4.12.14-lp150.12.45-default x86_64
           bits: 64 gcc: 7.3.1
           Console: tty 0 dm: lightdm Distro: openSUSE Leap 15.0
Machine:   Device: laptop System: LENOVO product: 4270CTO v: ThinkPad W520 serial: R9P52KL
           Mobo: LENOVO model: 4270CTO serial: 1ZKBZ24X2HY
           UEFI: LENOVO v: 8BET66WW (1.46 ) date: 06/14/2018
           Chassis: type: 10 serial: R9P52KL
Battery    BAT0: charge: 40.1 Wh 99.9% condition: 40.1/86.6 Wh (46%)
           volts: 12.5/11.1
           model: SANYO 45N1007 serial: 22766 status: Full
CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i7-2960XM (-HT-MCP-)
           arch: Sandy Bridge rev.7
           speed/max: 2691/3700 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GF106GLM [Quadro 2000M]
           bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0dda
           Display Server: X.org 1.19.6
           drivers: nouveau (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev,vesa)
           tty size: 80x24 Advanced Data: N/A for root out of X
Network:   Card-1: Intel 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (Lewisville)
           driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k port: 6040
           bus-ID: 00:19.0 chip-ID: 8086:1502
           Card-2: Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 [Kilmer Peak]
           driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:0089
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 4050.8GB (11.5% used)
Info:      Processes: 286 Uptime: 0:18 Memory: 4550.6/24050.7MB
           Init: systemd v: 234 runlevel: 5 default: graphical.target
           Gcc sys: 7.3.1
           Client: Shell (bash 4.4.231 running in tty 0) inxi: 2.3.40

journal -b output: http://paste.opensuse.org/view//9956416
/var/log/Xorg.0: SUSE Paste

Thank you!

4

Xorg.0.log reports this device: “Composite USB PS2 Converter USB to PS2 Adaptor”. Is it something you are actually using? If not, can you remove it and try? PS/2 to USB converters can be problematic.

You are using the X driver nouveau. There is a FOSS alternate named modesetting. It’s possible a switch to it would make a difference. There are two rather different ways to make the switch. One is to remove xf86-video-nouveau with zypper or Yast. The other is to have a file named /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-modesetting.conf containing the following;

Section "Device"
    Identifier "DefaultDevice"
	Driver	"modesetting"
EndSection

Restart X or reboot to test.

There are two normally installed packages that are not necessarily needed, and might give rise to a conflict. Try using zypper or Yast to remove xf86-input-mouse and xf86-input-keyboard. X on 15.0 works for me without either installed. Just in case you need either or both. Only remove one first and try before trying the other, to make it easier to undo if necessary. I tried mouse first.

Did you try an IceWM session?

Are you close to neighbors who might be using the same wireless mouse and/or keyboard?

5

Thank you for your reply!

I removed xf86-video-nouveau using zypper and removed xf86-input-mouse.

Right now I am actually using PS2 to USB converter for an old keyboard (which I am I using temporarily). The choppy wireless device phenomenon happens with or without it.

Looks like I am already using IceWM session, as running icewm outputs:


IceWM: A window manager is already running, use --replace to replace it

It is possible that that there are people around me who use wireless devices, but I traveled and the same phenomenon happens regardless.

Any other ideas?

Thanks.

6

And restarted X, including LightDM greeter?

Right now I am actually using PS2 to USB converter for an old keyboard (which I am I using temporarily). The choppy wireless device phenomenon happens with or without it.

Looks like I am already using IceWM session, as running icewm outputs:


IceWM: A window manager is already running, use --replace to replace it

You must exit or not start an XFCE session before starting an IceWM session, by selecting an IceWM selection from the LightDM login greeter. Or, while no X session is running, you could login on a vtty and try:

WINDOWMANAGER=/usr/bin/icewm startx -- :1

If refused, either: 1-for testing only, try again logged in as root; or 2-with root permission, first run:

chmod 4711 /usr/bin/Xorg

It is possible that that there are people around me who use wireless devices, but I traveled and the same phenomenon happens regardless.
Technically, is possible. Realistically, less than .001% chance if there are walls between you and anyone else with same hardware.

Any other ideas?
What I already wrote, uninstall the other input driver too.

Also, redo inxi -Gxxb while in an X session. It can’t do the whole job from a vtty. Also if Mesa-demo-x is not installed, install it first. Then, before doing inxi -Gxxb, do inxi -U. That should make it update itself, which should result in even better information. If it claims to be disallowed from self updating, you can get a newer version by installing the RPM provided by Tumbleweed, or override the restriction with /etc/inxi.conf containing:

B_ALLOW_UPDATE=true
7

Thanks. I have uninstalled the keyboard driver as well.

Yes, I actually rebooted after uninstalling.

I did try running IceWM from the login, but the phenomenon still manifests.

I am sort of afraid to try mesa-demo-x as it may make my system unstable.

Below is the current inxi -Gxxb output


System:    Host: research Kernel: 4.12.14-lp150.12.45-default x86_64
           bits: 64 gcc: 7.3.1
           Console: tty 0 dm: lightdm Distro: openSUSE Leap 15.0
Machine:   Device: laptop System: LENOVO product: 4270CTO v: ThinkPad W520 serial: R9P52KL
           Mobo: LENOVO model: 4270CTO serial: 1ZKBZ24X2HY
           UEFI: LENOVO v: 8BET66WW (1.46 ) date: 06/14/2018
           Chassis: type: 10 serial: R9P52KL
Battery    BAT0: charge: 40.1 Wh 99.9% condition: 40.1/86.6 Wh (46%)
           volts: 12.5/11.1
           model: SANYO 45N1007 serial: 22766 status: Full
CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i7-2960XM (-HT-MCP-)
           arch: Sandy Bridge rev.7
           speed/max: 2691/3700 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GF106GLM [Quadro 2000M]
           bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0dda
           Display Server: X.org 1.19.6
           drivers: modesetting (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           tty size: 80x24 Advanced Data: N/A for root out of X
Network:   Card-1: Intel 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (Lewisville)
           driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k port: 6040
           bus-ID: 00:19.0 chip-ID: 8086:1502
           Card-2: Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 [Kilmer Peak]
           driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:0089
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 4050.8GB (11.5% used)
Info:      Processes: 272 Uptime: 2:01 Memory: 2454.6/24050.7MB
           Init: systemd v: 234 runlevel: 5 default: graphical.target
           Gcc sys: 7.3.1
           Client: Shell (bash 4.4.231 running in tty 0) inxi: 2.3.40

Thank you.

8

This you didn’t do…but now only inxi -U; inxi -Gxx is desired.

9

Sorry, forgot:


Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GF106GLM [Quadro 2000M]
           bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0dda
           Display Server: X.org 1.19.6
           drivers: modesetting (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           tty size: 80x24 Advanced Data: N/A for root out of X
10

Forgot to use an X session or as normal user too.

11

Sorry, please find below an output for a regular user:

System: Host: research Kernel: 4.12.14-lp150.12.45-default x86_64
bits: 64 gcc: 7.3.1
Desktop: Xfce 4.12.4 (Gtk 2.24.32) dm: lightdm
Distro: openSUSE Leap 15.0
Machine: Device: laptop System: LENOVO product: 4270CTO v: ThinkPad W520 serial: N/A
Mobo: LENOVO model: 4270CTO serial: N/A
UEFI: LENOVO v: 8BET66WW (1.46 ) date: 06/14/2018
Chassis: type: 10 serial: N/A
Battery BAT0: charge: 40.1 Wh 99.9% condition: 40.1/86.6 Wh (46%)
volts: 12.5/11.1
model: SANYO 45N1007 serial: 22766 status: Full
CPU: Quad core Intel Core i7-2960XM (-HT-MCP-)
arch: Sandy Bridge rev.7
speed/max: 2691/3700 MHz
Graphics: Card: NVIDIA GF106GLM [Quadro 2000M]
bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0dda
Display Server: x11 (X.org 1.19.6 )
drivers: modesetting (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
tty size: 80x24
Network: Card-1: Intel 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (Lewisville)
driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k port: 6040
bus-ID: 00:19.0 chip-ID: 8086:1502
Card-2: Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 [Kilmer Peak]
driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:0089
Drives: HDD Total Size: 4050.8GB (11.5% used)
Info: Processes: 289 Uptime: 12:40 Memory: 7181.8/24050.7MB
Init: systemd v: 234 runlevel: 5 default: graphical.target
Gcc sys: 7.3.1
Client: Shell (bash 4.4.231 running in xfce4-terminal) inxi: 2.3.40

12 
> inxi -Gxxb
System:    Host: research Kernel: 4.12.14-lp150.12.45-default x86_64 bits: 64 gcc: 7.3.1 Desktop: Xfce 4.12.4 (Gtk 2.24.32) dm: lightdm
           Distro: openSUSE Leap 15.0
Machine:   Device: laptop System: LENOVO product: 4270CTO v: ThinkPad W520 serial: N/A Mobo: LENOVO model: 4270CTO serial: N/A
           UEFI: LENOVO v: 8BET66WW (1.46 ) date: 06/14/2018 Chassis: type: 10 serial: N/A
           Battery BAT0: charge: 40.1 Wh 99.9% condition: 40.1/86.6 Wh (46%) volts: 12.5/11.1 model: SANYO 45N1007 serial: 22766 status: Full
CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i7-2960XM (-HT-MCP-) arch: Sandy Bridge rev.7 speed/max: 2691/3700 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GF106GLM [Quadro 2000M] bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0dda
           Display Server: x11 (X.org 1.19.6 ) drivers: modesetting (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) tty size: 80x24
Network:   Card-1: Intel 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (Lewisville) driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k port: 6040 bus-ID: 00:19.0 chip-ID: 8086:1502
           Card-2: Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 [Kilmer Peak] driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:0089
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 4050.8GB (11.5% used)
Info:      Processes: 289 Uptime: 12:40 Memory: 7181.8/24050.7MB Init: systemd v: 234 runlevel: 5 default: graphical.target Gcc sys: 7.3.1
           Client: Shell (bash 4.4.231 running in xfce4-terminal) inxi: 2.3.40

Forgot something else this time. :stuck_out_tongue: Also I’m missing having seen results of your using any kind of session other than XFCE. I’m running low on ideas.

What were you using before Leap 15?

Is there any chance your ThinkPad has an early implementation of Optimus Technology? http://www.notebookreview.com/notebookreview/lenovo-thinkpad-w520-review/ suggests you might be, though the old inxi version 2.3.40 does not. Using 3.0.30 via inxi’s build-in upgrade option -U might (very small likelihood) offer more. inxi -U might be disabled, but creating /etc/inxi.conf containing B_ALLOW_UPDATE=true will reenable. Susepaste output from ‘lspci -vvv’ also might enable confirming or denying Optimus.

Can you disable wireless and see any difference?

The only other thing that comes to mind would be trying the proprietary NVidia X driver.

Hopefully someone else has more suggestions if none so far here help.

13

Thanks for your continuing help.

I tried disabling Wi-Fi, but this did not change anything.

I did create the /etc/inxi.conf and ran lspci -vvv (output here SUSE Paste)

P.S. I did not reboot after changing /etc/inxi.conf. That might be necessary?

14

Can you share the output of the following please?

usb-devices

FWIW, it reminds me of this old thread I responded to (where it was found to be DE-related)…
https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-hardware-18/mouse-scrolling-choppy-with-update-4175635148/

15

Please find it below. Thank you.

http://susepaste.org/84664236

16

#1-deano_ferrari’s response about DE reminds, this is still missing. Are you unable to find selection of an alternate to XFCE session at the LightDM login greeter.

#2-Are you using autologin?

17

  1. I have previously IceWM, but the choppiness was still present.

  2. Yes, I am using autologin

18

Then maybe this is a LightDM fault. I would next try using instead tdm, lxdm, sddm, or gdm.

  1. Yes, I am using autologin
    Could you try not using autologin, to see if it changes anything?
  1. What did you use before Leap 15?
19

Sure, I will try to use other dms.

I will try autologin again. I do wonder, however, how autologin could affect anything.

I used Ubuntu before that. Even used Leap 15 without a problem until I had to reinstall it due an unrelated issue.

20

Hi
With Logitech, in my experience it’s been a low battery and/or interference from other devices causing a choppy mouse for me. I actually wound up swapping out and repairing the receiver (via solaar).

Perhaps try a different USB port for the receiver or test in a different location…