"utechmech" <hgatley@emeryenergy.com> wrote:
> I tried using the cd /dev; /dev/mouse commands suggested and got the
> reply "Permission Denied".

Typing "cd /dev; /dev/mouse" means that you are trying to do the
following:

1) You are going into the directory /dev, this is OK to do.

2) You are trying to execute the file /dev/mouse. As you are giving the
complete path to the file you could have been in any directory when trying
to execute the file.

However, /dev/mouse is not and is not supposed to be executable. That is
why you are getting the error "Permission Denied". You are not supposed to
run /dev/mouse as a program. /dev/mouse is a "file", or rather a symbolic
link to a file which represents your mouse. Programs can read data from
the "file" and those data represents the movements of the mouse and which
mouse buttons has been pressed.

> Same thing happened when I tried to do the run portmod tocorrect an
> error.

I can't help you with that unless you try to explain better what you are
trying to do.

> Why is it denying me permission when I log in as 'root'?

balrog:~> ls -l /dev/mouse
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 5 Jan 3 2002 /dev/mouse -> psaux
balrog:~> ls -l /dev/psaux
crw-rw---- 1 root sys 10, 1 Apr 28 20:22 /dev/psaux

In my case /dev/mouse is a symbolic link pointing to /dev/psaux. The
"file" /dev/psaux represents my mouse connected to the ps/2 port.
/dev/psaux is owned by root and belongs to the group sys. The owner root
and any member of the group sys has read and write permissions to the
"file" (rw). However, noone, not even root has the right to execute the
file, there is no rwx. The file is not supposed to be executable, you
should not try to change it with something like "chmod u+x /dev/psaux".

> I thought 'root' was the login to allow changes.

Root is the most powerful account which is used for system administration.
As a normal user you are usually not able to break anything but your own
files in your home directory. As root you are able to administer your box,
but be careful, as root you are also able to mess things up.

> I have a 2-button Microsoft optical mouse on a PS/2 port, so I checked
> Microsoft PS/2 Intellimouse in setup.

If your mouse only has two buttons and no scrollwheel you should not use
the intellimouse protocol. Then you should probably use the imps2 protocol
instead.

> Whay isn't the system accepting my mouse?

I suppose that you are talking about X and not the console and gpm. Maybe
you could get a clue why your mouse is not working from the log file
/var/log/Xorg.0.log. Also check that /dev/mouse is pointing to /dev/psaux
and that /etc/X11/xorg.conf is referring to /dev/mouse.

regards Henrik
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