Losing mouse pointer in non-Kubuntu KDE system

[Doug]

On 10/31/2010 02:39 AM, Nils Kassube wrote:
> Doug wrote:
>    
>> This is OT for Kubuntu, but you guys are into KDE, so I'll ask,
>> because I'm more likely to get a quick, usable response here.  (Have
>> tried the PCLinuxOs forum with no answer.)  This is PCLOS 2010.
>>
>> The system runs KDE 4.4.5, I believe.
>>      
> You can check the KDE version in every KDE application with
>
> Help ->  About KDE
>
>    
>> Every so often, I wake the
>> system up and the mouse pointer is missing, and so far as I know,
>> the mouse is non-functional.  I can get to a command line with
>> ALT-F2.  Is there a command that will start the mouse back up, and
>> if so, what is it?
>>      
> I don't know such a command, sorry. But what do you mean with "wake the
> system up"? Do you mean from suspend mode or from the screen saver? If
> you mean "from suspend mode", I think it is not a problem of KDE but
> more likely a problem of your xorg driver which doesn't handle suspend
> well. If it is the screen saver, I'm not so sure which part of the
> system is the culprit.
>
> Anyway, if you are talking about a USB mouse, you could try to unplug
> the mouse instead of a terminal command. After you replug it, it should
> work again.
>
>
> Nils
>
>    
Well, the program that shuts the machine down is the screen saver, but 
what it actually
does, I don't know.  (It's not 100% reliable--every so often I have to 
reset it--it
says the daemon has stopped working.)

Apparently that help command doesn't work here, or I have to be in a 
different
directory, or something.  However, I found this:
/tmp/kdecache-doug/help/en__kcontrol__solid-device-automounter__index.docbook
Which seems to be a description of how the system handles plug-in devices.
I'll have to try and follow it up. (The first line reads"Systemsettings 
automount device"
and more--it resists cut-and-paste.)

I'll try the unplug and replug; if that works, I'll have to plug the 
thing in the front of
the machine.  Of course, it's not something I can test on demand--I have 
to wait
until it fails, which could be days.

Thanx for the input, Nils.  At least I seem to have a couple of starting 
points.

--doug

-- 
Blessed are the peacemakers...for they shall be shot at from both sides. --A. M. Greeley