Kensington orbit scroll ring trackball not working

[Robert Moskowitz]

For what it is worth:

I have the Kensington Expert optical trackball with scroll ring.

It just works for me.  I am using Fedora (first 28 now 30) with Xfce 4.12.

It is plugged into my TrippLite KVM for normal use to use on all my 
computers, but I know that my Win7 system recognized as the Kensington 
Expert and installed its drivers. So the KVM is forwarding all mouse info.

My right arm was in a sling for 8 weeks back in Nov-Dec and I switched 
to this device on advice from the Fedora users list.  I use it 
left-handed, but have never switched the buttons for left-handed mode.  
When I got my arm out of the sling, I tried switching it to the right 
side, but actually found that challenging and I continue to use it with 
my left hand.



On 7/4/19 1:27 PM, Rich Shepard wrote:
> Running xfce4-4.12 on Slackware-14.2. For many years I used Logitech
> trackballs and the latest finally died of old age. To replace it I 
> bought a
> Kensington orbit trackball with scroll ring and it arrived yesterday
> evening.
>
> When connected to my older desktop via a USB->PS/2 connector, the 
> trackball
> did not work; that is, the cursor would not move. Connected directly to a
> USB port in the front allowed it to work.
>
> Settings -> Mouse and Trackball defaults to "ImExPS/2 Logitech Explorer
> Mouse" (which worked with the old Logitech trackball and any actual 
> mouse I
> plug in a USB port). The other alternative is "HID 04d9:0499". When the
> Kensington trackball is plugged in a third alternative reads "Primax
> Kensington Eagle Trackball".
>
> With the mouse disconnected I tried making the Kensington Eagle Trackball
> the driver. It appeared to not stick for a few tries, then it 
> apparently did
> because with only the Kensington trackball connected the settings 
> dialog box
> blanked and cursor would not move in the PS/2 port; had to connect a 
> mouse
> to recover. Now (even after restarting X) the trackball will not move the
> cursor even when connected directly to a USB port. Very strange. And,
> resetting the device to defaults makes no difference: the Kensington
> trackball now refuses to move the cursor connected via the USB->PS/2 
> adapter
> or directly to a USB port.
>
> I need advice on what to do to enable the Kensington trackball to work
> connected through an adapter to the PS/2 port on the rear of the host.
>
> Regards,
>
> Rich
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