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Linux compatibility

iabiab
Level 7
I'm considering getting a G750JX in the very near future, with the intent to make it dual boot WIndows and linux (probably ubuntu, maybe arch). As I was searching for a new laptop, I came across the MSI GT60/70 lines, and was surprised to find they feature ethernet and wifi cards that apparently have no linux driver (bigfoot killers). This, of course, wouldn't do.

Before I commit myself to the G750JX, I was wondering if anyone has successfully installed linux on it, and if everything works as expected. Since linux will be my main OS, with Windows just for gaming, I don't want to have a nasty surprise after purchase...

Thanks for the feedback!
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56 REPLIES 56

hello ,
my touchpad ETPS / 2 Elantech v4 protocol using the same company as shown here: https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/input/elantech.txt "> https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/input/elantech.txt
and I have 2 implementation issue . either:
1 . the right button does not work . In fact, I could fix it in the kernel . ( I 'd like to commit in the trunk but I do not know how to do it ) .
2 . Sometimes, the left button is the right button . I must touch the touchpad and left clicj to make plays revive my left button as it should work. I suspect a problem with the implemetation of the protocol.


1 . The patch is here: http://superuser.com/questions/619582/right-elantech-touchpad-button-not-working-in-linux "> http://superuser.com/questions/619582/right-elantech-touchpad-button-not-working-in-linux
This reactive patch button right . This right button is turn off in linux source code by someone who is using a Mac... For cons , I do not have a Mac and I have a touchpad with the same version of firmware is version 4. I try to automate the build with dkms but without success.
Regarding the DKMS , here's what I did ( not the tar.gz provided does not work and is more prepared exactly as I prepare here) :
- I created the folder /usr/src/psmouse-elantech-v7right
- I was looking for the official source of my kernel rpm and I copied the following folder of the source drivers/input/mouse to /usr/src/psmouse-elantech-v7right/src
- I created the following sources dkms file name /usr/src/psmouse-elantech-v7right/dkms.conf :
PACKAGE_NAME = " psmouse "
Package_version = " Elantech - v7right "
CLEAN = " rm- f * . * O "

BUILT_MODULE_NAME [0 ] = " psmouse "
MAKE [0 ] = " make-C $ M = $ kernel_source_dir dkms_tree/$ PACKAGE_NAME/$package_version/build/src/psmouse.ko "
BUILT_MODULE_LOCATION [0] = "src"
DEST_MODULE_LOCATION [0] = "/updates"

AUTOINSTALL = "yes
Only it comes to me as an error ( 0 module builted )

DKMS make.log for psmouse - Elantech - v7mike for kernel - 302.fc20.x86_64 3.11.5 (x86_64 )
Fri Oct. 18 2013 7:50:11 EDT
make: Entering directory `/ usr/src/kernels/3.11.5-302.fc20.x86_64 '
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/psmouse-base.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/synaptics.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/alps.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/elantech.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/logips2pp.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/lifebook.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/sentelic.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/trackpoint.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7m echo 0x02 | sudo dd of = debugike/build/src/cypress_ps2.o
**LD / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/psmouse.o
**MODPOST 0 modules
make: Leaving directory `/ usr/src/kernels/3.11.5-302.fc20.x86_64

I did a little research and I realized that psmouse is built statically into the kernel without a default module . It would be an error because DKMS DKMS needs not detect psmouse.ko as dynamic module ... Well, why I will not play in the kernel source and the builder ? Because that's what I want to avoid because it is long .... (but it works! ) . I 'd like to commit to the Linux Foundation. Maybe Fedora developers can help me integrate as soon as possible ? (I use Fedora 20 updates- testing # justsayin ')

2 . Regarding the second point I am trying to debug indeed the protocol of Elantech and I can not make a match of the debug module packets with source code or the protocol .
Just like that, to put an psmouse driver based on ( this is the case with most mice ) to debug , you must go to the following folder: /sys/bus/serio/drivers/psmouse/serio{1,2,3.4}/
and to
 echo 0x02 | sudo dd of=debug 


Anyway, to conclude, I would like to know where I can find a suitable spot aka wiki to document my laptop and my equipment .


Sincerely,
Michael

PS: @http://rog.asus.com admin : plz, fix code hightlight CSS ! 😉
PS2 : I'm a french talker. My original post is there : http://forums.fedora-fr.org/viewtopic.php?pid=528384

mikefaille
Level 7
hello ,
I have an g750jw.
my touchpad ETPS / 2 Elantech v4 protocol using the same company as shown here: https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/input/elantech.txt
and I have 2 implementation issue . either:
1 . the right button does not work . In fact, I could fix it in the kernel . ( I 'd like to commit in the trunk but I do not know how to do it ) .
2 . Sometimes, the left button is the right button . I must touch the touchpad and left clicj to make plays revive my left button as it should work. I suspect a problem with the implementation of the protocol.


1 . The patch is here: http://superuser.com/questions/619582/right-elantech-touchpad-button-not-working-in-linux
This reactive patch button right . This right button is turn off in linux source code by someone who is using a Mac... For cons , I do not have a Mac and I have a touchpad with the same version of firmware is version 4. I try to automate the build with dkms but without success.
Regarding the DKMS , here's what I did ( not the tar.gz provided does not work and is more prepared exactly as I prepare here) :
- I created the folder /usr/src/psmouse-elantech-v7right
- I was looking for the official source of my kernel rpm and I copied the following folder of the source drivers/input/mouse to /usr/src/psmouse-elantech-v7right/src
- I created the following sources dkms file name /usr/src/psmouse-elantech-v7right/dkms.conf :
PACKAGE_NAME = " psmouse "
Package_version = " Elantech - v7right "
CLEAN = " rm- f * . * O "

BUILT_MODULE_NAME [0 ] = " psmouse "
MAKE [0 ] = " make-C $ M = $ kernel_source_dir dkms_tree/$ PACKAGE_NAME/$package_version/build/src/psmouse.ko "
BUILT_MODULE_LOCATION [0] = "src"
DEST_MODULE_LOCATION [0] = "/updates"

AUTOINSTALL = "yes
Only it comes to me as an error ( 0 module builted )

DKMS make.log for psmouse - Elantech - v7mike for kernel - 302.fc20.x86_64 3.11.5 (x86_64 )
Fri Oct. 18 2013 7:50:11 EDT
make: Entering directory `/ usr/src/kernels/3.11.5-302.fc20.x86_64 '
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/psmouse-base.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/synaptics.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/alps.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/elantech.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/logips2pp.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/lifebook.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/sentelic.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/trackpoint.o
**DC / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7m echo 0x02 | sudo dd of = debugike/build/src/cypress_ps2.o
**LD / var/lib/dkms/psmouse/elantech-v7mike/build/src/psmouse.o
**MODPOST 0 modules
make: Leaving directory `/usr/src/kernels/3.11.5-302.fc20.x86_64
I did a little research and I realized that psmouse is built statically into the kernel without a default module . It would be an error because DKMS DKMS needs not detect psmouse.ko as dynamic module ... Well, why I will not play in the kernel source and the builder ? Because that's what I want to avoid because it is long .... (but it works! ) . I 'd like to commit to the Linux Foundation. Maybe Fedora developers can help me integrate as soon as possible ? (I use Fedora 20 updates- testing # justsayin ')

2 . Regarding the second point I am trying to debug indeed the protocol of Elantech and I can not make a match of the debug module packets with source code or the protocol .
Just like that, to put an psmouse driver based on ( this is the case with most mice ) to debug , you must go to the following folder: /sys/bus/serio/drivers/psmouse/serio{1,2,3.4}/
and to
echo 0x02 | sudo dd of=debug

Anyway, to conclude, I would like to know where I can find a suitable spot aka wiki to document my laptop and my equipment .

Thank you for making yourself so far ^ ^

Sincerely,
Michael

PS : I'm a french talker

gazzacbr
Level 10
Hi,
i just installed ubuntu 13.04 and with only minor problems its all working. after install it would not boot until i manually installed and set up grub
uefi is off for good now. i multiboot and really dont the hassle. mbr and acpi is good for me.
wifi and ethernet worked oob 🙂
touchpad working and 2 finger scrolling but not right click ) use a mouse always anyway)
fn key for keyboard backlight, volume, monitor switching and screen on/off working
screen brightness not working yet
disabled nouveau and installed latest nvidia driver direct from .run file for full resolution
still working on shutdown (or lack of) problems
Asus G750JX-CV050H||GTX770M||24GB ram||120hz 3D screen||
1TB Samsung 840 EVO SSD||500GB Crucial M4 SSD||500GB Crucial M4 SSD in DVD Bay
free bag and mouse :cool:
win 8.1||win 7||win xp||server 2008||os x mavericks||linux mint 16

sasikumardr
Level 7
I believe 2 finger tap acts as right click. It worked for me on 13.10 live mode

For screen brighness we need to add
acpi_osi=Linux acpi_backlight=vendor
as kernel params

sasikumardr wrote:
I believe 2 finger tap acts as right click. It worked for me on 13.10 live mode


This works for me as well with a Gentoo 3.10.7 kernel. xev also reports the three finger swipes into standard scroll and horizontal scroll buttons.

I do not have screen brightness, or half of the Fn+ keys, working... yet.
Fn+F1 (sleep) brings up a shutdown/logout menu in Xfce4, same as the power button.
Fn+F5/6 work to control the brightness slider, though the screen brightness does not actually change; still under investigation.
Fn+F7 works to shut off the internal screen, though I have not yet tried with the HDMI connected.
Fn+F10-12 work for the audio control as intended.

The mouse config I am about to call finished. I use a Logitech Unifying receiver with an M570 trackball, which finally works, mostly. The mouse needs to be unpaired, and re-paired, on each boot; after which it works beautifully.

sasikumardr
Level 7
May be issue is with kernel. I am using ubuntu with kernel version 3.11 and most of functional key is working out of the box in case of ubuntu. Only have brightness issue(not able to control) and touch pad (right button not works). Other than that I am very happy with Ubuntu-Gnome 13.10

gazzacbr
Level 10
@sasikumardr: thanks for reply.
yes, the 2 finger tap works except that i normally have tap to click disabled as i use a mouse 🙂
i added the params to grub (and updated grub) and tried several other combinations but screen brightness didnt work.
i tried xbacklight but that also didnt work.
Asus G750JX-CV050H||GTX770M||24GB ram||120hz 3D screen||
1TB Samsung 840 EVO SSD||500GB Crucial M4 SSD||500GB Crucial M4 SSD in DVD Bay
free bag and mouse :cool:
win 8.1||win 7||win xp||server 2008||os x mavericks||linux mint 16

sasikumardr
Level 7
I read some where that people solved backlight problem using this kernel param. But I am also not able to solve that after trying it yesterday. Will let you know once I find a solution..

Dr__Zchivago
Level 12
What if we could convince the admins to open a Linux folder for all of these scattered threads...

Dr. Zchivago wrote:
What if we could convince the admins to open a Linux folder for all of these scattered threads...

I'm an admin, I'll try to create a folder. If not, I'll get @MarshallR to do it. Stay tuned!

EDIT: Can't seem to do it. 😞 I'm PM'ing @MarshallR about it. If/when he creates it, I'll move all the threads.
I am disturbed because I cannot break my system...found out there were others trying to cope! We have a support group on here, if your system will not break, please join!
http://rog.asus.com/forum/group.php?groupid=16
We now have 178 people whose systems will not break! Yippee! 🙂
LINUX Users, we have a group!
http://rog.asus.com/forum/group.php?groupid=23