Thinkpads Forum

I have an x61t with multitouch, running Ubuntu Linux 8.04.

For the last few weeks, when I am using the pen the cursor sometimes jumps to the sides of the screen. Linux does not have a driver for the multitouch functionality, so it is not just me pressing on the screen while writing. It does not seem to be tied to a particular position on the screen, nor is it tied to any single application (happens in both Xournal and Gimp). It just seems to be a random occurrence. Sometimes it jumps to only one edge, and sometimes it jumps to two. In Xournal, it made no difference whether I had pressure sensitivity on or if I had the "Discard Core Events" option on.

I'm guessing that it's either a problem in the screen, the pen, or a linux driver. (I don't have Windows installed to try it out, but I have a friend with an x61t, so I could try out his pen)

I uploaded a pdf that shows the jumping lines:
http://goodmami.org/files/x61t-jumping-lines.pdf

Any help appreciated. Thanks

I'm going to test out the pen/stylus from my friend's x61t on Sunday. But until then, has nobody else seen this?

A couple more details...

The jumping occurs whether or not the pen is touching the screen, as long as it is close enough to register its location (ie moves the cursor). However, I think it only happens when the pen is not touching the screen if I had recently pressed on the screen somewhere (eg after writing a sentence, then lifting my hand up).

Also, the lines always seem to point somewhere in particular. Most of them go to the bottom left corner of the screen, but sometimes they go to other places on the left side of the screen (top-left corner, 1/3 down, and 2/3 down the side). They also point to the top of the screen on occasion, but this seems to always be a vertical line, down from 1/3 and 2/3 of the way across the top (those to the side will start from any location and draw diagonally).

Ok so the same thing happened when I used my friend's pen. So my pen is not broken, and it's most likely the screen hardware. (My friend's computer is also running an up-to-date Ubuntu 8.04 as the OS, so it's probably not a driver issue).

So I guess I'll send it in to EZServ. I have the accidental-insurance warranty thing, so it should be covered.

Sigh...

Have you replicated the same problem in Windows as well? You've to consider the possibility that this issue could be Ubuntu related only.

Yeah, I considered that, which is why I stated that my friend's x61t (which is running the same version of Ubuntu) does not have the problem. Also I have been running Ubuntu since last November (and 8.04 since it was in beta testing...around March I believe) and did not see the problem until the middle of June. I do not have Windows installed, so I can't test that (I do have the recovery partition, but I don't want to wipe out my Ubuntu partitions just to test this)

AFAIK, your Ubuntu partition should stay intact even if you boot into RnR recovery mode (press ThinkVantage button at boot), unless you specifically ask to erase it.

If you have erased the partition you can use the recovery disc instead.

But I'm not sure if the stylus works in RnR recovery mode.

Yeah, but I think I need to use some sort of inking application to test it. The jumping is too quick to notice just looking at the cursor. And yeah, I can boot into the R&R without erasing the partition, but I don't think I can install Windows without it taking over the whole drive. Thanks for the feedback though

So, what do you plan to do next...?

I'm going to send it in to EZServ/EasyServe and have them check it out. I'm still a little wary to have linux installed (eg. them claiming it's unsupported and then a driver issue w/o actually testing the hardware, or just not knowing what to do with it), so I'm thinking about backing up my data and putting vista back on. At some point I've been reassured (on this forum) that if it's a hardware issue, it doesn't matter the OS (eg. that I could even send it in w/o a harddrive)

Do you have any tips for dealing w/ easyserve?

I live in Hong Kong and have no idea what's EasyServe... : )

Nonetheless, last time I brought a X41T with an empty drive to the local service center... They said that they had installed another drive to boot and test it... And they replaced the digitizer (was having some problem but unlike yours) and returned the machine with an empty drive.

I didn't ask them to re-install the OS because it involves a charge, and I preferred to do it myself.