So apparently, newer Ubuntu builds (7.04 and 7.10 are tested at the time of this writing) include a PS/2 kernel “fix” that breaks virtualized mice, such as those used in VirtualPC and VMWare. I discovered this today while trying to build such an Ubuntu VPC; thankfully, the end is not written there… Obviously, you can use the Accessibility options to turn on a numpad-based mouse (similar to the one in Windows), by going to the System menu (Alt+F1, right, right) and selecting Preferences->Accessibility->Keyboard accessibility, and using keyboard navigation to turn on the “Mouse Keys” option. This will let you use a “mouse” throughout the install process (although the only thing you really need it for is to actually click on the install icon — I can’t figure out how to select icons on the desktop when none is selected using only the keyboard in Gnome, even though I can in Windows or KDE… :\ ).

Now, once you actually get your Ubuntu system installed, you will still, unfortunately be mouseless. If you only plan to use a virtual console, or you really love keyboard navigation and MouseKeys ;), this isn’t a problem, but for everyone else, it’s unacceptable. If you never plan to upgrade your kernel, you can find a nifty binary kernel patch at this link, but since that is, as I mentioned, a binary patch, it’s only useful for the kernel that comes straight off the 7.04 installer CD. That’s not really too bad, since under most circumstances you won’t need to upgrade your kernel that much anyway, but I hope this will eventually get fixed… Knowing Linux developers, though, I’m sure it will

Update 09/22/2007

It seems that there’s actually an easier way that should work for all kernels…  this blog post explains that you can actually just append a kernel parameter (i8042.noloop) to make the mouse work again.  I’ve tested this on the latest Ubuntu 7.10 kernel, and it works great!  Of course, getting the kernel itself fixed would be the best option, but this is certainly a lot better than before

Well, if nothing else, this semester certainly promises to be an interesting one… So far, it’s the first time since 6th grade that I haven’t been involved in my educational facility’s top choir; which is kinda disappointing in some ways, but honestly, ask anyone else (there are lots of us) who has dropped from the University Singers choir this semester, and they’ll give you a similar story: We’ve all had enough of Dr. Alt and need a break from that devil! Thankfully, I’m not completely choirless though (I’d probably go insane if I were!), since I’m still going to be involved in the Gospel Choir. Interestingly enough, despite my 4 upper division CS courses and one upper division Honors course, I think this semester will be the least stressful one I’ve had in a long time, just because of the lack of Uni Singers.

Now, of course, to make up for that, I’ve (once again) gotten myself involved in way too many other activities to keep track of, not the least of which being an officer position at the university’s ACM office, as well as agreeing to participate in several other upcoming events and groups. Le sigh. Now here comes the best part, the part that makes it all so interesting: Last thursday, I had a small accident on the way to work, and my truck is now even less drivable than it already was. I’ve now gotten the fender off of the tires, so I can at least drive again (although I admit I kinda enjoyed biking to work and school on Friday ), but it’s still just one of those things to add to my supposedly-calmer-than-usual semester. So I repeat: Le sigh…

Well, we’ll definitely have to see how this semester turns out; although for the most part I have pretty good feelings about it. Of course, that may just be my inner optimist screaming to get out, too :P. Oh, and I hear I make some pretty durn good cookies, if anyone’s interested (and I’ve still got lots of ingredients left from the last time, heh…)