USB Mouse and keyboard stop responding after some time - Mint 21.2 Xfce [Solved]

[beng]

Hi, I really like Linux Mint and have been using it for several months now since Mint 21.1, now upgraded to 21.2, but lately after several updates, I am experiencing a problem which makes the OS not usable.

After some random time (a few minutes to hours) while I am in the middle of using an application, the USB wired optical mouse will stop responding. The power to the mouse is still on and the light still shines out of it but the cursor cannot be moved and the mouse clicks elicit no response. The mouse just stops working. Unplugging and replugging in the USB cable from the computer, even into a different USB port, does not work. My system is set to never sleep so it is not a resume from sleep problem. It happens in the middle of my using the computer. The only remedy is to restart the PC after which the mouse works again.

If a USB keyboard is plugged in, it will also become unresponsive when the mouse does. However, a PS2 keyboard keeps working fine.

Here is my system info:

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 5.15.0-88-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 11.4.0 Desktop: Xfce 4.18.1
    tk: Gtk 3.24.33 wm: xfwm dm: LightDM Distro: Linux Mint 21.2 Victoria base: Ubuntu 22.04 jammy
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Gigabyte product: N/A v: N/A serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 3
    serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Gigabyte model: Z68XP-UD3P serial: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends v: U1g
    date: 03/08/2013
CPU:
  Info: quad core model: Intel Core i5-2400 bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Sandy Bridge rev: 7 cache:
    L1: 256 KiB L2: 1024 KiB L3: 6 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 3254 high: 3286 min/max: 1600/3400 cores: 1: 3263 2: 3240 3: 3286 4: 3228
    bogomips: 24875
  Flags: avx ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GM206 [GeForce GTX 960] vendor: ZOTAC driver: nvidia v: 535.113.01 pcie:
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: none off: HDMI-A-1 empty: DP-1, DP-2, DP-3, DVI-I-1
    bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1401
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.4 compositor: xfwm v: 4.18.0 driver: X: loaded: nvidia
    unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,nouveau,vesa gpu: nvidia display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96
  Monitor-1: HDMI-0 res: 1920x1080 dpi: 96 diag: 584mm (23")
  OpenGL: renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960/PCIe/SSE2 v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 535.113.01
    direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 6 Series/C200 Series Family High Definition Audio vendor: Gigabyte
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:1c20
  Device-2: NVIDIA GM206 High Definition Audio vendor: ZOTAC driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    pcie: speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:0fba
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.15.0-88-generic running: yes
  Sound Server-2: JACK v: 1.9.20 running: no
  Sound Server-3: PulseAudio v: 15.99.1 running: yes
  Sound Server-4: PipeWire v: 0.3.48 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel pcie: speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1
    bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:2723
  IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel AX200 Bluetooth type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8 bus-ID: 2-1.5:3
    chip-ID: 8087:0029
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 3.0 lmp-v: 5.2
    sub-v: 237e
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 23.65 TiB used: 2.68 TiB (11.3%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: HGST (Hitachi) model: HDN728080ALE604 size: 7.28 TiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    serial: <filter>
  ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: HGST (Hitachi) model: HDN728080ALE604 size: 7.28 TiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    serial: <filter>
  ID-3: /dev/sdc vendor: Hitachi model: HDS723020BLA642 size: 1.82 TiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    serial: <filter>
  ID-4: /dev/sdd vendor: Seagate model: ST8000NE001-2M7101 size: 7.28 TiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    serial: <filter>
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 195.8 GiB used: 62.15 GiB (31.7%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
  ID-2: /boot/efi size: 698.6 MiB used: 6.1 MiB (0.9%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sda4
  ID-3: /home size: 231.24 GiB used: 7.64 GiB (3.3%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda3
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 16 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 dev: /dev/sda1
USB:
  Hub-1: 1-0:1 info: Full speed or root hub ports: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0002
  Hub-2: 1-1:2 info: Intel Integrated Rate Matching Hub ports: 6 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 8087:0024
  Device-1: 1-1.5:3 info: Logitech M105 Optical Mouse type: Mouse driver: hid-generic,usbhid
    rev: 2.0 speed: 1.5 Mb/s chip-ID: 046d:c077
  Hub-3: 2-0:1 info: Full speed or root hub ports: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0002
  Hub-4: 2-1:2 info: Intel Integrated Rate Matching Hub ports: 8 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 8087:0024
  Device-1: 2-1.5:3 info: Intel AX200 Bluetooth type: Bluetooth driver: btusb rev: 2.0
    speed: 12 Mb/s chip-ID: 8087:0029
  Hub-5: 3-0:1 info: Hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002
  Hub-6: 4-0:1 info: Super-speed hub ports: 2 rev: 3.0 speed: 5 Gb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
  Hub-7: 5-0:1 info: Hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002
  Hub-8: 6-0:1 info: Super-speed hub ports: 2 rev: 3.0 speed: 5 Gb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 29.8 C mobo: 27.8 C gpu: nvidia temp: 33 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A gpu: nvidia fan: 35%
Repos:
  Packages: 3100 apt: 3088 flatpak: 12
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/atlasvpn.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/atlasvpn.gpg] http: //repo.atlasvpn.com/debian stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg] https: //brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/dupeguru-ppa-jammy.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/dupeguru-ppa-jammy.gpg] https: //ppa.launchpadcontent.net/dupeguru/ppa/ubuntu jammy main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/libreoffice-ppa-jammy.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/libreoffice-ppa-jammy.gpg] https: //ppa.launchpadcontent.net/libreoffice/ppa/ubuntu jammy main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
    1: deb https: //mirror.0x.sg/linuxmint victoria main upstream import backport
    2: deb http: //mirror.sg.gs/ubuntu jammy main restricted universe multiverse
    3: deb http: //mirror.sg.gs/ubuntu jammy-updates main restricted universe multiverse
    4: deb http: //mirror.sg.gs/ubuntu jammy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    5: deb http: //security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-security main restricted universe multiverse
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/rvm-smplayer-jammy.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/rvm-smplayer-jammy.gpg] https: //ppa.launchpadcontent.net/rvm/smplayer/ubuntu jammy main
Info:
  Processes: 269 Uptime: 4m Memory: 7.71 GiB used: 2.89 GiB (37.4%) Init: systemd v: 249
  runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 11.4.0 alt: 11/12 Client: Unknown python3.10 client inxi: 3.3.13

And the output of lsusb (while the mouse is still working):

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Bus 002 Device 003: ID 8087:0029 Intel Corp. AX200 Bluetooth
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 046d:c077 Logitech, Inc. M105 Optical Mouse
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

Any help would be appreciated as if I cannot solve this problem I may have to switch back to using Windows as the OS is not usable without reliable mouse support.

[autodctr]

Are you using a USB hub on this machine? Even if the mouse is not connected to the hub, disconnect the hub and see if your problem goes away. I have seen a large number of hubs, both powered and non-powered, that have caused problems like that.

IF that corrects your problem, get rid of that hub and buy a QUALITY powered hub.

[beng]

No i do not have any USB hub. I am plugging the mouse into the USB ports on the motherboard.

[autodctr]

Let's make sure that your mouse isn't dieing: please try another mouse.

[AndyMH]

Are you dual booting with win10?

[beng]

I have tried using a brand new mouse of a different manufacturer and model, same thing happens. It is a software issue, not hardware.

I am dual booting with Win 10. In Win 10 I have set the power option to disable fast boot else the wifi adaptor does not work in Linux.

Here are some lsusb outputs AFTER the mouse stops responding:

1. With Logitech M100r optical mouse:

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Bus 002 Device 003: ID 8087:0029 Intel Corp. AX200 Bluetooth
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 046d:c077 Logitech, Inc. M105 Optical Mouse
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

2. With OEM optical mouse:

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Bus 002 Device 003: ID 8087:0029 Intel Corp. AX200 Bluetooth
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0000:3825   USB OPTICAL MOUSE
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

[AndyMH]

I am dual booting with Win 10. In Win 10 I have set the power option to disable fast boot else the wifi adaptor does not work in Linux.

Well that rules that out, which is what I was thinking about.

[sanmig]

... now upgraded to 21.2, but lately after several updates, I am experiencing a problem which makes the OS not usable.

Tried to boot 21.2 from USB stick to avoid installed SW/update issues?

[beng]

Tried to boot 21.2 from USB stick to avoid installed SW/update issues?

That is not a practical solution. I want to be able to boot and use the OS from hard disk, else I would not have installed Linux.

[sanmig]

That is not a practical solution.

Oh boy, this was not a suggestion for years, but a question (-> ? )
It is the only way to find out whether the cause is a mangled OS update or a principal issue with 21.2
(in case your mouse is OK).

[beng]

Yes booting 21.2 image from USB stick also produces the bug. Before the mouse freezes a popup appears saying sticky keys are not enabled.

A USB keyboard will also freeze and become unresponsive but a PS2 keyboard will keep working.

[sanmig]

OK, not a mangled update.
- The “sticky key” thingy may be hot.
I’m on 19.3 and here this “feature” doesn’t work at all, they may have changed something in 21.2.
- Or you are carrying the “feature” over when using it on the Win side?
Check with your accessibility settings, would the “beep” setting work in Mint (to get a hint if it jumps in)?
Sorry, I don't know if that would hamper USB functionality for the mouse, too.

[beng]

The sticky keys not enabled notification does not always popup before a USB devices freeze but it sometimes happens.

I have not enabled or disabled sticky keys anywhere, it is not a setting I use and I don't even know where to find it.

I tried a different Linux distro to see if the problem also occurs there: MX Linux 23.1, which is based on Debian and also uses Xfce
It worked fine until I installed a flatpak game that also installed org.freedesktop. Immediately the USB devices froze and stopped responding when org.freedesktop components were downloaded and installed, so I suspect it may be linked to that. Below is the output in the terminal window during the flatpak install after which the USB mouse and keyboard froze.

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        ID                                     Branch         Op    Remote    Download
 1. [✓] org.freedesktop.Platform.GL.default    23.08          i     flathub   162.5 MB / 162.2 MB
 2. [✓] org.freedesktop.Platform.GL.default    23.08-extra    i     flathub    17.9 MB / 162.2 MB
 3. [✓] org.freedesktop.Platform.Locale        23.08          i     flathub    18.0 kB / 355.9 MB
 4. [✓] org.freedesktop.Platform.openh264      2.2.0          i     flathub     1.2 MB / 944.3 kB
 5. [✓] org.freedesktop.Platform               23.08          i     flathub   206.4 MB / 225.2 MB
 6. [✓] net.wz2100.wz2100                      stable         i     flathub   924.9 MB / 925.6 MB

[sanmig]

Yes booting 21.2 image from USB stick also produces the bug.

Um, in the live version of Mint 21.2 the command flatpak list —runtime
doesn’t show any installed flatpak library.
- Did you install the game (or other SW) there, too?

[beng]

I may have installed htop or gparted in the Mint 21.2 USB thumbdrive but nothing else.
Anyway I have now reformatted the linux mint root partition and installed Linux Mint 21.3 Xfce over it. Will test and see if it still has the USB issue as 21.3 uses different touchpad drivers (libinput) according to the release notes. I don't have a touchpad on my desktop PC but it may make a difference as a touchpad is also an input device. I have also avoided installing the Nvidia propriatory drivers in case those have something to do with it.

I've been running 21.3 for about 4 hours now and it seems OK so far. Will report in a few days if it is still working without the USB bug.

[beng]

The USB stops working problem came back, became more frequent in Linux, and also started appearing in Windows. I think I found the cause: the motherboard chipset / PCH was over heating due to high ambient temperatures. Changing the thermal paste on the chipset heat sink and cleaning the air conditioner seems to have solved the problem. The fact that the USB worked under Windows 10 longer than under Linux suggests that Linux makes the chipset run hotter.

[sanmig]

Very interesting find, thanks for coming back here!