Enabling the TrackPoint “scroll button” on Ubuntu
Enable the scroll button
Add the bold lines to the “Configured Mouse” Input Devices section of /etc/X11/xorg.conf :
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "EmulateWheel" "on"
Option "EmulateWheelTimeOut" "1"
Option "EmulateWheelButton" "2"
Option "YAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "XAxisMapping" "6 7"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection
Source: How to configure the TrackPoint
Update: this no longer works in Ubuntu starting with version 8.10, Intrepid Ibex. For more info, see: Scrolling with the Thinkpad’s TrackPoint in Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid
Disable the touchpad
I do this in order to use the TrackPoint exclusively. This will work on Ubuntu, Windows, or any OS.
- While booting, press the blue ThinkVantage/AccessIBM button
- Press F1 to enter the BIOS utility
- Select Config
- Select Keyboard/Mouse
- Change the Touchpad setting from “automatic” to “disabled”
Source: How to disable Touch Pad in Thinkpad R61 ?
Update: I moved the non-ThinkPad-specific sections over to a new and improved post, Setting up Ubuntu from scratch
Since I’m going back to this as a reference, I’ve added a section on disabling the Touchpad, and I’ve updated the Scroll button section.