gpm freezes console

[will kemp]

hi!

i'm running linux 2.4.9 (slackware 8.0) on a digital hinote cs450 laptop
(486dx-50, ps/2 trackball) and gpm-linux 1.19.3.

well, i'm not really running gpm because i can't unfortunately!

when i start gpm (gpm -m /dev/mouse -t ps2), the system goes into suspend
mode instantly. this is with or without apm turned on in the bios, with or
without apm in the kernel. i can get it back out of suspend easily, and
then gpm operates apparently normally. however, before very long
(seemingly a random ammount of time) the console will freeze up and
the keyboard does nothing. it's impossible to get it out of this state
from the console. however, if i log in remotely, everything's normal and i
can kill gpm and the console works again straight away.

i tried to run mconv2 (v. 0.1) and when i start that the same thing
happens - i.e., the system goes into suspend. i didn't leave it running
long enough to find out if it also freezes the console, as i haven't got a
way of logging on remotely at the moment. so it's obviously not just gpm
causing it. however, i'm posting this to this list because it's gpm i want
to run.

i've had gpm running on this notebook for 6 years now and until kernel
version 2.x.x, i've had no problems at all. i did have some similar
problem under 2.2.? (slackware 7) but it didn't cause a suspend. i'm
afraid i can't remember clearly what the story was now, as that was nearly
6 months ago, but i think it would freeze the console in the same way.

any help or suggestions would be appreciated. life without gpm aint much
fun!

i'm on this list, so no need to Cc:.

thanks
will