A little bit of history:     
Replaced Debian with ALT Linux Compact 2.3     
Installed synaptics touchpad package     
Had to manually edit XF86Config-4 (used the settings that worked fine under     
Debian)     
Got the message "Synaptics TouchPad no synaptics event device found (checked 33     
nodes)"     
Upgraded to Sisyphus and Xorg (see attached Xorg.conf)     
Got the same error. TouchPad driver fails to find the device.     
    
Enclosures:   
1. Xorg.0.log  
2. xorg.conf  
 
------------------ Xorg.0.log --------------------------- 
 
X Window System Version 6.8.2 
Release Date: 9 February 2005 
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0, Release 6.8.2 
Build Operating System: Linux 2.4.28-std-smp-alt2 i686 [ELF]  
Current Operating System: Linux mars 2.4.26-std-up-alt5 #1 Mon Jun 28 21:59:23 
MSD 2004 i686 
Build Date: 11 February 2005 
Build Host: opteron.office.altlinux.ru 
 
<cropped>  
 
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Sun Apr 10 19:59:41 2005 
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf" 
(==) ServerLayout "layout1" 
(**) |-->Screen "screen1" (0) 
(**) |   |-->Monitor "Generic|Flat Panel 1024x768" 
(**) |   |-->Device "ATI Rage Mobility" 
(**) |-->Input Device "Synaptics TouchPad" 
(**) |-->Input Device "Mouse1" 
(**) |-->Input Device "Keyboard1" 
(**) FontPath set to "unix/:-1" 
(**) RgbPath set to "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb" 
(==) ModulePath set to "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules" 
(**) Option "AllowMouseOpenFail" 
(II) Open APM successful 
(II) Module ABI versions: 
	X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.2 
	X.Org Video Driver: 0.7 
	X.Org XInput driver : 0.4 
	X.Org Server Extension : 0.2 
	X.Org Font Renderer : 0.4 
(II) Loader running on linux 
 
<cropped>  
 
(II) LoadModule: "synaptics" 
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/input/synaptics_drv.o 
(II) Module synaptics: vendor="The XFree86 Project" 
	compiled for 4.2.0, module version = 1.0.0 
	Module class: XFree86 XInput Driver 
	ABI class: XFree86 XInput driver, version 0.3 
 
<cropped>  
 
(II) LoadModule: "synaptics" 
(II) Reloading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/input/synaptics_drv.o 
(II) LoadModule: "mouse" 
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/input/mouse_drv.o 
(II) Module mouse: vendor="X.Org Foundation" 
	compiled for 6.8.2, module version = 1.0.0 
	Module class: X.Org XInput Driver 
	ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 0.4 
(II) LoadModule: "kbd" 
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/input/kbd_drv.o 
(II) Module kbd: vendor="X.Org Foundation" 
	compiled for 6.8.2, module version = 1.0.0 
	Module class: X.Org XInput Driver 
	ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 0.4 
 
<cropped>  
 
(II) Synaptics touchpad driver version 0.13.6 
Synaptics TouchPad no synaptics event device found (checked 33 nodes) 
Synaptics TouchPad The evdev kernel module seems to be missing 
(EE) xf86OpenSerial: No Device specified. 
Synaptics driver unable to open device 
(EE) PreInit failed for input device "Synaptics TouchPad" 
(II) UnloadModule: "synaptics" 
(**) Option "Protocol" "PS/2" 
(**) Mouse1: Device: "/dev/psaux" 
(**) Mouse1: Protocol: "PS/2" 
(**) Option "AlwaysCore" 
(**) Mouse1: always reports core events 
(**) Option "Device" "/dev/psaux" 
(**) Option "Emulate3Buttons" 
(**) Option "Emulate3Timeout" "50" 
(**) Mouse1: Emulate3Buttons, Emulate3Timeout: 50 
(==) Mouse1: Buttons: 3 
 
<cropped>  
 
(WW) No core pointer registered 
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Keyboard1" (type: KEYBOARD) 
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Mouse1" (type: MOUSE) 
(II) Mouse1: ps2EnableDataReporting: succeeded 
No core pointer 
 
Fatal server error: 
failed to initialize core devices 
 
------------------ End of Xorg.o.log -------------------- 
 
 
------------------ xorg.conf ---------------------------- 
 
# File generated by XFdrake. 
 
# ********************************************************************** 
# Refer to the XF86Config(4/5) man page for details about the format of 
# this file. 
# ********************************************************************** 
 
Section "Files" 
 
    RgbPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb" 
 
# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together) 
# By default, Mandrake 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of 
# the X server to render fonts. 
 
    FontPath   "unix/:-1" 
 
EndSection 
 
# ********************************************************************** 
# Server flags section. 
# ********************************************************************** 
 
Section "ServerFlags" 
 
    # Uncomment this to cause a core dump at the spot where a signal is 
    # received.  This may leave the console in an unusable state, but may 
    # provide a better stack trace in the core dump to aid in debugging 
    #NoTrapSignals 
 
    # Uncomment this to disable the <Crtl><Alt><BS> server abort sequence 
    # This allows clients to receive this key event. 
    #DontZap 
 
    # Uncomment this to disable the <Crtl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> mode switching 
    # sequences.  This allows clients to receive these key events. 
    #DontZoom 
 
    # This  allows  the  server  to start up even if the 
    # mouse device can't be opened/initialised. 
    AllowMouseOpenFail 
 
EndSection 
 
# ********************************************************************** 
# Input devices 
# ********************************************************************** 
 
# ********************************************************************** 
# Keyboard section 
# ********************************************************************** 
 
Section "InputDevice" 
 
    Identifier "Keyboard1" 
    Driver      "kbd" 
    Option "AutoRepeat"  "250 30" 
 
    Option "XkbModel" "pc105" 
    Option "XkbLayout" "us,ru" 
    Option "XkbVariant"  ",winkeys" 
    Option "XkbOptions"  "grp:toggle" 
 
EndSection 
 
# ********************************************************************** 
# Pointer section 
# ********************************************************************** 
 
 
# Support for Synaptics TouchPad driver 
 
Section	"InputDevice" 
	Identifier	"Synaptics TouchPad" 
	Option		"CorePointer" 
	Driver		"synaptics" 
	Option		"Protocol"			"auto-dev" 
	Option		"LeftEdge"			"1700" 
	Option		"RightEdge"			"5300" 
	Option		"TopEdge"			"1700" 
	Option		"BottomEdge"		"4200" 
	Option		"FingerLow"			"25" 
	Option		"FingerHigh"		"30" 
	Option		"MaxTapTime"		"180" 
	Option		"VertScrollDelta"	"100" 
	Option		"MinSpeed"			"0.016" 
	Option		"MaxSpeed"			"0.12" 
	Option		"AccelFactor"		"0.0010" 
	Option		"SHMConfig"			"on" 
#	Option		"Repeater"			"/dev/psaux" 
EndSection 
 
Section "InputDevice" 
 
    Identifier  "Mouse1" 
    Driver      "mouse" 
    Option "Protocol"    "PS/2" 
    Option "Device"      "/dev/psaux" 
    Option "Emulate3Buttons" 
    Option "Emulate3Timeout"    "50" 
 
# ChordMiddle is an option for some 3-button Logitech mice 
 
#    Option "ChordMiddle" 
 
EndSection 
 
 
 
Section "Module" 
 
    Load	"synaptics" 
 
# This loads the DBE extension module. 
 
    Load	"dbe" 
 
 
# This loads the miscellaneous extensions module, and disables 
# initialisation of the XFree86-DGA extension within that module. 
 
    SubSection	"extmod" 
	#Option	"omit xfree86-dga" 
 
    EndSubSection 
 
# This loads the Type1 and FreeType font modules 
 
    Load	"type1" 
    Load	"freetype" 
EndSection 
 
# ********************************************************************** 
# Monitor section 
# ********************************************************************** 
 
# Any number of monitor sections may be present 
 
Section "Monitor" 
    Identifier "Generic|Flat Panel 1024x768" 
    VendorName "Generic" 
    ModelName  "Unknown" 
 
 
# HorizSync is in kHz unless units are specified. 
# HorizSync may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a 
# comma separated list of ranges of values. 
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY.  REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S 
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS. 
    HorizSync  31.5-48.5 
 
 
# VertRefresh is in Hz unless units are specified. 
# VertRefresh may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a 
# comma separated list of ranges of values. 
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY.  REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S 
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS. 
    VertRefresh 40-70 
 
 
# This is a set of extended mode timings typically used for laptop, 
# TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output. 
# These are available along with standard mode timings. 
 
# Sony Vaio C1(X,XS,VE,VN)? 
# 1024x480 @ 85.6 Hz, 48 kHz hsync 
ModeLine "1024x480"    65.00 1024 1032 1176 1344   480  488  494  563 -hsync 
-vsync 
 
# 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync 
ModeLine "768x576"     50.00  768  832  846 1000   576  590  595  630 
# 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync 
ModeLine "768x576"     63.07  768  800  960 1024   576  578  590  616 
 
 
EndSection 
 
 
 
# ********************************************************************** 
# Graphics device section 
# ********************************************************************** 
 
Section "Device" 
    Identifier "Generic VGA" 
    Driver     "vga" 
EndSection 
 
Section "Device" 
    Identifier  "ATI Rage Mobility" 
    VendorName  "Unknown" 
    BoardName   "Unknown" 
    Driver      "ati" 
#    VideoRam    8128 
    # Clock lines 
 
 
    # Uncomment following option if you see a big white block         
    # instead of the cursor!                                           
    #    Option      "sw_cursor" 
 
    Option      "DPMS"  "on" 
EndSection 
 
 
 
# ********************************************************************** 
# Screen sections 
# ********************************************************************** 
 
 
Section "Screen" 
    Identifier "screen1" 
    Device      "ATI Rage Mobility" 
    Monitor     "Generic|Flat Panel 1024x768" 
    DefaultColorDepth 24 
    Subsection "Display" 
        Depth       8 
        Modes       "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" 
        ViewPort    0 0 
    EndSubsection 
    Subsection "Display" 
        Depth       15 
        Modes       "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" 
        ViewPort    0 0 
    EndSubsection 
    Subsection "Display" 
        Depth       16 
        Modes       "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" 
        ViewPort    0 0 
    EndSubsection 
    Subsection "Display" 
        Depth       24 
        Modes       "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" 
        ViewPort    0 0 
    EndSubsection 
    Subsection "Display" 
        Depth       32 
        Modes       "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" 
        ViewPort    0 0 
    EndSubsection 
EndSection 
 
 
Section "ServerLayout" 
    Identifier "layout1" 
    Screen     "screen1" 
 
    InputDevice "Synaptics TouchPad" "CorePointer" 
    InputDevice "Mouse1" "AlwaysCore" 
 
    InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard" 
EndSection 
 
------------------ End of xorg.conf --------------------- 
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Copy enclosed xorg.conf file onto /etc/X11/xorg.conf    
2. Restart X server    
Actual Results:  
Synaptics TouchPad no synaptics event device found (checked 33 nodes) 
No core pointer 

Expected Results:  
Synaptics Touchpad is properly recognized and is installed as the core pinter