startx xterm # by root, not user, causes pointer freeze

[S Taylor <an400@freenet.carleton.ca>]

(touchpad) Pointer Config in XF86Config:
Section "Pointer"
    Protocol    "GlidePoint"
    Device      "/dev/mouse"
	Port		"/dev/mouse"
	Buttons		3

Where is this pointer freezing up? The 
problem _may_ have begun after upgrading
to potato (apt-get update, apt-get 
dist-upgrade). An strace of the two loads
doesn't show any clear point of freeze (that
this newbie recognizes). The pointer often 
freezes after a screen-saver has been on.

Temporary solution: moving the pointer as it loads
stops the freezing; I'm trying to laugh.

Could it be permissions? A mouse driver?
These (no guessing!) are the dev links:

srwxrwxrwx 1 root root 0 Jan  8 15:32 /dev/gpmctl
prw-rw-r-- 1 root root 0 Nov 24 11:50 /dev/gpmdata
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 5 Nov 24 12:44 /dev/mouse -> ttyS0

Any suggestions would be appreciated. TIA