Disable Touchpad??

Discussion in 'Software' started by TimW, Mar 1, 2011.

  1. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Toshiba laptop running xp sp3. The cursor jumps to random places in any word type program; notepad, Word, email replies, etc. Very annoying. I am thinking that maybe my wife is touching the touch pad while she types. However, I can't find any way to disable the touch pad. Under Device manager, the only thing showing is the USB mouse. Same in Control panel, only the USB mouse is shown. No icon for the touch pad in the tray. Anyone have an idea?
     
    TimW, Mar 1, 2011
    #1
  2. Baxter Stockman

    Baxter Stockman Private First Class

    Yup. She is most definitely hitting the touchpad while typing. And while it isn't a problem that the mouse moves around. It is that "Tap to Click" is enabled. I had to download some really old synaptic mouse driver, since the driver windows wanted to give me wouldn't let me disable it.

    I take it you have a USB mouse plugged in.

    Have you tried unplugging it and checking the Device Manager to see what it says?
     
    Baxter Stockman, Mar 1, 2011
    #2
  3. shnerdly

    shnerdly MajorGeek

    I'm not totally up on Toshiba but many laptops allow the touchpad to be disabled in the bios and some have a switch along the front edge of the computer.

    I run ThinkPads and always disable the touchpad for the same reason (in the bios on IBM). ThinkPad has the red joystick they call trackpoint as well as the touchpad so I still have a mobile solution.
     
    shnerdly, Mar 1, 2011
    #3
  4. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    It then only shows as a ps/2 mouse. Nothing regarding the touch pad.

    Haven't looked in the bios. But she insists she is not touching it.
     
    TimW, Mar 1, 2011
    #4
  5. Baxter Stockman

    Baxter Stockman Private First Class

    If you Disable the PS/2 Mouse does it disable the touchpad from working?

    Trust me. I had no idea why i would be typing and all of a sudden I'd be typing in the middle of another paragraph or sentence. I didn't think I was touching the touchpad, but the second I disabled tap to click, it never happened again.
     
    Baxter Stockman, Mar 1, 2011
    #5
  6. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Only option was to uninstall, which I did, required a reboot and it is back when rebooted. Sigh.
     
    TimW, Mar 1, 2011
    #6
  7. Baxter Stockman

    Baxter Stockman Private First Class

    Then I think you need the driver that has some software. Like ALPS or Synaptic
     
    Baxter Stockman, Mar 1, 2011
    #7
  8. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    I will check the bios and then see if I have a driver somewhere on the utilities disc. Thanks. ;)
     
    TimW, Mar 1, 2011
    #8
  9. Groinsh0t

    Groinsh0t Private E-2

    Sounds stupid-is there a function key combination to disable it? I know there is for any laptop I've ever fixed.
     
    Groinsh0t, Mar 2, 2011
    #9
  10. Caliban

    Caliban I don't need no steenkin' title!

    With most Toshibas, the combination is <FN+F9>.

    Recheck Control Panel > Mouse Properties - sometimes the touchpad enable/disable is hidden in strange tabs.
     
    Caliban, Mar 2, 2011
    #10
  11. Caliban

    Caliban I don't need no steenkin' title!

    Also, check to see if the touchpad is driven by Synaptics software - if so, there may be a separate startup and/or Control Panel applet for that program.

    For that matter, while in CP, check any Keyboard Properties applet.
     
    Caliban, Mar 2, 2011
    #11
  12. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    All good suggestions. As soon as I finish doing my daughters taxes, I will see what I can find. ;)
     
    TimW, Mar 2, 2011
    #12
  13. satrow

    satrow Major Geek Extraordinaire

    Make notes as you go, Tim - I can't work out how to re-enable mine ;)
     
    satrow, Mar 2, 2011
    #13
  14. kench

    kench Private First Class

    here's a small windows app that might work...it's called touchpad pal...http://desofto.com/
     
    kench, Mar 2, 2011
    #14
  15. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Thanks!!! I will have to try that!! ;)
     
    TimW, Mar 2, 2011
    #15
  16. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Well, it looked good, but it won't install. Sigh. :( And Fn + F9 doesn't work either.
     
    TimW, Mar 2, 2011
    #16
  17. plodr

    plodr Major Geek Super Extraordinaire

    This is for one series of Toshiba
    What is the model and number? I might be able to find something different for your model.
     
    plodr, Mar 2, 2011
    #17
  18. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    It's a Satellite model. Would have to check the serial number. But when it went down, I installed an OEM xp version for a gateway. LOL. I will have to check the bios to see if I can disable it there. Says it can't be done in the bios. Humm....may need to download the touch pad driver first.
     
    TimW, Mar 2, 2011
    #18
  19. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Weird. I installed the touchpad driver and the Fn+F9 still doesn't work. Works on my other Toshiba. Will try your suggestion next, plodr.
     
    TimW, Mar 2, 2011
    #19

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