Category: Geeks r Us
Hi! Anyone with a laptop out there, I could use some help! I'm trying to disable the touchpad. It's driving me crazy whenever I try to type! If anyone knows how to do it and would be willing to explain it to me, thanks! But I can't figure out the right key command. I have a del esparon.
I don't know if there is a key combination or not. But on most Dell laptops, you can find something called Touchpad or Dell Touchpad on the system tray.
Quick way to get there using the keyboard is push down the Window key and type B. Then just use the cursor keys to move around until you find it. You need to right click it with the mouse or the Context key and select Disable. There is also Options there which will let you turn it off forever, if you are othe only one using that laptop.
If it is not in the system tray, you can go into Control Panel and find it there, and all the options are the same.
Hope this helps,
Leo
I tried that. It didn't work. Thanks anyway.
You might try looking in the control pannel under mice and pointing devices,or something like that. If not, what about the device manager? I'm not really sure but I'd try those two places.
I tried that too. Still no success.
Wow. I'm sorry. Hopefully someone much geekier than I will have the solution.
This article tells you exactly how.
You will read things like double click and high light this or that, but you will use your methods for getting to things.
If you need me to explain it using a blind method say so, but I think you'll be just fine.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4761101_disable-touchpad-dell-laptop.html
Never mind the post above this one. Here is a much easier method.
Using the first method I discovered we can't see the disable button.
If you are using Windows Vista, 7, or 8.
Press the windows key and in the search box type windows mobility center.
Some Dell computers have a hot key button on them like mine to get their, or you can go to all programs to find it. Faster just to type it in the search box.
After you get their tab until you find the touchpad and when you tab a second time you'll hear that it is on and hear how to turn it off.
You'll get a message it has been disabled.
This is Lots easier.
Good luck.
Something I’ve noticed.
When I turn my touchpad off using Windows mobility center if I restart my computer, or shut it down and come back at a later time, my touchpad will come back on.
This is with Windows 8, and my personal experience. My other settings do not change, only the touchpad.
I would put a shortcut someplace handy if you want your windows mobility center handy without using the search box.
I didn’t say, but I think this method will work on all laptop computers, because mobility center is a feature of Windows.
Guess this topic got me intrigued didn’t it? Smile.
I’ve honestly never thought about turning off the touchpad even though I knew it was possible. It is possible to turn anything off, but this one didn’t bother me all that much.
Here is how I’ve gotten mine to stay off without changing the computer so that it can’t be turned back on easy.
Go to your Windows mobility center and tab to the touchpad.
Stop on the first button that tells you its status and press the space or enter key.
Tab to settings and press the space or enter key.
Control+tab over to device select page
Tab to disable touchpad point and click when USB mouse is present and check that box with your spacebar.
Tab again and disable it if it is not already.
Tab to okay and press enter.
Close it up or press the escape key to get out.
Now mine stays off.
Someone ask this question again, so bring it to the top so they can find it easy.
will this work for Windows 7 as well, Wayne? my parents would like there mouse turned off when they have there USB mouse plugged in.
if so, i'll send them these instructions. I already put in the email that they can use the mouse to do what you suggested with a keyboard. before i send it to dad i wanna be sure this works under windows 7 first.
Thanks man!
Yes, it works. I was using Windows 7 when I posted this. Vista as well.
It just depends on if the machine has the drivers, or feature, and if not you can get them, so.
if it doesn't have the drivers ware can you get them ?
hi!
Working or non working of touchpad depends on the machine/brand and model of the computer you use and not on the operating system you use.
Touch pad is one of the driver of computer and it is pre installed when perchased and may be backuped in volume d or somewhere.
If you dint find, you may downloaded from the official site of the computer brand by specifying the model number of your computer.
Generally most of computers may have a shotcut like function+f3, fn+f6 or some type of phisical jesture on mousepad,
else for real's research is superb!
:)
oh he has a touch pad so hope wayne's in instructions will tel him how to turn it off
I don't have the touchpad as an option under Windows Mobility, and can't get reid of the thing. I have a Toshiba Laptop running Windows 7, so I suspect, like the above poster mentioned, that this is device specific to Dell computers.
I have an Acer Notebook running Windows 7, and I use the command FN + F7. I am not sure if this command is pretty common, but my brother taught me that one, and he has a Dell laptop.
The FN + F7 is an easy command because if I need someone to help me on the computer, or if someone wants to use my computer right quick, I can turn the touch pad on and off in a flash.
Incidentally I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure that for Toshiba it's function key + f9.
I spoke about this maybe being sfor Dell's, but I believe if your machine has the feature, you can disable it this way.
I'd love some feedback, to see other ways like the control posted.
also am trying to do this and don't have it in mobility center.
Microsoft claims that if you have a validated copy of Windows 7 you can install the Mobility center.
It also states that your computers manufactory might not have installed the drives in the center if you have it.
I had posted above where to get them from
Here is Microsoft’s page on installing the center.
When I say validated copy, Microsoft wants to run a program to check to learn if your Windows copy is par, so if that is a problem for some, due to privacy issues, and such, you might not be interested.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=14
This file is also located in Microsoft’s download center.
Dell has put these drivers in, along with several other features that make setting things easy, so looking at it I’d have to say it was something I have due to having a Dell, but it is a part of Windows, and can be set up if you desire.
You can also check your computers manufactory we site for how to do this, I’d hope. I think it is a great feature if you don’t want to simply cover it with something to keep from activating it.
on mine, there's a button to turn it on or off.