Touch Pad and Mouse

[denret]

I have Win XP SP2 on my Laptop. I continually have problems using a Mouse. I'm told that I should disable the Touch Pad when using a mouse to solve this problem, but I've never been able to find that option anywhere within the System stuff.

Is this an option, and if so, where do I disable it???


Frustrated..

[JohnnyMalaria]

What brand/model? I have a Dell Latitude that drove me insane until I turned off the "features". The exact options may vary according to brand/model.

In general, Control Panel\Mouse will reveal a bunch of tabs that you can use to change options. There's an option to disable the pad when an external mouse is attached. For me, the problem was the pad itself being configured to treat double-taps as a mouse click (same for the stick, too). I completely disabled the pad and the set of buttons below it (the ball of my thumb kept hitting it). You may also have something on your Start menu and/or in your tray to configure stuff.

[QuadcoreHD]

used google, third result:

http://reviews.cnet.com/9602-12576_7-0.html?messageID=2507805

[CWR03]

If you can't or don't want to disable it completely, you can turn its sensitivity down as low as it will go. Since it's a Dell, it also has settings that prevent accidental input from resting your palm on it.

[denret]

Thanks for the feedback.

I followed the instructions in the link and found the tab for disabling. However, on my Compaq, only the Touch Pad or the Mouse will show in the tab at one time. If I'm using the Mouse, only the Mouse shows and it will allow me to disable the mouse only. Conversely if I unplug the Mouse and use the Touchpad, only the Touchpad appears in the tab. I think if I disable the one I'm working with, I'm probably be asking for problems.

My logic is that only one is active at any time. I do not have any Touchpad controls when the Mouse is plugged in. My problem could be just a bad Mouse. I'll shop for a new one. Which is best.....PS2 or USB? Don't they both connect to same buss?

[CWR03]

Look under Device Manager, Human Interface Devices, and you can disable only the touchpad's hardware there.