Enable Touchpad Scrolling in Windows 8

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How can scroll using the right touchpad scrollbar on Windows 8 Pro 64-bit? On an OEM-installed-7, I was able to scroll on my Acer Aspire 5750-6866.

I tried to install the Windows 7 drivers (Elantech from Acer's page as well as Synaptic) on 8, but they required .NET 3.5, which I had to install using the CLI and the original install disc. However, once I'd gotten the installer working, it told me that the platform had installed successfully but the drivers had not.

I also tried to install the Windows 7 Synaptic drivers like everybody reccommends, but this had no effect.

Is there a way to enable anything but those generic drivers that come with 8? With a 1366x768 resolution, it takes a while to move my mouse using trackpad to the right-hand corner from the left of the screen where it is usually parked. I game as well and sometimes need a scrollwheel in-game. I find myself lost without it (or at least with my productivity crippled)! Help! I'm not asking for fancy tablet-like gestures, I only want right scroll.

WindowsEscapist

Posted 2012-10-30T14:42:23.243

Reputation: 1 828

What brand is your touchpad? – Xandy – 2012-10-30T15:00:10.180

Can you post a link to the drivers you tried, please? – Ry- – 2012-10-30T15:00:54.173

@Xandy Of course it came pre-installed in my laptop, so I believe either Synaptics or Elantec - Acer's documentation is not clear because I have a sub-model of the 5750. – WindowsEscapist – 2012-10-30T15:39:23.203

@minitech Done. – WindowsEscapist – 2012-10-30T15:39:56.620

@WindowsEscapist the thing is that even though drivers from manufacturer A tend to work with manufaturer B touchpads (because of the hardware IDs), if the driver is not of the same brand than the manufacturer you may not get "advanced" features like scrolling. Look at http://station-drivers.com/ for different brands of touchpad drivers (e.g. Synaptics, Alps, Elantech, ...). Mine is Synaptics and I'm currently using 16.2.16.2, works perfectly. Once you know the brand of your touchpad its drivers should make it work.

– Xandy – 2012-10-30T15:56:30.623

@Xandy Yes but I have installed the proper drivers - for the Aspire 5750-6866 (from Acer's website). I do not think this is an "oops I installed the wrong drivers" issue, but thank you for your concern. – WindowsEscapist – 2012-10-30T16:08:17.607

Answers

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I had the same problem, also with an Acer Aspire (5750G, I think). Windows 7 worked, Windows 8 didn't. The Synaptec drivers didn't solve it, but the Elantech ones did. On the Acer site, you can find the drivers for your model. Mine included both the Synaptec and Elantech ones.

After trying the Synaptec ones, I uninstalled them, and installed the Elantech ones. This did the trick.

Also, your installation of .NET 3.5 seems strange. You can get a normal installer from Microsoft.

Peter

Posted 2012-10-30T14:42:23.243

Reputation: 1 208

I also tried Elantech before I had .NET installed (if was quite a bit of work and then I couldn't find my install DVD). I will see if it will install properly this time. – WindowsEscapist – 2012-10-30T15:29:39.583

.NET 3.5 can be installed under Windows 8 via the CLI or by enabling it in preferences or in a program that needs it - both of which will bring up a dialogue box that asks you to download it from Windows Update. This is the same dialogue box that the "normal installer" brings up. (Incidentally, I have no idea why Microsoft would want to not include .NET 2 and 3.5 when it has 4.5 - so many things depend on 2 and 3.5, it makes no sense to get rid of them.) – WindowsEscapist – 2012-10-30T15:37:10.500

I have about 40mins left to go on the Elantech driver (it's around 200MB), so I'll get back to you then. – WindowsEscapist – 2012-10-30T15:38:09.690

Glad it works. About .NET: when you have .NET 4.5 installed, I'm pretty sure anything that needs 2 or 3.5 will also work. – Peter – 2012-10-31T08:06:31.993

1Nope; they still ask for 3.5 and return strange glitches. – WindowsEscapist – 2012-11-01T00:24:35.607

Well know, didn't know that. – Peter – 2012-11-01T17:06:24.473

Yeah, pretty weird; seems like something that shouldn't happen. – WindowsEscapist – 2012-11-01T21:44:40.313

Asked: 2012-10-30T14:42:23.243

Viewed: 24 890 times

Active: 2012-12-22T08:30:28.620