Touchpad dysfunctional for one user, others ok

2

I'm using a compaq presario notebook running windows 7. Suddenly the synaptics touchpad does not work -- for one user only. I'm logged in now as administrator, and everything is fine. I checked the device's touchpad properties, and it says all is well. I had the computer check the internet for the driver, and it said the driver is current.

So, presumably, something about the user's login is wacky. It must be loading something that eats the pointing device. I can ctrl/alt/del my way out, but I can't seem to select Task Manager to see what's running.

Any ideas on what I should look for?

Thanks.

user192768

Posted 2013-01-25T13:07:49.987

Reputation: 21

@DaveM: How does a user "disable the touchpad with the driver"? The only disable I know about is FN-F1. – Ira Baxter – 2016-04-08T07:19:31.020

@Ira Baxter. Should have said app rather than driver. Some systems install the driver and app at the same time. Pad can be disabled using the Synaptics app. It us s a user setting not a system setting unless applied using a GPO or something – Dave M – 2016-04-08T19:16:10.617

@DaveM: Where do I find this "app"? Has it been there all along and I didn't notice it? (Nothing obvious from the Start menu). "GPO"? – Ira Baxter – 2016-04-09T05:48:36.217

It is usually in Control Panel under Mouse. I do not have a system with it installed at this time to send a screenshot. There is a good tutorial here: https://aps2.toshiba-tro.de/kb0/HTD3101Z30000R01.htm This may differ slightly from your version. Item 3 shows where it can be disabled.

– Dave M – 2016-04-09T12:42:20.090

@DaveM: It was under ControlPanel->Mouse->DeviceSettings->Enable. The Synaptics controller was marked as "Disabled"; clicking "Enable" fixed it. Thank you! Why don't you provide the above as an answer, so I can upvote it? – Ira Baxter – 2016-04-10T06:21:04.010

Has that user disabled teh touchapd with the Synaptics driver? Any helpful event log entries? – Dave M – 2013-01-25T13:37:56.493

I had recently added an update. I ran system restore and the problem is fixed. Still don't know what caused it. – user192768 – 2013-01-25T13:38:26.553

Answers

2

The Synaptics driver package contains an app as well in most cases.

Once installed, it is usually in Control Panel under "Mouse". I do not have a system with it installed at this time to send a screenshot. There is a good tutorial here:Toshiba Synaptics Tutorial This may differ slightly from your version. Item 3 shows where it can be disabled. Enable or disable as required. This is a user setting so it musts be modified for each user account if necessary

[EDIT: For Sony VIAO laptop running Windows 7: It was under ControlPanel->Mouse [select "Synaptics" from pulldown menu]->DeviceSettings. The Synaptics controller was marked as "Disabled"; clicking "Enable" fixed it.]

Dave M

Posted 2013-01-25T13:07:49.987

Reputation: 12 811

Asked: 2013-01-25T13:07:49.987

Viewed: 167 times

Active: 2016-04-11T16:31:00.930