Dell Inspiron 1545 Laptop Touchpad not responding anymore

[crzyevilpandagirl67]

Allright, so I've owned this laptop for about 8 months, and I have had no problems with it whatsoever, but today out of the blue, my arrow started jumping around, freezing momentarily, and now I have no control over my touchpad (it is utterly frozen).  I managed to hook up a mouse so I can get around, but this is a real pain.  I've restarted my computer several times, tried to reinstall the driver's program, and tried shutting off the zoom and touchcheck setting to no avail.  Any suggestions?

[Allan]

First thing you want to do is run a full scan with BOTH your anti virus utility and MalwareBytes.

[crzyevilpandagirl67]

Done and Done. Found some viruses (fun), and I restarted my computer, but my problem remains. Any other ideas?

[crzyevilpandagirl67]

And actually, when I got on my computer this morning, the touchpad mouse actually worked for a few moments, but then it started to jerk around, and once again it is not working.  I don't know if that helps you

[patio]

Try re-installing the Touchpad drivers and rebooting...

[Allan]

If after following patio's advice you still have a problem, you need to follow the link below and let one of CH's malware specialists check your logs. The fact that you had at least one virus is not good: http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,46313.0.html

[soybean]

I managed to hook up a mouse so I can get around, but this is a real pain.

Just wondering, how is that a pain?  Many laptop users, including me, prefer using a mouse.

[crzyevilpandagirl67]

well I guess I just prefer using the touchpad.  I'm very used to it at this point.

[BC_Programmer]

well I guess I just prefer using the touchpad.  I'm very used to it at this point.

I can understand the "used to it" argument!

I hated the touchpad on my new laptop when I first bought it- because I had never used a touchpad before. So, everytime I went to use the mouse, I'd subconcously start fiddling around with the area between the g and h key where the trackpoint would be (both my older laptops used a trackpoint stick). I even went so far as to buy a portable wireless mouse just so I could avoid using the touchpad.

Now, though, it's not so bad. in fact, I was bored and decided to fire up my old satellite 440CDX and found myself trying to use a non-existent touchpad on it instead of the trackpoint! Sort of funny, really.


Anyway, re the original problem- One thing you can try (to narrow down wether the problem is a software or a hardware one) is to boot a Linux LiveCD. opinions differ on the best one to choose but it's not really that important. Personally I'd recommend Linux Mint, if only because I know it to work by default with my touchpad. If the touchpad <doesn't> work, then it's either a problem with the actual touchpad hardware, or maybe somehow a setting got flipped in the BIOS. Another thing you can try is completely removing all touchpad related devices and software, and reboot, and see if windows can use the touchpad by treating it just like a mouse.

[oncebeguhn]

Hello, my dell inspiron is just over the warranty period and this problem has become a nuisance, when I type my cursor jumps all over, wipes out text, jumps into previous text etc... I have been trying to find out  why, did some searching on the net,  I even had some techs check it for a virus that's not it, it seems there is an error in the program I read in the software for these applications installed by Dell. When I finally got to speak to Dell CS and then tech support I was told since I was out of warranty I'd have to pay them to fix the problem... a problem in a program  they installed.

I wont pay them for anything ever again. Make sure you check your product consumer report before buying any electronics. I'll go to my local tech support and pay them.

[Allan]

Hello, my dell inspiron is just over the warranty period and this problem has become a nuisance, when I type my cursor jumps all over, wipes out text, jumps into previous text etc... I have been trying to find out  why, did some searching on the net,  I even had some techs check it for a virus that's not it, it seems there is an error in the program I read in the software for these applications installed by Dell. When I finally got to speak to Dell CS and then tech support I was told since I was out of warranty I'd have to pay them to fix the problem... a problem in a program  they installed.

I wont pay them for anything ever again. Make sure you check your product consumer report before buying any electronics. I'll go to my local tech support and pay them.

Follow the link below and start a new thread in the malware forum:
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,46313.0.html

[zxy200100]

what about change a better Anti-virus software.
Maybe it will work..

[bil_drk]

try a program called super antispyware as well, and if that doesn't work try uninstalling the device drivers, rebooting, and then reinstall them using your driver cd or downloading them from the manufacturer's website. this should fix your problem. it may be best to uninstall the driver, scan your computer w/antivirus (i recommend AVG), malwarebytes, and super antispyware, then reboot and install the drivers. make sure you get the right ones for your version of Windows! all of these can be found FREE on download.com