Laptop touchpad woes

[quaxo]

Alright, some of you might recall the laptop being discussed HERE. Same computer, different problem now. Refer to the old thread for specs for the EeePC4G so I don't have to type them all out again 

This has to do with the Synaptics PS/2 Touchpad (it's connected by PS/2 connection directly to the motherboard).

I finished installing XP on that laptop. Everything seems to be working fine except the touchpad. The pad was working fine right after the Windows install. The EeePC comes with a CD that contains both the Linux and WinXP drivers. When inserted in Windows XP, the autorun starts and you have the option of installing all drivers or select specific ones to install.

So I installed all drivers (like I did on my EeePC8G, which works fine) and the system restarts. After restarting with all drivers for all hardware installed, the touchpad ceases to function. The hardware manager sees it there and lists it as not having a problem as does the hardware tab in Mouse options in the control panel. However, the Synaptics software which controls special functions (scrolling, tapping, sensitivity options, etc.) does not see the device.

However, if I rollback the driver to the Windows XP default driver, it works fine again, except I have no access to the advanced options. I've tried deleting the driver manually, with the uninstaller, and through the hardware manager... nothing seems to make it work. I've also tried downloading the latest driver from the ASUS website, same issue. Any thoughts?

[Deerpark]

Have you tried the generic touchpad driver from Synaptics?

[quaxo]

Same result with their generic driver. After the restart, the touchpad stops functioning.

[patio]

I know this is a notebook size machine but is there enough room to possibly connect the PS2 to one of the USB ports using a PS2 to USB dongle and short cable ? ?
Trying to eliminate hardware as the issue here...

[quaxo]

It registers as a PS/2 device to the system, but it's not a PS/2 plug inside. The touchpad is wired directly to the motherboard without a PS/2 port like you would find on a desktop system.

Besides, it's not my laptop and doing so would void the warranty. The hardware (more or less) is the same between the 4G (this one) and 8G (mine). I had no problems with my 8G when I installed Windows XP and the Synaptics driver included on the ASUS CD.

It's weird, I've seen things act like this BEFORE you give them a driver, but not after haha. I've e-mailed ASUS to see what they have to say about it, but not expecting too much. Probably a standard pre-written 'install the drivers' reply or something. We'll see. Still open to suggestions from you guys though.

[quaxo]

Well, just found a big thread on this over at eeeuser.com that I didn't find while searching before. Seems a lot of people are having this problem. Funny thing is, the only thing we all have in common is the black EeePC4G. No other colors or models seem to have a problem. Weird.

[patio]

Paint it Green....and re-boot.

[quaxo]

Paint it Green....and re-boot.

haha I wish it were that simple...

[patio]

Any truth to the rumor they are coming out with a 10" model ? ?

[quaxo]

ASUS has denied it, but have confirmed they will release the 16GB model in Japan only sometime this year.

[quaxo]

Ok, update on this.

ASUS has confirmed that there is a problem with the ASUS EeePC 4G black models and the driver for the touchpad. They say they're working with Synaptics to get a working driver and should have a solution within 2 weeks.

[patio]

Thanx for the update...
Sucks you have to wait but oh well...