Disabling mousepad on laptop

[kryptonic]

I was wondering if there was a way to disable the mousepad on a laptop. Im running vista (not sure if that makes a difference). I used a USB mouse instead of the little pad thingy and when im typing my palm often hits the mouse pad and makes the cursor jump. Any Suggestions?

KrYpToNiC

[Raion]

Have you tried checking the mouse settings in the Control Panel? I know that my laptop has a button over the the touch pad for quick disable/enabling but it also has an option in the control panel to disable it there.

[nihil]

Hi kryptonic,

What make and model is your laptop?

Usually it is one of:

1. A physical switch
2. A fuction key or key combination
3. A setting in the BIOS
4. A control panel setting

[kryptonic]

It's a compaq C571NR

[DjM]

Nihil is right (again) it's in the BIOS.

Cheers:

[wolfman1984]

The BIOS will work, if the setting exists. If not, The Wolfman suggests cutting a piece of cardboard in the exact shape of your mousepad and then applying 4 pieces of duct tape. Works evey time!!

[nihil]

This HP/Compaq technical support article may help:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00678194&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&product=3441641&dlc=en〈=en#N670

Otherwise you could probably reduce the touchpad sensitivity until it ignores tapping whilst typing?

[kryptonic]

I downloaded the Synaptics program and it worked great. I disabled the mousepad and now i can type without the cursor jerking around. The next step is getting read of vista and going back to more familiar teritories

[nihil]

Hi kryptonic,

Glad to hear that worked. The Synaptics software is quite impressive. I have never used it for disabling a laptop touchpad, but I have used it when setting up touchpads for people suffering from arthritis...........they find it difficult to use a conventional mouse.