Laptop Touchpad Problems and Solutions

Laptop touchpads work by evaluating the total electrostatic energy in a finger, when it moves over it. Its top surface is smooth and soft, while it has electronically charged components attached on the other side.

When you move your finger over it, the electronic components help to interpret your finger location on the pad, and then to the screen. These problems could be either due to hardware or software issues, with your laptop.

Certain hardware problems can be the cause of your touchpad to stop working. The following instructions can prove to be helpful.

Clean it properly, and also ensure that it is working fine. Take a piece of soft cloth and dip it in rubbing alcohol, and wipe your touchpad with it.

At times, a problem with the track point cap can result in a touchpad malfunction. You might have to replace this cap if you find a lot of dirt settled on it, or if it has become sticky and is not moving freely.

Operating with sweaty, unclean hands can also be a cause of a non-working touchpad. The pads require a dry and warm environment to work properly. In case it is exposed to excessive cold, moisture, or heat, its performance is hampered.

To confirm that the problem is hardware related, try attaching a computer mouse through the USB port, and check if it's working. In case the mouse is also not working, then it's a software problem.

Check for software problems, and troubleshoot them by following the instructions provided in next slides.

Restart your laptop, and when it starts reloading again, keep pressing the F8 key till the windows startup menu appears. From the menu list, select "Safe Mode" option. After your laptop starts in the "Safe Mode", and you are still facing the same touchpad problem, then there is definitely some software issue with the laptop.

Click "My Computer" and go to "Control Panel". In this window, click the icon "Add Remove Programs". If there is any mouse related software in there, delete it from your system. Restart your laptop and see whether the problem still persists. In case it does, you will have to try something else.

Go to "My Computer", and right click on it; select "Properties" option from the drop down list. In this window, select the "Device Manager" tab. You should find a category called "Other Devices". Click on the "+" symbol besides it, to get a list of devices under it.

Delete all devices which appear, by selecting them and clicking on "Remove" option at the bottom of the window. Also, find "Mouse" option in the list, and repeat the procedure for removing all items listed under it. Restart your computer.

Once it reboots, you should find a "New Hardware Wizard" window open on your screen, which will load all the necessary drivers for the mouse.

In case you have followed all the before listed instructions, and your touchpad's problem still refuses to go away, you should call for technical assistance.