Is there freeware to turn OFF the sensitive TOUCHPAD when a USBmouse is connected?

[Danny D.]

I can't count the number of times the sensitive touchpad is
inadvertently activated while typing, in Windows XP & Windows 7.

Is there freeware available that will simply TURN OFF the touchpad
when a USB mouse is connected?

I guess if not, then is there a SIMPLE way to disable the TOUCHPAD
driver when the mouse is attached; and then a simple way to re-enable
that touchpad driver when the mouse is not connected?

 

[nemesis]

I can't count the number of times the sensitive touchpad is
inadvertently activated while typing, in Windows XP & Windows 7.

Is there freeware available that will simply TURN OFF the touchpad
when a USB mouse is connected?

I guess if not, then is there a SIMPLE way to disable the TOUCHPAD
driver when the mouse is attached; and then a simple way to re-enable
that touchpad driver when the mouse is not connected?

You can meddle with the settings through "Control Panel -- Mouse".
I turn the pad clicks off.

 

[Wildman]

I can't count the number of times the sensitive touchpad is
inadvertently activated while typing, in Windows XP & Windows 7.

Is there freeware available that will simply TURN OFF the touchpad
when a USB mouse is connected?

I guess if not, then is there a SIMPLE way to disable the TOUCHPAD
driver when the mouse is attached; and then a simple way to re-enable
that touchpad driver when the mouse is not connected?

I think most laptops have a hot key combo for that.
Mine does.

 

[pyotr filipivich]

It should be an option in the configurations.

 

[richard]

I can't count the number of times the sensitive touchpad is
inadvertently activated while typing, in Windows XP & Windows 7.

Is there freeware available that will simply TURN OFF the touchpad
when a USB mouse is connected?

I guess if not, then is there a SIMPLE way to disable the TOUCHPAD
driver when the mouse is attached; and then a simple way to re-enable
that touchpad driver when the mouse is not connected?

I hate that too. But luckily, most laptops have a way of turning the pad
off if you want.
if you have a [fn] key you should try pressing that and try each of the top
bar functin keys until you fins the one that turns off the pad.
Or check your control panel mouse settings.

 

[NY]

"nemesis" wrote in message

You can meddle with the settings through "Control Panel -- Mouse".
I turn the pad clicks off.

I turn "tapping" off because that is the spawn of the devil. A mousepad is
physically much smaller than the area that you normally move a mouse over,
so it's not possible to set a scale factor that allows you to move the mouse
from one side of the screen to the other with a movement from one side of
the pad to the other while still giving enough precision for fine movements,
so you normally have to make a couple of left-side to right-side movements
(lifting your finger in between) to cover the whole screen. Nothing is more
infuriating than putting your finger down a bit too hard while doing the
repeated side-to-side movement and finding that you have inadvertantly
left-clicked.

Tapping attempts to merge mouse movement and clicking, which you don't do
with a normal mouse, so why should people expect to do it with a touch pad.

The other thing I always turn on with any PC I use (if some misguided person
has turned it off) is display of the task bar. It's so infuriating to look
at the bottom right for the clock, or look for an open-but-hidden
application in the task bar, only to find that the taskbar isn't there and
you have to move the mouse to the bottom of the screen and wait several
seconds for it to re-appear.

But tastes vary: my wife likes tapping on and taskbar off. We're like Jack
Spratt and his wife!

 

[CRNG]

Is there
freeware to turn OFF the sensitive TOUCHPAD when a USB mouse is
connected?:

I hate that too. But luckily, most laptops have a way of turning the pad
off if you want.
if you have a [fn] key you should try pressing that and try each of the top
bar functin keys until you fins the one that turns off the pad.
Or check your control panel mouse settings.

That's the worst advice I've seen in a long time: pushing buttons
whose function you do not know, to find out what their function is.
Man, that is dumb.

 

[VanguardLH]

I can't count the number of times the sensitive touchpad is
inadvertently activated while typing, in Windows XP & Windows 7.

Is there freeware available that will simply TURN OFF the touchpad
when a USB mouse is connected?

I guess if not, then is there a SIMPLE way to disable the TOUCHPAD
driver when the mouse is attached; and then a simple way to re-enable
that touchpad driver when the mouse is not connected?

Isn't there a button alongside the edge of the touchpad to physically
enable/disable it? You don't identify the touchpad. Is it in a laptop?
If so, which one (make and model)? Is it a standalone device?

 

[Ken Blake]

Is there
freeware to turn OFF the sensitive TOUCHPAD when a USB mouse is
connected?:

I hate that too. But luckily, most laptops have a way of turning the pad
off if you want.
if you have a [fn] key you should try pressing that and try each of the top
bar functin keys until you fins the one that turns off the pad.
Or check your control panel mouse settings.

That's the worst advice I've seen in a long time: pushing buttons
whose function you do not know, to find out what their function is.
Man, that is dumb.

Ditto!

 

[Thip]

I can't count the number of times the sensitive touchpad is
inadvertently activated while typing, in Windows XP & Windows 7.

Is there freeware available that will simply TURN OFF the touchpad
when a USB mouse is connected?

I guess if not, then is there a SIMPLE way to disable the TOUCHPAD
driver when the mouse is attached; and then a simple way to re-enable
that touchpad driver when the mouse is not connected?

I disabled mine in Control Panel.

 

[choro]

"nemesis" wrote in message




I turn "tapping" off because that is the spawn of the devil. A mousepad
is physically much smaller than the area that you normally move a mouse
over, so it's not possible to set a scale factor that allows you to move
the mouse from one side of the screen to the other with a movement from
one side of the pad to the other while still giving enough precision for
fine movements, so you normally have to make a couple of left-side to
right-side movements (lifting your finger in between) to cover the whole
screen. Nothing is more infuriating than putting your finger down a bit
too hard while doing the repeated side-to-side movement and finding that
you have inadvertantly left-clicked.

Oh, no, you don't. I have set my mouse so I can move from one side of
the screen to the other just by wrist movement alone. And it still
allows me fine movement when needed. But if you are ham fisted, of
course you will argue the opposite.

Tapping attempts to merge mouse movement and clicking, which you don't
do with a normal mouse, so why should people expect to do it with a
touch pad.

The other thing I always turn on with any PC I use (if some misguided
person has turned it off) is display of the task bar. It's so
infuriating to look at the bottom right for the clock, or look for an
open-but-hidden application in the task bar, only to find that the
taskbar isn't there and you have to move the mouse to the bottom of the
screen and wait several seconds for it to re-appear.

No it ain't! The taskbar SHOULD be hidden unless you want to use it.
What is the point of having all that space if you cannot use it or if it
hides a good proportion of whatever it is you have up and running.
Besides in Windows 8 you have the option of displaying the taskbar on
the LHS of the screen which is what I do leaving the full height of the
monitor accessible and visible at all times. With today's wide screens
the only time you need the full width is when watching 16:9 videos.

 

[richard]

Is there
freeware to turn OFF the sensitive TOUCHPAD when a USB mouse is
connected?:

I hate that too. But luckily, most laptops have a way of turning the pad
off if you want.
if you have a [fn] key you should try pressing that and try each of the top
bar functin keys until you fins the one that turns off the pad.
Or check your control panel mouse settings.

That's the worst advice I've seen in a long time: pushing buttons
whose function you do not know, to find out what their function is.
Man, that is dumb.

So like you noght this fancy, expensive gadget and it basically has no
manual to read. Whatchya gonna do? Use it as a doorstop?
My desktop keyboard has a bunches of buttons marked with varius symbols on
them, I don't know what they are for. But maybe I'll find out if I press
them.
I doubt seriously if the machine's gonna blow up if you do.

 

[p-0''0-h the cat (ES)]

Is there
freeware to turn OFF the sensitive TOUCHPAD when a USB mouse is
connected?:

I hate that too. But luckily, most laptops have a way of turning the pad
off if you want.
if you have a [fn] key you should try pressing that and try each of the top
bar functin keys until you fins the one that turns off the pad.
Or check your control panel mouse settings.

That's the worst advice I've seen in a long time: pushing buttons
whose function you do not know, to find out what their function is.
Man, that is dumb.

So like you noght this fancy, expensive gadget and it basically has no
manual to read. Whatchya gonna do? Use it as a doorstop?
My desktop keyboard has a bunches of buttons marked with varius symbols on
them, I don't know what they are for. But maybe I'll find out if I press
them.
I doubt seriously if the machine's gonna blow up if you do.

Don't press the one with the little chair on it.


h

 

[Don McC]

Is there freeware available that will simply TURN OFF
the touchpad when a USB mouse is connected?

Depends upon the computer and the manufacturer. Some include
the ability to automatically disable the touchpad when an external
mouse is attached. Or you can download a third party program to
do the same. Or you can disable the touchpad driver. These
options are explained in this youtube video.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

"nemesis" wrote in message




I turn "tapping" off because that is the spawn of the devil. A mousepad

[]
Oh, no, you don't. I have set my mouse so I can move from one side of
the screen to the other just by wrist movement alone. And it still
allows me fine movement when needed. But if you are ham fisted, of
course you will argue the opposite.

Tapping attempts to merge mouse movement and clicking, which you don't
do with a normal mouse, so why should people expect to do it with a
touch pad.

You're both too prescriptive! People should - and do! - do what they
like.

Though having said that: NY (New Yorker?), use of a touchpad comes with
experience (which you'll never get if you turn it off); I thought I'd
never get on with them at first, but now do. For many tasks they're
_slightly_ inferior to a real mouse, but I accept that for the
convenience of using a machine without a dangling mouse and the need for
somewhere to put the latter (I'm typing this in bed for example); for a
few things, they're actually better. (Ditto trackballs.)
As do I, but see above!
[]

No it ain't! The taskbar SHOULD be hidden unless you want to use it.

See above again!
[]

monitor accessible and visible at all times. With today's wide screens
the only time you need the full width is when watching 16:9 videos.

Agreed: fashion has dictated a reduction in functionality. But we're not
going to get 4:3 back in any laptop any time soon, so there's no point
hoping. (And at least it has meant that half-usable keyboards - i. e.
with a numpad - are now common [though still not universal!] even on
so-called 15" models.)
Accounts do not record, however, whether Jack Spratt (or, for equality,
his wife!) tried to impose his preferences on his spouse (-:! (Actually
IIRR it was presented as a useful complement that used resources
efficiently.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"What happens if I press this button?" "I wouldn't ..." (pinggg!) "Oh!" "What
happened?" "A sign lit up, saying `please do not press this button
again'!"(s1f2)

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

That _is_ probably the simplest answer to the original question (though
if you _do_ find some freeware that turns off the 'pad when an external
mouse is present [and back when it isn't], please share, as clearly many
would like it [I still use the 'pad for some things even with a mouse]).

if you have a [fn] key you should try pressing that and try each of the top
bar functin keys until you fins the one that turns off the pad.
Or check your control panel mouse settings.

That's the worst advice I've seen in a long time: pushing buttons
whose function you do not know, to find out what their function is.
Man, that is dumb.

Well, some compromise between the two.

So like you noght this fancy, expensive gadget and it basically has no
manual to read. Whatchya gonna do? Use it as a doorstop?
My desktop keyboard has a bunches of buttons marked with varius symbols on
them, I don't know what they are for. But maybe I'll find out if I press
them.
I doubt seriously if the machine's gonna blow up if you do.

No, but something undesirable may happen: the most likely I think, since
it's often such a function on laptops, is the turning off of the
wireless. On this (Samsung LC20), a graphic pops up in the middle of the
screen for a second or two telling you what you've just achieved with a
Fn+F keystroke, but not all machines do that. (Another unexpected might
be to switch the monitor off as you've switched the output to external
monitor, though _some_ won't let you do that if there isn't one
connected. If you _do_ [i. e. the screen goes blank], the same
combination again usually restores it [often cycling around three
combinations - internal monitor only, external only, both, not
necessarily in that order].)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"What happens if I press this button?" "I wouldn't ..." (pinggg!) "Oh!" "What
happened?" "A sign lit up, saying `please do not press this button
again'!"(s1f2)

 

[richard]

That _is_ probably the simplest answer to the original question (though
if you _do_ find some freeware that turns off the 'pad when an external
mouse is present [and back when it isn't], please share, as clearly many
would like it [I still use the 'pad for some things even with a mouse]).

if you have a [fn] key you should try pressing that and try each of the top
bar functin keys until you fins the one that turns off the pad.
Or check your control panel mouse settings.

That's the worst advice I've seen in a long time: pushing buttons
whose function you do not know, to find out what their function is.
Man, that is dumb.

Well, some compromise between the two.

So like you noght this fancy, expensive gadget and it basically has no
manual to read. Whatchya gonna do? Use it as a doorstop?
My desktop keyboard has a bunches of buttons marked with varius symbols on
them, I don't know what they are for. But maybe I'll find out if I press
them.
I doubt seriously if the machine's gonna blow up if you do.

No, but something undesirable may happen: the most likely I think, since
it's often such a function on laptops, is the turning off of the
wireless. On this (Samsung LC20), a graphic pops up in the middle of the
screen for a second or two telling you what you've just achieved with a
Fn+F keystroke, but not all machines do that. (Another unexpected might
be to switch the monitor off as you've switched the output to external
monitor, though _some_ won't let you do that if there isn't one
connected. If you _do_ [i. e. the screen goes blank], the same
combination again usually restores it [often cycling around three
combinations - internal monitor only, external only, both, not
necessarily in that order].)

I believe the movie was "Hangar 18".
In which during a space mission, the two astronauts vehicle collides with a
UFO. Said UFO being captured and kept hidden. During the course of their
reverse engingeering, somebody acidentally presses a button and a laser
beam shoots out.
"The man is right. How the hell are we gonna learn anything about this
thing unless we start pressing buttons?"

 

[Evan Platt]

So like you noght this fancy, expensive gadget and it basically has no
manual to read.

A laptop with no manual? I doubt it.

Whatchya gonna do? Use it as a doorstop?

If you're richard bullis, yes. Anyone else who has a clue can use it
as a laptop.

My desktop keyboard has a bunches of buttons marked with varius symbols on
them, I don't know what they are for.

Most of them should be pretty obvious. If you can't figure out what
they do, then you should be in this group asking questions, not
providing answers.

But maybe I'll find out if I press them.

Or maybe RTFM.

I doubt seriously if the machine's gonna blow up if you do.

If only that happened to your computer....

 

[Evan Platt]

That's the worst advice I've seen in a long time: pushing buttons
whose function you do not know, to find out what their function is.
Man, that is dumb.

Allow me to introduce you to richard...

 

[Jon Danniken]

No it ain't! The taskbar SHOULD be hidden unless you want to use it.
What is the point of having all that space if you cannot use it or if it
hides a good proportion of whatever it is you have up and running.

I like to keep the taskbar visible as a reference to what I have open.

Besides in Windows 8 you have the option of displaying the taskbar on
the LHS of the screen which is what I do leaving the full height of the
monitor accessible and visible at all times. With today's wide screens
the only time you need the full width is when watching 16:9 videos.

The ability to move the taskbar has been present since Win95; bottom,
top, left, or right.

Jon