TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I’ve used and administered dozens of Dell laptops (while at IBM, NetApp, EMC and Oracle) going back to the mid 90s and days of DOS/Windows 3, and currently have and use three Dell laptops in my home, so yes, I do have a bit of experience.

You can easily disable the touchpad in device manager (and I doubt a Windows patch will re enable it), but there’s a downside. If your mouse battery or the mouse fails (which is not unheard of with the inexpensive Logitech’s that are widely used), the computer is useless until you can get the mouse back online - you can’t even navigate to control panel>device manger to re enable the touch pad.

anotherview Loc: California

Thanks for the tip.

anotherview Loc: California

Thanks for tip.

User ID

Been there, long ago. IIRC you just plug in your wired mouse and it works. No big deal. Has something changed now ?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Correct, I don't use a Dell...
Just 'splainin' how my laptop reacts. You mean only Dell owners need reply?
Just like you have no idea what my laptop will, or won't do. Maybe he missed something?
All computers are not created equal.
I suppose you know, for a fact, if ALL Dells behave the same way?
My wife's laptop is a Dell, but she uses the touch pad and touch screen, no mouse.
(I only use her computer when I absolutely have to.)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Some recommendations for a new computer -

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2861858/computers/7-critical-things-to-do-immediately-with-a-new-pc.html#tk.rss_all
http://www.computershopper.com/feature/13-essential-steps-set-up-your-new-pc

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

That can be problematic...

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Touchpads can be a royal PITA! Often, your thumbs doesn’t even have to touch it. The reward is trying to find the cursor!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Hi,
In the bottom left 'search' space, type "Touch pad" and options to access the mouse/touchpad, etc. will appear. You should have the option in the settings to disable the touch pad.
God Bless,
Papa Joe

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Instead of completely disabling, it you can make active only when the mouse is not detected.

sabfish

I will be ordering a new Dell laptop soon which I hope to use with external speakers. How are you connecting them to your laptop? Do they still have the socket to plug in headphones (or an external speaker)?

koratcat

I have the same problem with touch pads and completely sympathize with you.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

I used to use Logitechs wireless mice and still do on some PCs. But a few months ago I installed a set of Sennheiser bluetooth headphones. Magic things BUT my particular model had no way of telling you when the battery was low and needed charging. This really pissed me off so I went hunting for a battery monitor and found a thing called Bluetooth Battery Monitor. It checks the battery every-time you use the headphones so when the charge drops from 100% down to around 50% I charge overnight. This is just background stuff by the way. (And mentioning in passing that I do use bluetooth mouse on another PC and they are great).
Now after all that when I check the bluetooth battery I also notice it comes up and tells me that my Logitech M310 mouse is at 70% charge and my Logitech K520 keyboard is at 100%. I did try a new battery in the M310 but the reported charge stayed at 70%. Note the Bluetooth battery app said it wasn't designed to work with standard batteries so this was a bonus and I am watching it carefully to see what gets reported when the penlights start to drop.
I have yet to install the app (you have to buy it) on the PC that uses bluetooth mouse and keyboard to see what is reported. You can alter the app to follow the lowest reported charge level and, I think, even get an alarm on low levels.
This has changed worrying about batteries to something that is eminently livable.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Excellent information - thank you!