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MARDAR

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4 Posts

51379

September 30th, 2012 13:00

Loose Synaptic Pointing Device Driver on N5010

Feb. 2011 - Inspiron 15R - N5010 / WIN7 Home Premium v6.1 (Build 7600)

When playing games like Microsoft Solitaire or Spider Solitaire, the touchpad mouse disappears.  I then have to connect a usb mouse and touchpad remains unusable.  I've attempted to use the touchpad disable key to re-enable thinking that it might have been bumped and that doesn't work either.  Researching this now 4 different times turns up one consistent problem,the Synaptics Pointing Device is no longer listed as an available mouse via the control panel as if the configuration has been whacked!  I have to restart the system, sometimes multiple times, in order have the Synaptics Pointing Device suddenly reappear and everything is fine!

I've downloaded a Synaptics  driver update from Dell and when I reload it, it's same driver date and version as previously and the same version that Microsoft finds on a search.  Date: 12/23/2009, version 15.0.0.1. 

Any ideas?  The rest of the system works great and I guess I don't have to play games, but this is getting a bit annoying!

Thanks!

DELL-Vikram M

6 Operator

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1.1K Posts

October 1st, 2012 05:00

Hi MARDAR,

I will recommend you to uninstall and re install the touchpad driver as the currently installed driver may be corrupted:

  1. Click on 'Start' and right click on 'Computer'.
  2. Click on 'Manage' and click on 'Device Manager'.
  3. Expand 'Mice and other pointing devices'.
  4. Right click each entry and click on 'uninstall'.
  5. Once the touchpad driver is uninstalled, click on 'Start' and click on 'Control Panel'.
  6. Click on 'Programs and features'.
  7. A list of applications will open.
  8. Scroll down and search for 'Synaptics Touchpad'. (If you do not find 'Synaptics Touchpad', restart your system and follow the next set of steps).
  9. Right click on it and click on 'uninstall'.
  10. Once uninstalled, restart your system.
  11. Click on the link: http://dell.to/ViqhHw
  12. Select 'Single-file Download'.
  13. Click on 'Continue'.
  14. Click on 'Save' and save the driver on the desktop.
  15. Once the driver is downloaded on the desktop, right click on it and click on 'Run as administrator'.
  16. Install the driver following the on screen instructions.
  17. Restart your system once the driver is installed and check if the issue is fixed.

If the issue still persists, update the system BIOS:

Note: Please save any unsaved data as your system will restart automatically after updating the BIOS. Disconnect all the external peripherals like printer, camera, scanner, external hard drive, flash drive etc. Also, the battery should be charged 10% or above.

  1. Click on the link:  http://dell.to/SxlUTV
  2. Select 'For Single File Download via Browser'.
  3. Click on 'Continue'.
  4. Update the BIOS following the on screen instructions.

Hope this helps. Keep me posted. Please reply for any further questions.

DELL-Vikram M

6 Operator

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1.1K Posts

October 3rd, 2012 11:00

Hi MARDAR,

I appreciate your efforts. Please keep me updated with the status.

MARDAR

1 Rookie

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4 Posts

October 2nd, 2012 18:00

Thank you Vikram!  Followed the 17 steps above and now we'll monitor.  Thanks again!

MARDAR

1 Rookie

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4 Posts

January 1st, 2013 17:00

Hi Vikram M,

Well, we got almost 3 months of no problems with my Synaptics touchpad working flawlessly and then the problem returned!  And this time, following the same steps you had provided, I was unable to get the Synaptics driver update you provided to take.  I applied the bios update you provided and still no luck.  Basically started over and noticed that even after completing the Synaptics driver install and it showing up under the programs, it did not show up under the device listing.

After repeating the steps 5 times, and rechecking updates steps along the way, I was able to get this last update to take.  The Synaptics device finally showed up as a pleasant surprise.  I didn't do anything different than what was done the first 4 times.

Any ideas to help me be prepared for the next time I loose the Synaptics device?

 

 

NBI

1 Message

September 19th, 2014 07:00

Hi Vikram. i am facing this problem, my touch  pad is not working at all on dell Inspiron n5010 win 7 (32). It has suddenly stopped working i tried re-installing the drivers first it didnt work than i re-installed the OS from the beginning again same issue.. i have followed your above 21 steps proceedure it didnt work..In my device manager>..mice and other pointing device> its shows only two HID compliant mouse.then i view the hidden files it than shows the Synaptics pointing device PS/2 port Touch pad with a  yellow TRIANGLE mark on it. I have visited many forums and have tired working on it but all in Vain. Please help..

you ca also reach me on nbidrees@hotmail.com

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