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100146
April 20th, 2012 12:00
Touchpad randomly works/stops working partially
Hello everyone. This is my first time posting here.
I have a Dell Inspiron 1440 and suddenly out of thin air (Nothing Installed/Uninstalled) it randomly started to act up. As of now, it randomly starts clicking itself (For example if I hover it to Start Menu it'd simply start opening start menu over and over, or if I hover it over a shortcut, it'd open the application) even though there is nothing touching the touchpad. Lately, its been starting to not clicking anything randomly, even if I hit the touchpad to click, but I can still move the pointer around, just no longer click. another thing is sometimes, a click gets stuck (As in if I have the mouse over Desktop background, it'd show up selection rectangle and I cant get out of it) Finally, the left button seems to stop working too, although I can hit the right button without any hassle, the left one doesnt work.
I firstly thought it could be a driver issue so I reinstalled the latest from Dell.com, as that didnt work I formatted my computer thinking I could've been infected with a virus, then again that didnt work either. I also did a system restore to the moment I bought it (Which is the backup I generally use) and it didnt work out either.
I read somewhere while googling saying that issues with the fan system could affect the touchpad as it works with finger heat, Ive noticed it does get a bit warm easily (Within 5 minutes or less from power up), however if that was the case I am assuming it wouldnt move around, as clicking I think would be caused by pressure. I am just throwing out a random theory honestly though :P As I said it is pretty random and even when the touchpad feels hit it does sometime work properly
I'd apreciatte any possible help you could offer.
I forgot to mention, if I plug in a USB mouse it works smoothly, although the "loopfully" clicking continues unless I disable the touchpad clicking from the Control Panel
Greetings!
P.S.: If this helps at all, within the past few minutes of checking it out Ive noticed the constant clicking happens only while moving the mouse, if I leave my finger over the touchpad without moving it, it doesnt go on massive clicking. (It looked like it'd do it alone before probabbly because it'd get lagged and get actions queued sort of :P)
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atmasidhu
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3 Posts
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April 25th, 2012 04:00
hi there,
Keyboard and mouse problems could be due to heat..
This sort of problems would appear after some time. Problem could extend from the touch pad to the keyboard.
Easy fixes are suggestion to change the touchpad and or the keyboard.
Just to make sure its not an issue with the OS.
I recommend you down load Knoppix and run it from the CD or USB thumb drive.
If the mouse works fine using Knoppix OS then it would mean you have to check
your current OS. Running Knoppix from a live CD would not mess up any thing on
your system. Every thing runs from the CD and your computer RAM.
Next,
If the external USB mouse works fine. You could disable the touchpad and use it.
Check the ribbon cable which attachs the touchpad to the motherboard.
First you have to get a service manual of your model from the dell site.
The electrical lines on the ribbon cable at the end going into the connector may
have become loose due to heat.
You need to inspect that connetor and reseat it. If that does not help.
Add a piece of tape to support the ribbon cable a small bit of the tape should
be on the end of the ribbon where it goes into the connector. A smaller layer
of tape at the end would give a good grip at the connector.
Check if there are any kinks on the ribbon cable. Giving support to the cable
is good it will also keep off some heat.
Worst scenario would be to change to the touch pad ..but that is the last thing that I would do.
Let me know how it goes !!!
Atma