Disabing the Touchpad while using a USB mouse on the N5050

Question

From what I have read and found with great difficulty on the Dell site is that the touchpad cannot be disabled if using a USB Mouse...  That is bad cause it is driving me crazy... It also drives me crazy that it seems IMPOSSIBLE on any Dell site to find a link to send a mail to Dell Support.... One has to waste hours of being directed to either forums from which you usually don't get a solution or search our list of problems which again sends you around in circles for hours .... :emotion-45:... Soooo frustrating

hornirl · Accepted Answer

No worries. One thing I didn't mention and should have was you need to ensure that the 'Alps Pointing-device Driver' (from ''Alps Electric Co., Ltd.' is loading at startup (type msconfig in Start->Search box then check startup tab). Should work but without this Fn+F3 wasn't working.

There are 2 downloads for Alps under the 'Input' section of Dell's support download section for the Inspiron N5050.

Cindy Louise · Accepted Answer

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!

kirkd · Answer

Most pad drivers have a way to deactivate the Pad when using a mouse. On mine, this selection is on the Other Tab for Advanced Mouse properties. I am using an ALPS driver from the Toshiba web site which has more options than the Dell drivers. If you can't find the option, try installing non-Dell drivers for whatever pad you have.

hornirl · Answer

On the N5050, try this:

1) Connect the USB external mouse. Check both the external mouse and the touchpad work.

2) Press the red Fn key- between Ctrl and 'Windows' key + F3 key (with the touchpad icon in red just below F3 lettering).

You should then find the touchpad won't work and the USB external mouse still does. This is a toggle feature (with mine anyway) so doing it again activates the touchpad. It works if you're just using the touchpad alone and don't want the mouse straying while you type and accidentally press the touchpad as well.

Please let us know if this works for you. This Fn + F# combination toggles a number of other functions (wireless on/off (F2), brightness+/- (F4/F5), sound -/+/mute (F11/F12/F13), multimedia (F8-F10)) as well- check documentation for details.

LATE UPDATE:

One thing I didn't mention and should have was you need to ensure that the 'Alps Pointing-device Driver' (from ''Alps Electric Co., Ltd.' is loading at startup (type msconfig in Start->Search box then check startup tab). Should work but without this Fn+F3 wasn't working.

There are 2 downloads for Alps under the 'Input' section of Dell's support download section for the Inspiron N5050.

anna_laro · Answer

Hi Hornirl .... That was the first thing I tried but didn't work .... I ultimately downloaded a Touchpad Driver from HP that worked but with some kinks and then finally found one for dell and now my touchpad is fianlly disabled and I can enable it again if I want .... I can't understand though why the FN + F3 combination doesn't work .... Dell needs to look into this cause it's so frustrating .. Thanks for your help !!

anna_laro · Answer

Hi Hornirl .... That was the first thing I tried but didn't work .... I ultimately downloaded a Touchpad Driver from HP that worked but with some kinks and then finally found one for dell and now my touchpad is fianlly disabled and I can enable it again if I want .... I can't understand though why the FN + F3 combination doesn't work .... Dell needs to look into this cause it's so frustrating .. Thanks for your help !!

mike827 · Answer

Finally! Thank you very much for this tip! The mousepad drives me insane since I have large hands! Mike :emotion-2:

hornirl · Answer

LoL- corresponding fonts too. You're very welcome. It used to have me up the walls too. If everyone contributed a tip in return for one we've ever received ourselves, we'd all be doing better.

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Disabing the Touchpad while using a USB mouse on the N5050

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