I got my 5150 less than day and had to reinstall because I forgot the password for my antivirus. I found the default touchpad driver is so much responsive than the pre-installed 5150 image.. I didn't notice the caplock was on until I started installing XP again.
try to download and reinstall the touchpad driver. I did that and it's working right now. In addition, if you bring up the mouse property and device setting/setting, you can do a whole lots with the touchpad. You'll like it at the end.. Good luck...
I'm having a similar problem with my Inspiron 5150. When I attempt to move the cursor in a straight line it moves in a sort of wave motion (it dips in some areas and jumps in others). I'm not having any problems with sensitivity or speed, but this erratic movement is very annoying. I was thinking about having the palmrest replaced, but you say that didn't work in your case. Did it fix the "V" shape that you were having trouble with? Any other advice would be appreciated. Thanks
We have replaced the palmrest on the 5150 once. Immediatly there was a notice in the operation of the mouse onscreen. But soon after (2 - 3 weeks) the mouse started behaving in the same manner. I have changed just about every setting there is to change with the hopes that one insensitivity or setting will help in using the mouse, but I havn't found anything that really works.
When I get some more time, I am going to call Dell about it again and have them replace the palm rest or whatever they want to do.
I too have a similar problem. I notice that the erratic motion seems to occur when I get to the scrolling side of the touchpad. I disabled that support in the driver settings, but it still occurs. Maybe we can pinpoint more of what the problem might be causing this.
It's very wierd, I did not have this problem until yesterday. This is after I had a new video card installed on a service call (the old one was completely broken) and formated my drive to start a fresh image. Other pointing devices installed do not respond like the touchpad (ie they move like they should and smooth).
I haven't tried using an external mouse or anything, frankly, because when you pay for a Dell, you shouldn't have to pay another $10 for something to make it work properly.
In another thread I read about the problem we are having and they talked about BIOS changes, what version of BIOS is everyone running? I've been running A01 and had the problem. Yesterday I upgraded to A23 and still have the problem. Others have upgraded to A28 and have the problem, and some even have went from A28 back to A23 and that seemed to fix the problem for them.
It would be nice to fix this problem.
Orrin Edenfield
Message Edited by orrinrule on 12-12-2003 08:04 AM
Yeah, I just wish Dell would fix this problem. And the minute a Dell tech tells me to just install an external pointing device is the day I go off on them.
I'm not suggesting it as a solution (I want this fixed too) but installing a separate pointing device would at least pinpoint the problem to the touchpad hardware or software specifically related to it, which is what I have done in my case. I agree, for the price I paid on the laptop, for it to only be 4 months old, everything should be working like clockwork and it's not. (This is not the only problem I've had with this laptop).
Like I said, it's just to see where the problem is, everything in the box should work and work properly. I've already had my video card replaced (before which was the last time I can remember the touch pad working properly, this was only 2 days ago though) and I had to have the power adapter replaced due to a horrendous ticking. Now I'm onto item number 3 and I ordered my 5150 when it was announced in June (though had it since July), 3 major problems in that amount of time for a system I'm sort of counting on (at this point it is my only personal computer) is not really that acceptable.
We have already replaced our palmrest once with this same issue. We havn't had too much trouble with our 5150. Hard drive failed about a month after we got it, but luckily we were able to get data off of it before the drive became totally unreadable.
If this touchpad would work, I would easily recommend this model to friends, but without a satisfactory pointing device, what am I to do?
I posted this on another thread with the same type of problem:
This is what worked for me...
I started having the same problems with my touchpad. After trying new drivers and a few rounds of e-mail with Dell Support, all to no avail, I decided to run the Hardware Diagnostics Utility on the DRIVERS, UTILITIES, AND APPLICATIONS CD and much to my surprise my touchpad is working better than new after the utility recalibrated the touchpad.
To run the Hardware Diagnostics Utility, put the CD in the CD-ROM and reboot the computer while pushing the F12 key. When the Boot Option window appears, arrow down to CD-ROM and hit enter. When the utility window opens, select "Custom Test" the double click on "Pointing Device" then follow the directions to perform the tests.
I can't guarantee it will cure your touchpad problems but this method is worth a try.
Let me know if it works for you.
PLEASE NOTE: Although my touchpad is working like it should now, I must mention it still has the same quirky behavior in regards to the pointer travelling in a V shape pattern when I run my finger along each edge of the touchpad. My 5150 did this when I first got it but in actual usage, I don't notice this peculiarity because I rarely use the edges of the touchpad.
DELL-BobT
3.1K Posts
0
November 20th, 2003 19:00
orrinrule,
Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.
Have you tried changing the touch-pad sensitivity in the Control Panel?
orrinrule
28 Posts
0
November 20th, 2003 20:00
Yes, I have tried changing multiple sensitivity settings, including the PalmCheck and main sensitivity setting with no help.
orrinrule
28 Posts
0
November 21st, 2003 15:00
ksiow02
158 Posts
0
November 22nd, 2003 02:00
ksiow02
158 Posts
0
November 26th, 2003 01:00
tk123
6 Posts
0
December 6th, 2003 23:00
orrinrule
28 Posts
0
December 8th, 2003 12:00
We have replaced the palmrest on the 5150 once. Immediatly there was a notice in the operation of the mouse onscreen. But soon after (2 - 3 weeks) the mouse started behaving in the same manner. I have changed just about every setting there is to change with the hopes that one insensitivity or setting will help in using the mouse, but I havn't found anything that really works.
When I get some more time, I am going to call Dell about it again and have them replace the palm rest or whatever they want to do.
MistrBlank
52 Posts
0
December 11th, 2003 20:00
I too have a similar problem. I notice that the erratic motion seems to occur when I get to the scrolling side of the touchpad. I disabled that support in the driver settings, but it still occurs. Maybe we can pinpoint more of what the problem might be causing this.
It's very wierd, I did not have this problem until yesterday. This is after I had a new video card installed on a service call (the old one was completely broken) and formated my drive to start a fresh image. Other pointing devices installed do not respond like the touchpad (ie they move like they should and smooth).
-MistrBlank
orrinrule
28 Posts
0
December 12th, 2003 12:00
I haven't tried using an external mouse or anything, frankly, because when you pay for a Dell, you shouldn't have to pay another $10 for something to make it work properly.
In another thread I read about the problem we are having and they talked about BIOS changes, what version of BIOS is everyone running? I've been running A01 and had the problem. Yesterday I upgraded to A23 and still have the problem. Others have upgraded to A28 and have the problem, and some even have went from A28 back to A23 and that seemed to fix the problem for them.
It would be nice to fix this problem.
Orrin Edenfield
Message Edited by orrinrule on 12-12-2003 08:04 AM
orrinrule
28 Posts
0
December 12th, 2003 15:00
Yeah, I just wish Dell would fix this problem. And the minute a Dell tech tells me to just install an external pointing device is the day I go off on them.
Orrin
MistrBlank
52 Posts
0
December 12th, 2003 15:00
I'm not suggesting it as a solution (I want this fixed too) but installing a separate pointing device would at least pinpoint the problem to the touchpad hardware or software specifically related to it, which is what I have done in my case. I agree, for the price I paid on the laptop, for it to only be 4 months old, everything should be working like clockwork and it's not. (This is not the only problem I've had with this laptop).
-Mistrblank
hightowermd
4 Posts
0
December 12th, 2003 16:00
Has Dell offered to replace your touchpad yet?
I just got off the phone with tech support and they agreed that it is a hardware issue but I have to send it in for them to replace the touchpad.
MistrBlank
52 Posts
0
December 12th, 2003 16:00
Like I said, it's just to see where the problem is, everything in the box should work and work properly. I've already had my video card replaced (before which was the last time I can remember the touch pad working properly, this was only 2 days ago though) and I had to have the power adapter replaced due to a horrendous ticking. Now I'm onto item number 3 and I ordered my 5150 when it was announced in June (though had it since July), 3 major problems in that amount of time for a system I'm sort of counting on (at this point it is my only personal computer) is not really that acceptable.
-MistrBlank
orrinrule
28 Posts
0
December 12th, 2003 17:00
We have already replaced our palmrest once with this same issue. We havn't had too much trouble with our 5150. Hard drive failed about a month after we got it, but luckily we were able to get data off of it before the drive became totally unreadable.
If this touchpad would work, I would easily recommend this model to friends, but without a satisfactory pointing device, what am I to do?
5150LOCO
9 Posts
0
December 15th, 2003 13:00
I posted this on another thread with the same type of problem:
This is what worked for me...
I started having the same problems with my touchpad. After trying new drivers and a few rounds of e-mail with Dell Support, all to no avail, I decided to run the Hardware Diagnostics Utility on the DRIVERS, UTILITIES, AND APPLICATIONS CD and much to my surprise my touchpad is working better than new after the utility recalibrated the touchpad.
To run the Hardware Diagnostics Utility, put the CD in the CD-ROM and reboot the computer while pushing the F12 key. When the Boot Option window appears, arrow down to CD-ROM and hit enter. When the utility window opens, select "Custom Test" the double click on "Pointing Device" then follow the directions to perform the tests.
I can't guarantee it will cure your touchpad problems but this method is worth a try.
Let me know if it works for you.
PLEASE NOTE: Although my touchpad is working like it should now, I must mention it still has the same quirky behavior in regards to the pointer travelling in a V shape pattern when I run my finger along each edge of the touchpad. My 5150 did this when I first got it but in actual usage, I don't notice this peculiarity because I rarely use the edges of the touchpad.