So several weeks ago I started getting random issues on my Dell Precision M6800 with its input devices. The trackpad and trackstick would repeatedly beep upon touch and freeze up the system until the beeping stopped. This would also affect the mouse plugged in. It appeared to also affect the keyboard but I think I've narrowed that down to accidentally touching the trackstick when typing. More recently the touchpad and trackstick just stop responding altogether without the beeping. The physical volume buttons also sometimes aren't backlit at which point they don't function when pressed.

The issues first appear to have come about after I removed the laptop from the PR02X docking station to clean the desk, so at first I thought maybe the dock was the problem but the issues occur when on the dock or not.

I've uninstalled and reinstalled the touchpad drivers, removed the keyboard and palmrest and cleaned and re-seated all ribbon cables/connectors, tested on and off the dock.

I'm really at a loss as to what to try next. They're not massive issues as I use a mouse and can alter volume through the OS but I'm just concerned in case this is the start of bigger problems. It's strange because when the laptop is booted from cold (and sometimes restarted) , everything works, and it's mid-session when things stop working. Another point of note is that when things stop working, the 'Dell Touchpad' program also momentarily freezes up when I try to open it and once open only shows options for the mouse (as if the trackpad and trackstick don't even exist).

Trying to think about it logically it would seem like the palmrest assembly has become faulty as most of the issues are with components built into that, but that doesn't account for the trackstick which is part of the keyboard and plugged directly into the motherboard.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.