annoying issue w/touch pad at startup R1

Hi:

I am having a really annoying issue with the touchpad at windows start. But it is not exactly at windows start. It happens when I turn off the computer for several hours (8 hours or more). Then I power on the laptop and the touchpad is really unresponsive, it only moves in certain ways... it only moves in straight line.. and sometimes it does not move in any way.. after a few minutes the touchpad start to work properly.

I am not sure if it is a drivers issue, or a hardwware issue. As far as I remember this issue has always been present in a more or less frequently way. But for some reason it is "most commun" when the weather is "cold" (10-15°C ambient). This issue is not present in summer.. Where I move in to another town.

I already tryed:

- Unninstall and re-install synaptics drivers
- Install a different version of Alienware Command center.
- Boot in battery mode.

PS: Limited movement is off in synaptics control panel.

If you think it is a hardware issue.. will this palmrest be compatible with R1?

Dell Alienware M17X Palmrest w/ Touchpad Y243M NEW


Thanks.

 

Check if:
You are on A07 BIOS?
The ribbon is properly connected, motherboard side and touchpad side.

Attempt a full power drain (i think you know the drill)

Try the above first and we can go from there.

Yes, that touchpad is compatible with the M17x and the M17x R2, they are the same

I personally almost never use it on any laptop, but I don't have any issues with it when I do.
I also don't even have the synaptics driver installed.

 

Yes I am using A07 BIOS.

Well, I guess it is well connected because, when I installed the QX9300, I checked the ribbon twice.

I am not sure what it is.. please tell me.

Thanks for solving me that doubt.

Synaptics drivers are necessary because if you don't have it installed the polling rate goes from 60Hz to 40Hz and looks bad.

 

Hopefully this would be enough. Full power drain:

-remove power plug and system battery.
-take the back plate off (by removing the two screws)
-now you have access to the RAM modules, HDDs,...), next to the system fan you have the CMOS coincell battery, disconnect it.
-with all this done, look at the mess you made(just kidding, continue reading ) flip your laptop over and keep the power button pressed for ~30 seconds at least (to make sure all juice is gone) to reset the CMOS.

Now put everything back together in reverse order, turn your system on, go to BIOS to set back the settings you previously made (RAID if applicable, PCIe Gen2 etc.)
Let it boot and see if you still have the issue.

Cheers from CDG airport

 

Thanks for the advice. I just did it, now I just have to wait and see if it works.

One question. Can the humidity level of the ambient... if it is too high... afect the touchpad functionality? (here is around 70% humidity)

 

Problem still, there...

I tested using an external mouse, and it worked well, but the touch pad was still not working properly. I am going to try, unnistalling the synaptics drivers, and leave the MS default.

 

Try flashing back to an earlier BIOS (A00 or A01... or both in succession) then flash back to A07 using the zero block before erasure command (/Z if using phlash16 from a boot disk, not sure if the windows version has an option for this).

I had a similar issue to this when I tried the EC patch a few months back and this was the only way I got my touchpad working properly again.

 

Yes, humidity can also affect the sheets but i doubt it's this. If everything fails (downgrading BIOS and then flashing to A07, fresh instal etc.) then you can take it off and wash it with alcohol, let it dry and plug it back.
Sorry it did not work

 

Where can I get, the A00 or A01 Bios, the older BIOS I have is the A03.

 

You can get either bios from Dell. The following links should take you to their respective bios download sites.

A00 Bios

A01 Bios

The A00 bios is a base bios and doesn't have the functionality or features of all bioses after it. You will have to flash it in DOS mode with a bootable usb drive. After which use the same bootable drive to flash A01 over the top of A00. This will restore the usual bios features etc.

Each group of bios files should include the phlash software, the .rom file and a file called a##.bat (## is the bios version). You can modify these .bat files to include the /Z command when running. Simply put all the A00 bios files on a bootable usb and copy the A01.rom and A01.bat files into the same location on the usb stick and you should be good to go.

If your at all concerned about using A00 you can try using A01 first just to be safe.

Once your done with those bioses, try flashing to A07 and see how things go. It would probably be easier to also stick A07.rom & .bat on the usb stick so you can just go through from start to finish using the same process.

If you need to make up a bootable usb drive here is the guide I used: http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/549378-how-create-bootable-usb-flash-drive-flash-aw-bios-updates-under-dos.html

Good luck! Let us know how things go.

 

Thanks for everybody's help. But sadly the problem is still there, I flashed to older bios (A00 than A01, then A07) and the problem wasn't fixed. I think now it is a hardware, because I am not able to reproduce the issue. The only way to reproduce the issue is to leave the notebook rest for 6+ hours. And that is nothing related to software I guess. I will get a new palmrest and will let you know if it work (I am out of warranty )

 

Ok, I changed the palmrest+touchpad, and it seems the problem is gone ... the laptop was turned off for like 8 hours, today I powered on and the touchpad worked perfect. The only problem now is the new palmrest doesn't fit 100% well, only 98% well, but I am not going to do anything.. I paid 16 dollars for the palmrest and 33 dollars for shipping so there is no way I am going to pay the shipping again. The touchpad is workig what is what it matter most.

 

Good to hear you got it solved!
If it's new, try fitting it multiple times maybe it's not really into place, see if something stays in its way.
Also don't throw the old one, take the ribbons from the new one and test it when you have time, if it works keep it as a spare, if not keep the ribbons and plastic, just in case