My new DELL INSPIRON E1505 has numerous problems

I got my Dell Inspiron just 4 1/2 months ago. I had a few problems at the beginning that I had to fix....then had about three months of easy use, until last Friday, when after walking away from my laptop for 20 minutes...

1) all of my tabs were now "'not connected' and I couldn't get them to connect...even though my router connection said Excellent....
2) my touchpad wasn't working when I tapped on it....
3) even using the left mouse button, none of my icons would open...
4) I starting getting the two error messages: svchost.exe & Generic Host Process Win 32 (the same errors I kept getting after I first had the laptop!)

It took many frustrating attempts, but I finally re-ran my Windows Update, Adaware, Spybot, and AVG. I cleared off the two error boxes, I can get on any page, and my icons now work.

BUT....even tho I can use the touchpad to scroll up/down and across...I still cannot use the touchpad as far as tapping to open an icon. I have to use the left mouse button.

I have frankly been disappointed with this laptop....and now wonder what it's going to take to get the touchpad working again...besides wondering what is going to go wrong next!

 

All of your problems seem software related, not a fault of the notebook. Try reinstalling the Synaptics touchpad driver. Did you do a clean installation of Windows after you got the notebook? If you haven’t ,then I suggest you do it, because DELL notebooks come preloaded with lots of unwanted bloat ware. A clean installation will be much faster and trouble free.

 

Hmm....I think you might have a lemon. I've never re-installed the Synaptics driver on my e1505. Windows drivers can run the touchpad without a problem. Return it or get it serviced.

 

I agree with PhoenixFX. I have had issues with the touchpad software with my 8600 in the past. Re-installing the os should fix all the software issues.

 

yes, the touch pad driver looks like it would be the issue...check the touchpad settings to make sure that you have it so that you can use the touch pad to double click, because it is an option that can be turned off...

 

Well, I downloaded the below...and my touchpad still doesn't work as far as tapping. Any other ideas?? I also found it funny that the touchpad stopped working at the same time that...

1) ...I suddenly wasn't able to connect to my router (even when it said the connection was excellent)

2) ....if I used the left mouse button to open an icon, I would get the hourglass for 5 seconds

3)...I got those two error messages over and over and over..

Is there anything in common with all the above? And why was I able to correct all the above, but not the touchpad??

BY THE WAY, what does a "clean" installation of Windows mean?? I CERTAINLY understande the "bloat ware" you are talking about...as I had to get rid of a LOT.

 

OK, this is beyond me. lol Where are the touchpad settings?

 

To get to touchpad properties, go to

Start>My Computer>Mouse>TouchPad tab

Then you can click on the checkbox for "Tap to Click"

I hope this helps

 

go to windows control panel > click it > new window should open > look for a icon called "Mouse" > click on icon > new window should open > select the tab labled "Touchpad"

under this tab, look under "taps" and make sure that "tap to click" is enabled


good luck Cheers!

p.s. clean install means to reinstall Windows so that NO programs will be on your computer exept the ones that are built into Windows (like media player, internet explorer, paint, the games etc. by doing this, you will need to reinstall your drivers for everything exept your hard drive, screen, cd/dvd drive, and im not sure what else...

 

If above tips don't help and if your touchpad problems and internet connection problems are related then it is hardly a touchpad issue. Something else is going on in there.

A clean installation of Windows means that you format your system drive (where Windows is installed, usually C: drive) and install a fresh copy of Windows using a reinstallation disk. Here is a guide on how to install XP. Since you have bought your notebooks more than 4 months ago, I'm guessing you have XP.
Remember, by formatting the disk you will lose all the data and installed programs, therefore backup all you important data. After the installation you will have to manually install rest of the applications like Office, DVD burners, Media Players etc..

 

MAJOR BRAVO to you and robbirzell!! It worked!!!! Thank you, thank you!

 

haha, welcome

Cheers

 

I am glad to see that your touchpad issues have been resolved.

Beyond that I dont want to seem rude or anything but.....

At the same time I have been thinking about what you said about your router problem and the error messages that you have been getting.

You mentioned that in the beginning there were a few problems that you had to fix.

Then later on you say....

This kind of makes me suspect as to your ability to "fix" any problems your laptop may have had in the beginning...especially since you have not told us what the initial problems that you had were or the fix that you applied to correct the problem.

If I were you and I had recieved a new laptop and it had problems I would not be fixing them...I would be contacting Dell and they would be fixing them. Especially if I was not familiar enought with my OS to find where the touchpad settings may be found at.

IMHO alot of people receive a new laptop that they percieve as having problems...and thusly they must "fix" the problems. What ends up happening is that they are not qualified to "fix" the problem on their own and they end up with more problems down the road than what they started with.

If you buy a new car and you think it has a problem you dont open the hood tinker with it or try to fix it yourself. You take it back to the dealer to have them fix it.

 

What a strange post. lol I outlined all my problems, plus what I did, above. I mentioned that I reran Windows Update, plus AVG, Spybot and Adaware. Doing those fixed everything but the touch pad. lol. Then, following the advice of those here did the final trick. The last thing I'd like to be is as passive as you think someone should be. lol. And let me tell you about getting advice from Dell--I used their live support...and it said a tech would get to me in a few minutes.....I finally went to bed, and the next morning, it STILL said a live tech would get to me in a few minutes. lol And when you call, you either get someone from India or Ecuador...or who knows where else, and I could hardly understand them.

And sorry, if I have a new car, I have a spouse who's going to try to fix it..and he's done a brilliant job MANY times, which saved big bucks.

Thank goodness for forums like this, where those of us who want to learn how to fix problems can come and get great advice, as I did here...WITHOUT waiting on Dell. I'd still be waiting. I'll let YOU wait. lol

 

i tinker like hell with my laptop...software wise...

haha iv had to reinstall windows over a dozen times because i put too much on it and it crashed, or a program caused something to go wrong

 

I dont save big bucks on getting work done on my new vehicle. Its new so its under warrenty so its free, same as your car, same as your laptop. If I tinker on my new car and break it worse in the course of "fixing it" then the dealer is going to charge me for it. Same with my laptop.

This is not so say that once my car or laptop is out of warrenty that I wont tear it apart in one hot second because I will. If your system is under warrenty...well you paid for the warrenty so use it I say.

If your unhappy with the speed of Dells service I recommend the Dell Chat. You get a transcript of what was said. This way there is nothing to dispute. The longest I have ever had to wait for dell chat was about 10 minutes. I have no problem waiting 10 minutes for service from dell.