The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Question about Touch Pad Hardware

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by basskiddanny, Dec 2, 2008.

  1. basskiddanny

    basskiddanny Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    25
    Messages:
    538
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hi guys,

    This topic could get quite technical eventually but I know there are people from all professions on here who also all have an interest in laptop hardware, so assumed I may be able to get an answer.

    Basically I was wondering how laptop touchpads connect to the system. For example a mouse could use a USB wired connection.

    What I want to be able to do it take a touchpad and somehow make it work in another system, not neccessarily a laptop.

    Want to be able to get a touchpad removed from a laptop, connect it up to another system with the appropriate drivers and get it working. For example this one on ebay. Is it possible to get it to work in any system other than the one that uses this part.

    Ebay Link
     
    basskiddanny, Dec 2, 2008
    #1
  2. Hep!

    Hep! sees beauty in everything

    Reputations:
    1,806
    Messages:
    5,921
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Yes, it is possible. It is also very difficult and not very documented. I tried to add a PS2 plug to a touchpad (unsuccessfully) but was able to find someone on the internet who had been successful. Almost all touchpads (well, all that I know of) are PS/2 or serial, the newer ones being PS/2. So you will have to trace back to the main controller chip on the touchpad's electronics, run your wires from there, and then add the plug. A lot of work.
    I probably could have done it had I not given up in 15 minutes.

    Perhaps someone here will have some more insight for you.
     
    Hep!, Dec 2, 2008
    #2
  3. basskiddanny

    basskiddanny Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    25
    Messages:
    538
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thanks for the reply. That's definitely a start and i'll have to get hold of a working touchpad, preferably one I can remove myself, but then thats more costly as i'd be buying a whole laptop.
     
    basskiddanny, Dec 2, 2008
    #3
  4. Hep!

    Hep! sees beauty in everything

    Reputations:
    1,806
    Messages:
    5,921
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Make sure it's a synaptics touchpad, the guy who gave me a bit of info said they are the easiest to do, some others may not work at all even.
     
    Hep!, Dec 2, 2008
    #4
  5. davidfor

    davidfor Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    65
    Messages:
    262
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    If you just want to use a touchpad that is not physically attached to a laptop, they are available as an external peripheral.

    David
     
    davidfor, Dec 3, 2008
    #5
  6. basskiddanny

    basskiddanny Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    25
    Messages:
    538
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I want to use it for a project that will end up being a system running on a modified version of XP using minimal hardware.

    Suppose I can always get a USB touchpad but they always seem to be attached with a keyboard etc. Also wasn't sure on how responsive the touchpad would be.

    I'll have to look further into a USB one as it may be the simplest solution.
     
    basskiddanny, Dec 3, 2008
    #6