"left" and "right"-click buttons for touchpad pointer do not work - how can I re-activate them?

Several weeks ago I realized the "left" and "right"-click buttons for touchpad pointer (the touchpad equivalent of the mouse) ceased working. Nothing appears when I press either one of them. I am not sure how they became deactivated. Any suggestions to re-activate them?

Thanks much for reading and any information.

PG

 

does the touchpad it self work? if not do you have shortcut keys to activate/deactivate it like Fn + F1/2/3/4/etc

otherwise search for the touchpad driver and load it again.

 

If you list your system make and model, as well as Windows version, that will help users to help you.

This would be very helpful for us to know too. Kudos to MrDJ.

 

Thanks for the responses. In response to MrDJ, yes, the touchpad works, just not the left and right-click buttons. I have the shortcut keys Fn+F1F2..., but am not sure which ones activate and deactivate the touchpad buttons. I reviewed the manual for my PC, but it did not discuss how to activate and deactivate the touchpad buttons. To Prostar Computer, my PC and OS specifications are in my signature.

Thanks again, would appreciate any further suggestions to reactivate the touchpad buttons.

PG

 

I assume mouse buttons work with external mouse, which considering that most options for external mouse and touchpad are same, as in the setting panel overlaps for both of them. In which case the buttons themselves might be faulty or the board etc.

this might be of use How to Disable the Mouse Right Click | eHow.com

otherwise, it could be an issue with software of a gaming mouse, as they usually allow to re-assign mouse keys to do whatever. Might overlap with settings for the touchpad.

 

If the trackpad is functioning but the left and right click buttons aren't, then it's either the controller or the inputs themselves. Controller seldom goes bad, so I'd put my money on the buttons going out - that or the cable.

If you're able to relaod the driver but that doesn't yield success, I think you're looking at having that part replaced (and since it's generally a part of the whole palmrest, you will probably need the whole palmrest replaced if it comes down to it).

Good luck!

 

What make and model is your laptop? What O/S your using and drivers did you load? You need to give us more details to know what is going on. Just asking for help and giving nothing of details or specs in return makes helping giving help even harder to do....

 

With all due respect, my make/model and O/S are listed in my signature. I apologize for not providing drivers loaded, I haven't loaded any new ones since purchasing the PC in 2008 except for what is provided with the automatic Windows updates.

 

back to square one for me. if the touchpad is working still then its not a shortcut. if it doesnt mention anything in your user manual im guessing you dont have the Fn + F* keys (for example Fn + F1 on clevo lappys disable the touchpad and left/right buttons).
as its almost 5 years old it could well be a faulty part like prostar suggests.

 

well i don't know about dell laptops, but having owned quite a few asus Eee series, the buttons on touch pad give up really soon, no idea why as they seem as good as any when i open them up... possibly cheap clicker button parts, older asuses were quite nasty and cheaply made... only good point is that keyboards are really easy to remove.

anyways you could try reinstalling drivers as suggested, but really, never heard of touchpad drivers going bad.

Also if the touchpad gone bad, depending on assembly might only need board with buttons on it to replace, or the whole touchpad. since it isn't asus i doubt it will be fused to palm rest... as dell seems to prefer using screws instead of slabbing a lot of glue to keep everything together.

 

I assume it might be a synaptics touchpad? Go to control panel > mouse > synaptics (tab) > and buttons I think its called, and it might have disabled itself. Otherwise try getting the latest drivers from synaptics. Sounds like something might have flipped it off, otherwise it sounds like a hardware issue maybe? Could try booting into a windows dvd and seeing if they work there?

 

Signature is signature that could be a old computer or another computer for all the read if you mentioned it in the posting that would info other reading what laptop your referring to. Also since it is a Dell you should at least tell us the Service Tag number so other can look at the dell site and see what drivers it has for the O/S your using. That would help alot more when asking for help on Dell laptops. The Service Tag gives more info on the laptop itself and one can lookup and see what drivers it has.