Samsung Series 7 Chronos NP700Z5A: Trackpad Discussion Only

Hi there, I recently bought a 770Z5E (NP770z5e-s01cl to be exact) and have been really frustrated with the touchpad behaviour out of the box. Yesterday I deleted the drivers and installed version 11.14.1.3, here are my thoughts after some hours of use.

The most annoying thing was that the pointer got freeze from time to time, after upgrading the drivers these issue seems to be minimized. Still happens, but not so often like before. I should say that this problem was still present after the uninstall of the official drivers. So I thought it was a hardware problem, but with the new drivers it improved drastically for me.

Something that I noticed is that SW Update says latest (approved by samsung) version is 11.7.10.14 but when you save the setup files from SW Update the folder says "Elan_TP_SMBus_Pre Install 11.7.8.5_WHQL". A strange thing there.

Finally some guy in the Series 7 2013 thread said that he thinks the issues with a jumpy touchpad are related to heavy wireless activity. I will try to make some tests to verify that teory.

PS: excuse me for my english, I'm better with the spanglish

 

Thanks for sharing that, feligato. And BTW, welcome to the forum

I saw that other post about network traffic blocking the touchpad. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me (theoretically) but of course I am not ruling it out. IF there is such an observable relationship of network traffic being a drag, I would think getting rid of some of the PROset WiFi junk might help, as described in this post.

And don't worry: Your English is fine!

 

Hi again. I just want to thank all of you that spend time on helping others with their computer problems.

Now to my problem again, with the jumpy, sometimes not responsive touchpad. I read the post about Samsung might have some systems being bad, while others are good. I have already returned one NP770 because of the touchpad (and wifi problems-ping pending between 30-200 every ther minute when gaming, but thats another issue). But the laptop Im currently sitting on has the EXACT same problems, ie jumpy touchpad and poor wifi that lags from time to time. About the suggestion that Wifi might cause the touchpad to get jumpy it doesent help to turn on flight-mode. Even in flightmode the mose jumps or stops responding. So it is probably something else. I will try feligatos advice on installing another driver than the latest to see whats happening. It just seems to m e that Samsung has done a poor job on their touchpads and wifi solutions, since there are ENDLESS of forum threads on those matters.

Well well, lets se if I return this laptop as well. It is kinda impossible to work with the touchpad as it is now.

 

By the way, this post was very interesting. This is exactly what I am experiecing as well. When the touchpad start to freak out, I can slowly drag my finger on the touchpad from up to down, and down to up, just to se the arrow jump around in a half-circle when Im dragging my finger across the center of the touchpad. Very interesting. And it happens maybe once every other minute. In between the touchpad is great. It HAS to be some software problem right?

 

I don't know if it's been happening less or I've just been using an external mouse more often, but something I have noticed is that restarting the computer (to have a cold boot) with no external mouse connected sometimes reduces the problem. At times I forget about it because it doesn't happen at all, but other times it feels nearly unusable as you say. I haven't thoroughly checked this but if the cold boot really prevents the glitch from happening, then maybe it's some kind of (software I guess) problem with the drivers not playing well with sleeping/fast boot of windows.

I don't complain too much because this was pretty much the best laptop I could get for the price, and since I've been using an external mouse a lot (which, in my opinion, is always better than any trackpad) I guess I could live with it.

 

I just want to post an update on what's been going on the last week. I have been in contact with Samsung support a couple of times, until one of their technicians finally called me back today. He said that they have been discussing my problem and my problem with my wifi with the technic group at Samsung. They finally agreed upon that it must be an electrical error. Since the touchpad is mounted on top of the wifi there must be a elictrical error leading to the power supply from the battery from time to time ends up unsufficient for keeping the touchpad and wifi at full power. For me, that atually sounded like a possible explanation for the errors we are experiencing with our np770. He said that some batches af the np770 must have some bad solding or something. He recommended me to return it back or sending it in on service for another wifi and touchpad. If it is what they say that it is a bad circuit or something, then it can't be fixed with updates or different drivers, which is the case.

I just wanted you to know ehat they said to me, so you can make up your own mind!

Cheers!

 

Haven't heard that before. Thanks a lot for sharing, Grovrolf. I'll be interested to hear the final outcome.

 

Interesting. In my case I think wifi has never really affected the touchpad but I might as well try disabling the adapter and see how it behaves. How did you contact support? Did you use the program suggested by SW Update? I believe the laptop has international warranty (I bought it in the US but right now I'm in Mexico), but in my opinion, technical service here has never been helpful, but I might give it a try if your problem is solved. Do let us know.

BTW, if you talk with support again, and considering it sounds they've been helpful with you, let them know about the keyboard backlight acting all crazy all the time. It should be an incredibly easy fix for them.

 

I have the latest Series 7 Chronos and only just noticed that I can't use the touchpad at the same time as typing in a game. I have tried the "DisableWhenType_DelayTime_Move" setting to 0 and after rebooting its still the same. Are there other options to try?

 

Search back through this thread. I recall there being a "DisableWhenType_Enable" key which, by default is enabled. There may also be entries in more than one section of the registry.

John

 

Any update on this? Working with the trackpad is really frustrating!

 

If you are referring to your comment here about two-finger tapping not being an option then search for and run the touchpad control panel program called ETDSimpleUI.exe. There is a tapping option in the Two-finger section which you can set to either middle button or pop-up menu.

John

 

ETDSimpleUI.exe is not available.
List of available exe files are:

dpinst.exe
ETDAniConf.exe
ETDCtrl.exe
ETDCtrlHelper.exe
ETDDeviceInformation.exe
ETDFingerPosition.exe
ETDValueMonitor.exe
ETDMag.exe
ETDService.exe
ETDUN_inst.exe
setup.exe

 

Save the driver installation package then look inside it. It used to be there. If it isn't then download a Windows 7 version of the touchpad driver and look inside that.

John

 

@EzeQL: Don't you have two-finger tap in the regular Control Panel - Touchpad?

See if this post helps.

 

Removed 11.7.. installed 11.14. Works better but the option for two finger tap is not available on ELAN's menu.
Using Samsung's custom GUI results in a error while hovering "two finger tap" option since it was not prepared for the driver installed.
Hope Samsung releases an update asap.

 

The screendumps in that post I linked are from driver version 11.7.2.1. And again, that version has two-finger tapping on my older model NP700Z3A. So it's not that the driver doesn't have the feature in this version.

As I have stated other times, the touchpad is one of the very best features on my laptop. But I also had two units of the same model before this one, where the touchpad didn't work as well.

 

So what's the most recent driver for the ELAN touchpad? I'm on 11.7.2.1 and haven't upgraded since, because I use tap and drag with multiple fingers quite a bit. Can anyone confirm if it's back in the most recent driver?

 

Hi, yjgfikl.

I'm on 11.7.2.1 as well (NP700Z3A, Win8) but I notice that SW Update is offering a newer 11.7.10.4 for for NP780Z5E. Personally I am not going to update, since mine works perfectly as it is, with all the gestures I configured. Seeing all the different responses in this thread, it seems to depend a lot on the specific model -- and maybe the unit -- whether a newer or older driver works best.

 

Ok gotcha, looks like I'm sticking with mine too. The only bad thing on this one - and I'm not sure if you have this issue as well - is occasionally (read:rarely) the cursor will jump when one finger touches the pad, then another does and lifts off again. It's not frequent enough to bother me, but I'd like a driver that's exactly like this one, just with a fix implemented.

Also SW update seems pretty useless and outdated on mine, it never has an update for anything and constantly wants me to go to much older drivers.

 

We are lucky to see updates issued for models that are no longer in production unless there is a fix major issue.While the database-driven SW Update should make it easier to issue relevant updates for older models, this doesn't seem to be happening. Perhaps this will change.

In the mean time it is up to the users to go hunting.

John

 

I couldn't agree more: First Samsung stopped updating the download pages on their website -- but without clearly alerting visitors to the fact that SW Update is now required to get the latest, and thus leading unsuspecting users to download old drivers. Next they stopped making updated drivers in SW Update available to previous models, forcing users to go hunting and find a model with updates.

As you said, SW Update should make it easier to release drivers for all compatible models. I presume they don't want to spend the resources testing new drivers on older models. I am somewhat understanding of that predicament, but that's the cost of doing business: You can't just leave existing customers hanging because you (as a vendor) have moved on to a new model. It's the same for all hardware vendors.

So we're somewhat on our own locating and testing new drivers -- sometimes they work better on older models than previous versions, sometimes not.

 

I bought my Chronos 7 refurbished from Samsung in April 2012. I am having a hell of a time still one year later with windows 8 and this elan touchpad. It's jumpy. Easy Settings won't open in Windows 8. The samsung drivers site just sucks. I just ordered a Dell XPS 12 because they take care of their models for more than a year.

 

Hi striker,

Since you quoted me, I feel I should say that, despite my being critical that Samsung doesn't post updated drivers for older models (requiring us to hunt for them), my own experience with my NP700Z3A Series 7 Chronos (same Sandy Bridge platform as I presume yours must be) is dramatically different from what you describe: It works perfectly, both with Win7 and Win8; it's fast and stable, and generally one of my best PCs ever. The touchpad, the keyboard and the matte screen are among my favorite features -- along with the compact and beautiful design and decent build quality.

And no, I am not affiliated with Samsung; this is my first Samsung PC and I don't have any other Samsung products.

If you are trying to use Easy Settings in Win8, that explains a lot: It's designed for Win7. Use SW Update to download Settings for Win8 instead. If you look under model NP880Z5E-X03CA, you will find the latest version 2 0.0.55. Forget about the web site, all driver updates have been through SW Update for a long time now.

As for the touchpad, I am not as sure what to tell you. Some work better with newer drivers, some with older drivers. Maybe you were just unlucky with your touchpad while I was lucky with mine. Admittedly, I DID test and return two units before keeping the one I have -- one of them entirely, the other one partly because of a poor touchpad.

But at least some of the issues you have should be solvable with the right Settings software. And possibly other driver updates too, if you've been looking (in vain) for drivers on the web site instead of using SW Update.

 

HI does anyone know how to fix the cursor jumping random issues ? I am going to crazy...

 

I can never tell for sure, but since the last BIOS update (P04ABU) I haven't had the problem, or at least I haven't noticed it anymore.

 

(P04ABU) it's much batter, but still sometime jumping, just not very often .
hopefully got full fix by next bios update....

 

any fix for this ?

 

Sorry, no more luck so far

 

Please be careful and avoid cross posting. It adds clutter and overlapping discussion and forces other members to read multiple threads in order to keep up with the same discussion. That's why it's one of the top forum rules.

Sometimes it's hard to know where to post, I understand that. If you decide you want to re-post a question in another thread, either wait 24 hours -- or let us know and we'll delete the duplicate.

Now, as for the touchpad: If you already tried the latest driver offered by SW Update, then rolling back to an earlier version sometimes helps. Different models and different users report different results on that.

Do note that there is an undocumented touchpad control panel that provides far more settings than the standard simple control panel. See this post for details.

 

still waiting for luck

 

Guys,
Samsung download site provides not much help here, so I have to ask you - does anyone have 11.14.*.* drivers that enable two-finger tap gesture (e.g. right click or middle mouse button emulation)? I found 11.14.1.3 and 11.14.2.7 drivers, but configuration interface (red three-screen window) is different than 11.7.8.5 supplied by SW Update (blue one-screen window). Mine touchpad works better on 11.14, but I miss two-finger tap gesture.

Thanks

 

You want to check out the "secret" control panel ETDAniConf which provides a number of additional gestures. See this post earlier in the thread for how to get it.

 

11.14 drivers already got this UI - I'm now trying to enable this feature via regedit, but with no luck (only managed to temporary display settings but it doesn't work anyway). Found some suggestions here.

 

I forgot, ETDAniConf doesn't display all available gesture by default, you need to set Registry values in HKCU\Software\Elantech\SmartPadDisplay to make some of them visible before loading it. I saved a REG file with all of those values set to 1, which I merge before loading ETDAniConf.

It also provides a number of additional sensitivity related settings (on the Additional tab) which may address the jumping cursor your mentioned the other day.

 

Wow! That's a long list of possible additional options.

John

 

FInally managed to enable two finger tap
Tap_Two_Finger: 2 (no idea why, error trial method - thought that value corresponds with context menu option once this feature is enabled in UI, but no...)
Tap_Two_Finger_Enable: 1
Tap_Two_Finger_ShowItem: 1

and then in UI two finger tap set to... context menu. Again, makes no sense, but as far as it works, it's OK for me.
What is more, on 11.14.2.7, I haven't noticed jumping yet hopefully won't notice in the future

Thanks Guys!

EDIT:
Later I found out that Tap_Two_Finger actually corresponds with context menu and number edited in registry is a number of succeeding position in that menu, so you might skip this as well and just choose the appropriate function in UI.

 

I should make a proper write-up of this one of these days and attach my REG file, instead of always referring to scattered old posts about it

@crosis: That's great, Good job there!

 

Thought I posted this some days ago already, but found no trace so here's another try...

The touchpad of my NP700Z5A-S05UK freezes after say 2 hours use, switching off and waiting a few hours makes the pad active again.
When this happens a wired mouse still works.
Of course I'm thinking of some heat related hardware issue, but are there things I could try before loosing it for a long time to Samsung repair?
Anyone?

 

This is the type of problem where Samsung support will want you to restore the factory image so you can exclude any software issue. Did you look around for a newer driver than that offered for your Z5A? If not, use SW Update to get the driver for the NP770Z5E.

Are you getting any noticeable heat in the touchpad area. It normally stays quite cold with the battery underneath. Is there any difference in the behaviour between having the battery on charge (ie some heat generated) and not on charge?

John

 

hello,

i changed window to windows 7 but i can´t turn off drag and drop touchpad elantech samsung np770z5e, i tried in regedit and software driver (x64 11.7.10.4_whql) anyone can help me please?

 

Are you using the Touchpad driver version 11.7.5.5 offered by Samsung's SW Update for Windows 7 on the Z5E?

Is there no drag-and-drop option in the touchpad control panel? Note that there are two touchpad control panel programs in the installation package: ETDSimpleUI.exe and ETDAniConf.exe. Try both.

John

 

Hello, I would like to have this: Scrol up/down with one finger , but the problem is i cant find that software/or folder. What should i do? I also have the Synaptics Touchpad?



Also i have this problem, I made a video sorry about poor quality,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykWX8wLBXUY

When i do that using the touchpad, there is a delay but when i use the Touch pad Click key, its normal why is it laggy?


Thank You

 

Hi again, makrhuges.

Yeah, that folder and that driver is for Elan touchpads only.

I didn't realize your model had Synaptics. Now I do

I am afraid I don't know much about that one. I have Synaptics on my old HP HDX18 and I use both edge scrolling (one finger) and two finger scrolling on it. That's using HP's driver, but I seem to recall others have used Synaptics provided drivers.

Hopefully others will have more solid input for you on this.

 

i have same problem how i can fix them?

 

Figured it out Dam Lazy Samsung !!!

Go to Google

Type Synaptics

Enter main website

Download the W8 Drivers

Install

Vola It works - Go to settings after and you will see new menus, click scrolling vertical scrolling!

 

Sorry i have other problem, i move the touch pad and this select icons or move them,

Touchpad Problem - YouTube

on notebook samsug np770

I have installed windows 7 64 bits. and the drivers ELAN 11.7.8.5, i tried with lasted version and previous version how 11.7.5.5, 10.0.7.3 or the local driver on windows 7 64bits and it same.

anyone know how i can do fix this?

thanks

 

Whatever problem you have, it's a different situation from that of member makrhuges, since yours is Elan, and his is Synaptics. Completely different hardware and different drivers.

In your case, see if the control panel described in this post helps you configure it as you want.

It sounds as if you have One-Finger Drag and Drop enabled. It can be useful, but also confusing until you get used to it. Try and disable that and see if it helps.

 

thanks, i think same and i tried to but when i desactive this option the problem keep going to, is how the control panel dont work (i thied with other opcion in control panel and dont work)

 

In that case it would seem that your touchpad is stuck with left-click held down -- at least that would explain the behavior your are seeing. If that is the case, the touchpad requires repair.

Before contacting samsung about that repair, I would try and uninstall all Elan software and drivers, then install the one offered by SW Update. If that doesn't solve anything, I would try a complete factory restore using F4 Recovery (backup all data first). Samsung will most likely ask you to do that anyway, in order to determine if this is a software or a hardware problems.

If you still have the problem, even after a factory restore, you will have to call Samsung. But at least you can tell them that you did all the proper troubleshooting steps.