Synaptics Touchpad Not Recognized

[TECsBrain]

I have a Micron TransPort ZX laptop with a Synaptics Touchpad. After installing Windows XP Pro (after a format), I cannot change the properties of the touchpad (and "Tap-to-Click" is driving me crazy!!!). When I go into the Mouse control panel, all the Synaptics options are disabled. I've tried installing the Windows 2000 driver for my model from the Micron site, an XP driver for a later model from MPC, and the latest driver from the Synaptics site, all to no avail. All Diagnostic programs I've run have indicated that I indeed have a Synaptics Touchpad, and the spec sheet for this model also says Synaptics.

Is there ANY software I can download to disable this feature, even if it's some other manufacturer's driver?

 

[micker377]

Unplug the touchpad. Boot into safe mode. Go to Device Manager. Delete ALL references to the touchpad. Shut down. Plug the touchpad back in and boot up. Install the correct drivers (probably the "latest" for your touchpad).

 

[TECsBrain]

How do I unplug a laptop's touchpad?

 

[wiltonRon]

Did you update your system BIOS before/after upgrade to XP Pro? That might help.

 

[TECsBrain]

I just flashed my bios using the latest available from Micron's website - still recognized only as "Standard Mouse on PS/2 Port". The EVIL thing about it is that the driver supplied apparently lets you define actions for the left and right buttons regardless of what your device is, and there's an option to disable the BUTTONS, leaving TAPPING as the only way to click. WHY can't they just reverse this?!! So close, yet so far!!!

 

[jimp56]

have you tried a manual update of the driver within device manager? you can choose to do that and then specify the exact path to the driver you got from micron or synaptics. it sounds as if you just ran the generic setup progs for the drivers which may not force the issue.

 

[TECsBrain]

You're right and what you say makes sense. However, Micron and Synaptics both distribute an InstallShield executable. Is there a way to extract the driver files alone from the installers, or do the driver files themselves extract to the installer's "program files" folder?

I should point out in this instance that the Synaptics options are displayed in Mouse properties, but grayed out. This means that Synaptics files are going somewhere...