Disabling Your Laptop's Trackpad

If you are constantly working on the go and constantly taking your laptop with you wherever you go, then I think it is safe to say that you are a person who probably likes using a mouse as opposed to your laptop's trackpad. I'm like that; I hate track pads for anything other than casual internet browsing and even then I still get irritated. However, there is a way to avoid that irritation by simply disabling the trackpad.

Choosing which way to disable your trackpad depends on your hardware. Thankfully, most modern laptop makers have attempted to address that problem outright. Some notebooks contain a physical switch that allows you to seamlessly turn your trackpad on and off. Others may incorporate a keyboard shortcut to disable it or may require you to simply press a certain area of the actual trackpad.

There are other ways to disable the trackpad through the software, which can be done with three easy options:

Option 1: Identify a trackpad icon in the notification area. Once found, double-click or right-click the icon to browse the trackpad options and disable the trackpad from here.

Option 2: If that doesn't work or you can't find the icon, then click your Start button. From here go to your computer's Control Panel, then to Hardware and Sound. From here click on Devices and Printers, then click Mouse. The Mouse Properties window will appear where you might find an option of disabling your laptop's trackpad.

Option 3: If the first two options don't work, you can always search for trackpad software from the Start menu.

If you can't find a way to physically disable the trackpad or to disable it via software, you still have one more option with five easy steps.

Step 1: Click Start

Step 2: Type Device Manager into the Search Box. Then click the Device Manager result, subsequently opening up the Device Manager window.

Step 3: Expand Mice and Other Pointing Devices.

Step 4: Right-click the trackpad's entry, then click Disable.

Step 5: Confirm that you want to disable the trackpad.

This should go without saying but make sure you have another pointing device ready before disabling your trackpad, otherwise you won't be able to enable it. Other than that, it should be smooth sailing from there. Now you can enjoy full use of your laptop without the trackpad and you can also get the trackpad back up and running again if you feel like you miss it.

Source: PC World - How to Disable Your Laptop Touchpad

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