Dell Inspiron - Disable TouchPad when Ext mouse attached - Need help!!

Energise · 08 Mar 2021

SOLVED - Using link in post #1, Option 4 :)

Dell Inspiron 17 - 5748 Laptop, running Windows 10, version 20H2 (OS Build 19042.844)
(Bought in 2014 so fairly old but functioning OK)

Can anyone help me set the TouchPad to 'disable when External Mouse is attached' please? This function was available prior to re-installing Win 10, to the most recent update.

There is the option of disabling the TouchPad in the properties but, should the mouse not be available, I'd have to rely on keyboard navigation to get it switched on again, which I don't want to have to do.
I've contacted Dell but they've not been able to help.

Usually, on a laptop, there is a Function key to disable/enable the TouchPad but I can't see one on the keys. I can't believe there is no way to disable/enable the TouchPad without going into properties and actually turning it OFF!
Looking on Google, there have been a lot of people asking this question but I haven't managed to find a solution. Many thanks. I appreciate any help

Brink · 08 Mar 2021

Hello Energise,

You might see if an option in the tutorial below may be available for you to disable the touchpad when a mouse is connected.

Disable Touchpad when Mouse is Connected in Windows 10

dalchina · 08 Mar 2021

Hi, I have one laptop which had no in-built way to disable the touchpad.

I found that if I installed and then uninstalled a Precision mouse driver, I gained these options:

Dell Inspiron - Disable TouchPad when Ext mouse attached - Need help!!-1.png

- but retained all the features of my original driver.

I can't guarantee this will be everyone's experience.

If there is no other way to disable your touchpad, then try
Touchpad Blocker - free software to disable touch-pad while typing
(free).

You will see my comments on this following the tutorial Brink has cited.

More:
4 Free Tools To Disable The Touchpad For HP, Lenovo, Dell, Asus, Acer And Others

RickC · 08 Mar 2021

I use the Dell Touchpad driver directly from Dell. It gives me the option that you're looking for (i.e. by clicking on a and checking b):

Dell Inspiron - Disable TouchPad when Ext mouse attached - Need help!!-dell_touchpad2.png

Try Dell's support site for the Inspiron 5748. It shows the Touchpad driver. Note the site's suggestion:

Important Information

It is recommended that you install the Intel serial IO driver from Chipset category before installing the touchpad driver.

Hope this helps...

Bastet · 09 Mar 2021

The newer Elan/Synaptics driver seems to break the touchpad settings so that you cannot turn the touchpad on/off or use various scroll options.Is there a new Touchpad entry under Settings>Devices? Are there any of those settings there?Try installing the Microsoft precision touchpad driver:How to install Precision Touchpad Drivers on Windows 10 This will add extra touchpad options under Settings>Devices>Touchpad.

dalchina · 09 Mar 2021

...as per my 2nd sentence, post #3 with screenshot...

Energise · 09 Mar 2021

Hi guys

Many thanks for your suggestions. I'm sorry not to have responded before now. I've been busy in preparation for some surgery and also notifications haven't been coming through until today - I think I've sorted that now, tho.

I'm about to try out the suggestions above. I'm pleased to see the screenshot. The chap I spoke to at Dell wasn't accepting there was ever such an option, then suggesting my laptop wasn't compatible with the Windows updates. I'm not impressed with Dell's support, even tho an 'old' device.

So, many thanks. I'll get working on your suggestions and I will definitely be reporting back. Hopefully, I'll be in a position to let you know what works - fingers crossed

I really appreciate your experience and knowledge :)

Bastet · 09 Mar 2021

dalchina said:

...as per my 2nd sentence, post #3 with screenshot...

I understand.
I added the link to the page explaining how to download this driver.

Energise · 09 Mar 2021

Thanks Bastet :)

dalchina · 09 Mar 2021

Your Inspiron appears to have a reasonable set of Win 10 compatible drivers listed: note the urgent BIOS update..
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en...laptop/drivers

See too
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/e...-dell-notebook
https://www.dell.com/community/Windo...8/td-p/4528244