Dell Inspiron 8100 TouchPad stopped working
Windows Xp Home Edition SP1
After installing a new battery (could just be coincidence) the touchpad ceased to function. I don't believe its even being recognized anymore as a valid hardward device on the system. I can plug in a ps/2 mouse and it works fine, but without that there is no way to mouse around. I have tried updating the BIOS to the latest and still nothing. Is there some setting somewhere in BIOS or the OS where I can disable/enable the touchpad? If so where and how to do it? If not, then what is the fix for this problem? REFORMAT the HD and rebuild XP? To me reformatting at this point would be a shot in the dark as no touchpad shows up in the Device Manager hardware listing even after I've installed the touchpad Synaptics drivers (hope thats the right drivers for the Dell Inspiron 8100?). Someone HELP. I do not want to send in the laptop for repair. The idea of it clanking around in the mail is spooky to me.
Windows Xp Home Edition SP1
After installing a new battery (could just be coincidence) the touchpad ceased to function. I don't believe its even being recognized anymore as a valid hardward device on the system. I can plug in a ps/2 mouse and it works fine, but without that there is no way to mouse around. I have tried updating the BIOS to the latest and still nothing. Is there some setting somewhere in BIOS or the OS where I can disable/enable the touchpad? If so where and how to do it? If not, then what is the fix for this problem? REFORMAT the HD and rebuild XP? To me reformatting at this point would be a shot in the dark as no touchpad shows up in the Device Manager hardware listing even after I've installed the touchpad Synaptics drivers (hope thats the right drivers for the Dell Inspiron 8100?). Someone HELP. I do not want to send in the laptop for repair. The idea of it clanking around in the mail is spooky to me.
