Installation of WinXP on laptops only possible with USB/PS2 mouse ?

[Frank Callone]

If I want to install WinXP on a laptop it seems to me that a USB/PS2 mouse is absolutely
required for this process.

Because Touchpad drivers can only be installed AFTER a previous full installation of WinXP
the touchpad can NOT be used for user interaction during WinXP installation.

Is this view correct?

Or is there something like a default, generic touchpad driver built-in in WinXP?

Frank

 

[Guest]

You are correct Frank.

 

[William P.N. Smith]

Because Touchpad drivers can only be installed AFTER a previous full installation of WinXP
the touchpad can NOT be used for user interaction during WinXP installation.

No, many BIOSen will emulate a PS2 mouse durning install and normal
use. Only if you want all the advanced features (scrolling,
tap-n-drag, etc) should you need the touchpad drivers.

 

[Larry Samuels]

You can use keyboard navigation to get through the install. No mouse is
needed.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

 

[Barry Watzman]

No, it's not correct. Internal touchpads are all detected as a PS/2
mouse with no drivers at all of any kind.

 

[Lindsay]

Or more accurately: it will install a generic PS2 mouse driver.

Every device in the system requires a driver for Windows to use it, even if
it's only a generic driver.

 

[Adi Ron]

If I want to install WinXP on a laptop it seems to me that a USB/PS2 mouse is absolutely
required for this process.

Because Touchpad drivers can only be installed AFTER a previous full installation of WinXP
the touchpad can NOT be used for user interaction during WinXP installation.

Is this view correct?

Or is there something like a default, generic touchpad driver built-in in WinXP?

Frank

I'd assume there is a generic driver included, but with windows I
discover a lot of stupidities every day, so I could be wrong. Though,
if I was a dev as MS I'd include one.

Also, for the installation process, I don't think you'll need a mouse
at all if I recall correctly.

 

[Dr. C.Joseph Drayton, Ph.D. AS&T]

Hi Frank,

If the WinXP has SP1 or SP2, you can do the install just using your
touchpad.

Windows will use a generic 2 button mouse driver during install. Once it
sets up your laptop, it will then load the proper driver in its library.

Note though that you should download the specific driver for your laptop
after you complete the install to take advantage of features like
tapping, scroll zones, etc.

Ciao . . . C.Joseph

And on the seventh day God said,
"I will rest . . . Murphy take over."