re-installing XP Pro on a laptop - will the synaptic pad work afterwards ?

[victory]

I have just received my first laptop in which I use the synaptic
pointing device ( finger pad ) to navigate .

I want to " wipe " the drive on this machine and perform a clean
install using an XP Pro-SP2 disk which I had purchased to install this
OS on an old desktop PC which I no longer use.

When you "wipe " the drive on a desktop PC and use the XP Installation
Disk to clean install the OS , the mouse always works afterwards as ,
presumably , the necessary mouse drivers are included in the XP
Installation Disk.

Are the synaptic pad drivers also included in these disks if I use
this disk to clean install the OS onto a laptop , does anyone know ?

Should I need to separately install such drivers in this case ?

B.N.

 

[Ron Martell]

I have just received my first laptop in which I use the synaptic
pointing device ( finger pad ) to navigate .

I want to " wipe " the drive on this machine and perform a clean
install using an XP Pro-SP2 disk which I had purchased to install this
OS on an old desktop PC which I no longer use.

When you "wipe " the drive on a desktop PC and use the XP Installation
Disk to clean install the OS , the mouse always works afterwards as ,
presumably , the necessary mouse drivers are included in the XP
Installation Disk.

Are the synaptic pad drivers also included in these disks if I use
this disk to clean install the OS onto a laptop , does anyone know ?

Should I need to separately install such drivers in this case ?

B.N.

Laptop hardware tends to be highly proprietary and very often they
have components for which drivers are not included on the Windows XP
installation CD. You probably need to go to the laptop
manufacturer's web site and download their Windows XP drivers for your
specific model and have these available on a CD if needed during the
install.

Also most laptops do have a ps/2 port for connecting a mouse so you
could use one of these during the install process then when it is
completed disconnect it and see if the Synaptic pad will work.

What happened to the Windows installation disk that came with the
laptop? That is what you should be using as it will have all of the
necessary drivers on it. And if the laptop originally came with a
previous version of Windows then it is quite possible that the
hardware will be inadequate for XP.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[TheMachiineRNC]

Most touchpads will work with MS's standard mouse drives embedded in Win2000
and WinXP. You'll just need the manufacturer specific drivers and
utilities to customize how the touchpad works.

In short - the touchpad will be detected as a standard mouse and work fine.

 

[victory]

Thanks to both repliers.

Very helpful and I appreciate the effort taken to reply.

regards,

B.N.

 

[victory]

Laptop hardware tends to be highly proprietary and very often they
have components for which drivers are not included on the Windows XP
installation CD. You probably need to go to the laptop
manufacturer's web site and download their Windows XP drivers for your
specific model and have these available on a CD if needed during the
install.

Also most laptops do have a ps/2 port for connecting a mouse so you
could use one of these during the install process then when it is
completed disconnect it and see if the Synaptic pad will work.

What happened to the Windows installation disk that came with the
laptop? That is what you should be using as it will have all of the
necessary drivers on it. And if the laptop originally came with a
previous version of Windows then it is quite possible that the
hardware will be inadequate for XP.

Thanks for the reply.

The previous laptop CD is not available unfortunately although I
believe I can obtain an Installation CD for the new machine if I
specifically request one and make enough of a "fuss" !

I'll certainly follow your advice about d/l the necessary drivers onto
a CD before wiping the drive.

regards,


B.N.

 

[Ron Martell]

Thanks for the reply.

The previous laptop CD is not available unfortunately although I
believe I can obtain an Installation CD for the new machine if I
specifically request one and make enough of a "fuss" !

I'll certainly follow your advice about d/l the necessary drivers onto
a CD before wiping the drive.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."