Can I turn off the touchpad on my laptop? (Dell Inspiron 8100)

[JAH]

I have an Inspiron 5100 and I can turn off my touchpad if I choose to. Control Panel -> Mouse -> Click Disable on your touchpad in the list of mice. I'd assume it is the same for all Dell Inspirons. Although many CD users have Dells, this would be a much better source for this question. Hope I helped ya a bit...

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by JAH

I'd assume it is the same for all Dell Inspirons.

Assumption is the mother of all evil!!
re: - not a option on my computer... yet... read on!

Ok, so the bios change was a joke, it let me turn on or off both the trackstick and touchpad, but not independently.

Apparently, there was a patch from Dell (a 3rd party software?) that can control the track stick and touchpad independently, and the mouse buttons on the laptop itself.

Now I have a system tray icon that is a shortcut right to the changer for this. Yay!

What a pain in the butt that was.

[Bharat Nain]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Now I have a system tray icon that is a shortcut right to the changer for this. Yay!

What a pain in the butt that was.

Congractulations

[Andy A.]

I have a method for disabling trackpads.

I call it 'giving it the screwdriver'.

I promise it will 'disable' any trackpad from any major vendor in 3 easy steps.

Take screwdriver (#2 flathead for best results)
Place point of screwdriver over trackpad
Thrust screwdriver with great force into trackpad. A hammer may be used as an aid, but is optional.

Also works on buggy RAID controllers.

-Andy A.