Trackpoint problem on T20

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sprack · #1 Post by **sprack** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:19 pm

My trackpoint and all keyboard mouse buttons stopped working. Is this a common problem and if so, is there a simple fix? I've installed the latest driver, but still nothing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

#2 Post by **rkawakami** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:01 pm

From your statement that you've "installed the latest driver", can I assume that you are using an external mouse? If so, that may disable your trackpoint. There should be a setting in BIOS that controls this action. Power on the laptop with the F1 key held down, enter the Config menu and then select keyboard/mouse menu. If it is set to Autodisable, then this is what is happening. Change the setting to Enabled if you want to use either the trackpoint or the external mouse at the same time.

edit: P.S. Welcome to thinkpads.com!

sprack · #3 Post by **sprack** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 7:40 am

Thank you for the welcome and fast reply. I do have an external mouse attached. I have tried the bios settings to no avail. It just won't work. If it were just the trackpoint that stopped working and the mouse buttons still worked, I would lean towards a hardware issue, but the buttons stopped also. I was just wondering if the motherboard or keyboard may have an issue, or if it is software related. I was hoping someone had run across this problem and had found a solution. Thanks again John

Orevin · #4 Post by **Orevin** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 12:27 pm

You can use a Linux (knoppix, ubuntu...) live CD to eliminate or confirm a software problem.

#5 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 12:29 pm

Just so we're clear here..

Have you Enabled the trackpoint in the BIOS settings (i.e. not set it to Autodisable or Disable)?

then...

Have you booted the laptop without any external mouse to see if the trackpoint and its buttons are working?

If those two actions have not been taken then I can't say for sure if the problem is in the hardware, software or firmware. I'm assuming that at one point in time the trackpoint and buttons were working properly and that something caused them to stop working. Which gets me to my next point if those two things don't solve your problem...

Which drivers, and from where, did you download and install? It's possible that if you (now) don't have the correct drivers then that could be your problem. Assuming you are running Windows XP or 2000, right-click the "My Computer" icon on the desktop, select "Properties", select the "Hardware" tab, and click the "Device Manager" button. Click on the "Mice and other pointing devices". Are there any red exclamation points (indicating a problem)?

You should also check the mouse settings under Control Panel. Click the Start button, Settings, Control Panel, Mouse. Poke around the tabs and options to see if there is something there that disables the trackpoint (I doubt that there is, but it's worth a try).

If everything you see in Windows appears to say that your trackpoint should be working, then it's time to download a non-Windows diagnostic program. Get ahold of a copy of PC Doctor from IBM's site (three diskettes required) or download a CD image file (.ISO) and burn it to CD. Refer to this thread for directions on where/how to download this program:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=32096

(You'll recognize my post....)

Before running PC Doctor, make sure that your BIOS settings are "enabled" for the trackpoint and you have disconnected any external mouse (USB or PS/2). When you have PC Doctor running, the diagnostic you want to execute is under the Interactive menu heading and is labelled Mouse. Actually, if your trackpoint is working correctly you should be able to use it to move the cursor around the screen at this point. If so, then your problem lies somewhere within Windows. If your trackpoint does not respond while running PC Doctor then the problem should be with your laptop's hardware or firmware (keyboard or BIOS).

sprack · #6 Post by **sprack** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:28 pm

Thanks Ray. All that you mentioned has been done and the computer says the trackpoint should be working. I have downloaded the ISO file, but my daughter burned my last blank cd, so I have to get some tomorrow. Thanks for all the help and I'll let you know as soon as I find anything out.

John

Website · #7 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:34 pm

Have you removed the keyboard for any reason recently?

Regardless, the connection might have worked itself loose. You might want to remove the keyboard and then reseat it.

#8 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:45 pm

sprack wrote:<snip>.. but my daughter burned my last blank cd, so I have to get some tomorrow.

THAT sounds familiar!

tfflivemb2 wrote:You might want to remove the keyboard and then reseat it.

Good point.

sprack · #9 Post by **sprack** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:34 pm

Booted into PC Dr. and the buttons work, but the pointer only jiggles a little bit on the X axis, with nothing on the Y axis. I bought a used keyboard off of Ebay for $7.50. Hopefully this will solve my problem. I am going out of town for the week, but will post results as soon as they are available. Thanks for all your help.

John

sprack · #10 Post by **sprack** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:37 pm

15 minutes after arriving home from NY, the brown truck pulled up. Suffice it to say, I cleared a spot on the dining room table and proceeded to replace the keyboard. Two minutes later and the mouse was working like a champ. It even feels easier than the old one. Maybe it was going for some time and I didn't realize it. All is well again in T20 land. Thanks for all your help guys. John