Thinkpads Forum

I have a new T61 with a port replicator and USB keyboard. The keyboard is the IBM SK-8835, featuring a TouchPad and the TrackPoint nipple. I love the TrackPoint, but I can't stand the TouchPad since I often rub it with my palm, moving the mouse when I'm typing. Very frustrating. I want to disable the TouchPad, but I can't!

I've gone to Control Panel -> Mouse -> UltraNav and de-selected the "Enable TouchPad", and this disables the TouchPad on the laptop...but the TouchPad on the USB keyboard still works. I've searched high and low, and can't find any way to disable the stupid TouchPad. (The HID service has been running the whole time.)

Any suggestions out there?
Thanks in advance!!
Brian

1. Download the following drivers based on your operating system:

USB Keyboard and Travel Keyboard with UltraNav driver - Windows XP.

USB Keyboard and Travel Keyboard with UltraNav driver for Windows Vista.

2. Go to BIOS to change the behavior as to what should happen when you connect an external keyboard or mouse.

Thanks for the suggestion! Unfortunately I can't get it to work...

I went to the XP driver page and first tried q2kyb02us13.exe. I installed the files and ran setup.exe, but it says "A newer version of the Synaptics Pointing Device Driver is installed."

Then I downloaded the other driver q5kyb07us13.exe. I ran setup.exe, and rebooted. No dice. The TouchPad still defiantly responds.

Originally I disabled the TouchPad (with no effect), but even if I enable it, I'm unable to change any of the behavior (tapping, speed, etc.).

Any other ideas or suggestions?
Brian

First and last post here I guess, I found this topic while googling the same keyboard- great device btw, amazing feel and touch. I've never owned a thinkpad myself, only got some for temp missions. A friend lent me this keyboard once -oops, he never got it back- and I've been using it at home for two years. And I like it so much I want another one for my office now!

Anyway I found this problem a little disturbing too when I first got the keyboard, I liked the ultranav but I didn't need the touchpad at all. After a few approaches I finally found I had to disable the touchpad straight from the Device Manager. The touchpad and ultranav are listed as two separate devices under "Mouse and other pointing devices" and you can disable any of the two as you wish. I guess you'll even have four devices there, for the laptop and the external keyboard.

I found another way around this problem.
It involves scissors, a firm piece of plastic (I believe it was from a pasta salad container), and some tape.
It's not pretty, it's not elegant, but it's effective (and involves a lot less mucking w/ the device manager).

Do these external keyboards have the same feel as that of a laptop keyboard?

The keyboard looks & feels like the keyboard of a thinkpad laptop, except larger. I dock my laptop in the port replicator, connect to a 21" flat panel display and with this keyboard I can type and use the the ultranav nipple instead of a mouse. It's great, except I hate the touch pad (hence my original question and eventual solution of plastic + tape).