How disable double-taps on laptop touchpads? Ack

[berkeman]

I have a new Toshiba laptop (with Vista, sigh), that has a seriuos user interface glitch problem with it's mouse-replacing touchpad. The main problem, as far ask I can tell, is that it interprets some fingertrip drags as double-taps part-way through, and sends me off into the weeds.

I've tried the usual tech support and search sites (Toshiba, Microsoft, Wikipedia, Google, etc.), but no help so far.

Does anybody have suggestions of what to try? I'll get a new mouse and turn off the touchpad soon, but this seems like such a fundamental user interface issue, that there must be some solution or workaround... Thanks!

 

[NeoDevin]

You should be able to disable touch-clicking altogether (so you have to use the buttons to click) in your touch pad controls. I don't know if you can disable only the double click though.

 

[quicknote]

I can understand your frustration with this user interface issue on your new laptop. Based on my expertise in human-computer interaction, I can suggest a few possible solutions to disable double-taps on your laptop touchpad.

1. Adjust touchpad sensitivity: Many laptops have settings that allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the touchpad. By decreasing the sensitivity, you may be able to prevent accidental double-taps. You can access these settings by going to the Control Panel and searching for "touchpad" or "mouse."

2. Update touchpad drivers: It is possible that the issue is due to outdated or faulty touchpad drivers. Check the Toshiba website for any updates to your touchpad drivers and install them if available.

3. Disable double-tap feature: Some touchpads have a feature that allows you to double-tap to perform a right-click. This can be disabled in the touchpad settings, which will prevent any accidental double-taps from registering.

4. Use third-party software: There are also third-party software programs available that can help you customize your touchpad settings and disable double-taps. These include Touchpad Blocker, Touchpad Pal, and TouchFreeze.

5. Use an external mouse: As you mentioned, using an external mouse is also a viable solution. You can disable the touchpad and use the mouse instead for a more reliable and consistent user experience.

I hope these suggestions help you resolve the issue with your touchpad. If none of these solutions work, I recommend reaching out to the manufacturer for further assistance. Good luck!