Computer Keyboard Hacks to Fix UI Problems

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around issues with touchpad sensitivity and the placement of the Num Lock key on laptops running Windows 7 and Windows 10. Participants share their experiences and propose various hacks and settings adjustments to mitigate these problems, exploring both software and physical modifications.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express frustration with overly sensitive touchpads that disrupt typing, suggesting that older versions of Windows allowed for easier disabling through the Control Panel.
  • Others mention that newer laptops, like those from Dell and HP, have varying options in their touchpad settings, with some lacking an on/off switch entirely.
  • One participant describes using AutoHotKey to remap the Num Lock key and disable the touchpad, while another mentions setting the Num Lock to always active.
  • There are suggestions to check for related settings in the Control Panel and to explore manufacturer-specific software for additional touchpad controls.
  • A later reply humorously suggests physically unplugging the touchpad as a last resort.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method to address the touchpad issues, with multiple competing views on the effectiveness of various settings and hacks. There is also disagreement on the availability of certain features across different laptop brands.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the variability of touchpad settings across different laptop manufacturers and models, as well as the reliance on specific software that may not be universally available. Some participants reference external resources for further exploration of the issues discussed.

Who May Find This Useful

Users experiencing similar touchpad sensitivity issues on Windows laptops, particularly those looking for practical hacks or settings adjustments to improve their user interface experience.

berkeman
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TL;DR
What hacks have you used to bypass UI problems? Are there better solutions?
With Win7 and Win10 laptops, the UI has some serious issues, IMO. I've had several work and personal laptops with super sensitive touchpads, and lately the Num Lock key has proved problematic.

On my older laptops, I was able to use the Control Panel to disable the touchpad so that it would not send me off into oblivion when my palm brushed it, but with the latest Windows operating systems that does not seem to be an option. I can turn down the touchpad sensitivity, but even at the minimum setting, I still end up vectoring off to the corners of my document and deleting random text (which is really time consuming to recover from) if my palm brushes the dang touchpad.

And having the Num Lock key right next to the Backspace key seems like a poor keyboard design to me, since a slight overstep on Backspace can disable the Num Lock, which then results in you vectoring off into hyperspace the next time you try to type a number, and can also result in random deletions of text in a document that you are working on.

At least on my HP laptop I can mouse down to the status bar to see if my NumLock is still turned on, but on my wife's work laptop (she is working from home) we have not been able to find such a status indicator.

So, I've "engineered" some workaround physical hacks for now (ESD pads over the touchpads and keyboard guards over the problematic NumLock key). But there has to be a better way. A coworker suggests that there is a Bios disable for the touchpad thing, but I haven't tried that path yet...
 

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I can use the touchpad switch under W10 on Lenovo. I haven't figured out how deep into the system I can get with AutoHotKey, but I used it on an older machine to replace a broken 'e'-key, and now I still use it to disable caps lock, and the overwrite function of 'insert'.

Edit: Of course you can always use the engineers' solution:

1604114533394.jpeg


Just make sure to cover the touchpad with some paper first.

Edit Edit: And now that you have asked, I set the Num block on always active.
 
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berkeman said:
On my older laptops, I was able to use the Control Panel to disable the touchpad so that it would not send me off into oblivion when my palm brushed it, but with the latest Windows operating systems that does not seem to be an option.
I have a newish Dell laptop running Win 10. I have a wireless mouse for it and have no use for the touch pad. The Settings app can be used to turn off the touchpad. Look under Devices --> Touchpad.
 
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Mark44 said:
I have a newish Dell laptop running Win 10. I have a wireless mouse for it and have no use for the touch pad. The Settings app can be used to turn off the touchpad. Look under Devices --> Touchpad.
Mine is a newish HP laptop running Win 10 also. In the Touchpad Settings, all I can do is turn it down to Low Sensitivity. I haven't found an On/Off switch yet. Does your Touchpad Settings window look like this?

1604158303473.png
 
fresh_42 said:
Edit Edit: And now that you have asked, I set the Num block on always active.
How did you do that?
 
berkeman said:
How did you do that?
I redirected NumLock to Space via AutoHotKey

SetNumLockState, On
Return
NumLock::
Space:
Return

For the really rare case that I want to use it as arrows, I could simply pause the script.
 
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Regarding the touchpad settings, here's what are shown in Settings for my Dell Vostro laptop. Since your HP laptop doesn't seem to show the same things, maybe there's something you can jigger in Control Panel.
Touchpad.png
 
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Mine looks like
1604159761012.png
 
But does yours have a "ya/nein" switch?
 
  • #10
berkeman said:
But does yours have a "ya/nein" switch?
No, it has only a strictly positive sensitivity switch: low, middle, high, highest. However, it came with a separate machine software to handle settings like energy consumption, mouse, camera etc. Unfortunately it only links to the MS setup page under the point touchpad. But I have a function key to switch it off.
 
  • #11
berkeman said:
I haven't found an On/Off switch yet.
What's under Related settings. . . this ?

1604164417396.png


Enable or Disable Double Tap to Enable or Disable Touchpad in Windows | Tutorials

Also, check out the Related Tutorials. . .

PS:
I use a desktop, so I don't even have a setting for a Touchpad, but I am a

member of that Forum, and https://www.tenforums.com/members/brink.html seems to know his stuff. . . . :smile:Oh, one more thing, my Wife has an HP laptop, but I'm not allowed close to it,

and I do MEAN close !. . :oops: . :DD

.
 
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  • #12
That leads to settings where I can deactivate the touchpad. Not as convenient as a switch at the top level, but it should work.
 
  • #13
On my ASUS laptop, touchpad settings does have on/off. It must be configurable by your laptop manufacturer.
 
  • #15
OCR said:
What's under Related settings. . . this ?

View attachment 271941

Enable or Disable Double Tap to Enable or Disable Touchpad in Windows | Tutorials

Also, check out the Related Tutorials. . .

PS:
I use a desktop, so I don't even have a setting for a Touchpad, but I am a

member of that Forum, and https://www.tenforums.com/members/brink.html seems to know his stuff. . . . :smile:Oh, one more thing, my Wife has an HP laptop, but I'm not allowed close to it,

and I do MEAN CLOSE !. . :oops: . :DD

.
Good thought, but it looks like the Advanced settings under my Touchpad settings takes me to my mouse settings. (Dang, I'd be cursing out HP at this point, but I worked for them for a number of years, so will resist that urge...)

1604170452732.png
 
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  • #16
Last resort: Open up the case and unplug the d**n thing!
 
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