Disable accidental touchpad gestures in Windows 8.1

[WWGD]

Hi all,
AFAIK, Windows 8.1 machines ( I have a laptop) have been designed in part to function as tablets. Specifically, the touch screen and slides of the mouse. Specifically, I have a touchpad for my mouse. Problem I have is that I will inadvertently slide/move the cursor in such a way that all sorts of changes are triggered, e.g., I will move the cursor a certain way and my font size will change. Is there a way, other than buying an external mouse, to disabling these triggers?

Basically, I would like to have my computer act like a PC would in a world where the same technology is available but tablets have not been invented.
Thanks.

 

[Syed Tariq]

Go to device manager. under human interface devices,you have the touchscreen drivers. Disable it. Restart your pc. Now you should not have any problems. I solved mine that way. Pro - No more cursor problems. Con- Touchscreen is disabled

 

[WWGD]

Thanks, Syed, will give that a try now.

 

[harborsparrow]

Buy the utility StartIsBack ($3 license for 2 PC's) and tune its settings. Can make it mostly ust like Win7 or Win8 without touch.

 

[WWGD]

Thanks, but I have Windows 8.1, I just don't like the random changes that come with the tablet traits.

 

[HuskyNamedNala]

Simple, get rid of 8.1!

 

[robphy]

Getting rid of 8.1 might not be so simple if hardware drivers are not [yet?] available for other operating systems.
I wish I could downgrade my Windows 8 tablet to XP-TabletPCEdition...
While there were improvements, it's weird that they got rid of some stylus-related features.