Laptop no longer recognizes Touchpad or Trackpoint (not in Device Mgr)

[catalogue]

Touchpad/Trackpoint disappear/reappear from Device

My Touchpad and Trackpoint suddenly stopped working and disappeared from Device Manager, then started again, then disappeared again. I suspect the brand-new driver at the Lenovo site is the problem.

They don't show up in Device Manager or Control Panel > Mouse. I got the latest driver (for my exact model) and completely reinstalled Windows, didn't make any difference.

Sequence of events:

- Removed keyboard and bezel (touchpad is part of bezel, trackpoint is part of keyboard) in order to clean out dust
- Reattached connectors with extreme delicacy and carefulness
- After restarting, the computer stopped being able to find the touchpad and trackpoint
- Removed keyboard again, reconnected, restarted - did this several times; didn't help
- Got latest driver from Lenovo site; it went through installation process (sequence of typical program install screens) and looked like it was installing but in the end didn't show up in Device Manager or Control Panel > Mouse > Hardware
- did System Restore
- reinstalled Windows entirely, ran Windows Update, got latest driver

Next I did two things at the same time and then the Touchpad/Trackpoint started working again but only for half an hour, then they stopped again:

- Ran Device Doctor (program for finding drivers) which found and installed driver 19.3.4.214 from 7/25/2018. (May be wrong driver, see below)

- Disconnected/reconnected connector but this time put it in about 1/2 to 3/4 millimeter LESS deep i.e. less "seated" instead of as far down as it would go.

Now the Trackpoint and Touchpad worked for half an hour, then suddenly while I was sitting there using it and not making any changes, they stopped. The driver still shows up in Programs and Features, but not Device Manager or Control Panel > Mouse > Hardware

Note that when you search for that driver number you find this page which says its only for Lenovo Yoga, which mine isn't and no other Lenovo models Synaptics UltraNav Driver for Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit) - ThinkPad Yoga 12 - US

Wouldn't the first thing to do be to find an older driver? Because there is zero evidence of physical damage. The latest driver (for my exact model and serial number) at the Lenovo site is dated December 2018 and is for Win 7 through 10, which sounds very likely to malfunction on a 7 year old computer running Win 7.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi catalogue, did you try an external USB keyboard and mouse to see if they work?
Re-check the connections thoroughly!

 

[Megahertz07]

My Touchpad and Trackpoint suddenly stopped working. They don't show up in Device Manager or under Control Panel > Mouse.
- Removed keyboard and bezel (touchpad is part of bezel, trackpoint is part of keyboard) in order to clean out dust.

If it doesn't show on device manager the hardware isn't connected to the computer.
It's probably the ribbon cable that isn't well inserted. Remember: the ribbon cable has two ends. Check both.

 

[catalogue]

Hi catalogue, did you try an external USB keyboard and mouse to see if they work?

I tried an external mouse and it works. Didn't try keyboard; everything on the internal keyboard works apart from the Trackpoint. Also see above where everything worked again for half an hour and then broke again.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi catalogue,

I tried an external mouse and it works. Didn't try keyboard; everything on the internal keyboard works apart from the Trackpoint.

Have you tried what Megahertz07 has suggested below?

If it doesn't show on device manager the hardware isn't connected to the computer.
It's probably the ribbon cable that isn't well inserted. Remember: the ribbon cable has two ends. Check both.

I hope this helps!

 

[catalogue]

If it doesn't show on device manager the hardware isn't connected to the computer.
It's probably the ribbon cable that isn't well inserted. Remember: the ribbon cable has two ends. Check both.

Not sure if you saw in the post, it said I disconnected-reconnected-restarted several times being extremely careful to make sure it was connected right. I inspected the ribbon and connectors with a powerful magnifier and they look to me in spotless shiny new condition but I don't know if things can get damaged that would require hundreds of times magnification to see. I do know that Youtube is full of how-to videos where they yank the connector out much more forcefully than I did.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi catalogue,

I suspect the brand-new driver at the Lenovo site is the problem.

Have you tried installing the driver prior to the brand-new driver at the Lenovo site?

 

[catalogue]

Have you tried installing the driver prior to the brand-new driver at the Lenovo site?

Do you know some way to find old versions of drivers? I don't. I scoured the Lenovo site and find no trace of any possible way to get old drivers. I searched online and can't find sites with old drivers (for any kind of device) or even anyone discussing anywhere how to get them. Oldversion.com has maybe dozen old drivers *total* out of the many millions that are out there.

 

[Megahertz07]

If it doesn't show on device manager the hardware isn't connected to the computer. It is NOT the driver. If it was the case, it would show on device manger.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi catalogue,

Do you know some way to find old versions of drivers?

Find the version number of the Touchpad and Trackpoint driver that you currently have installed. Then you will be able to Google for a previous driver!

 

[Paul Black]

If it doesn't show on device manager the hardware isn't connected to the computer. It is NOT the driver. If it was the case, it would show on device manger.

That is what I assumed it was, but he says he has meticulously checked the connections on more than one occasion [perhaps the ribbon or connectors are damaged]!

 

[catalogue]

If it doesn't show on device manager the hardware isn't connected to the computer. It is NOT the driver. If it was the case, it would show on device manger.

Nothing in that statement is correct. It was connected and it wasn't on the device manager. If you don't believe me then just don't post here. Telling me it wasn't connected when it was isn't solving the problem. You'd also need to explain how a connector sitting firmly in a socket inside a computer sitting motionless on a table got disconnected, because that's what you're saying happened.

 

[Paul Black]

Nothing in that statement is correct. It was connected and it wasn't on the device manager. If you don't believe me then just don't post here. Telling me it wasn't connected when it was isn't solving the problem. You'd also need to explain how a connector sitting firmly in a socket inside a computer sitting motionless on a table got disconnected, because that's what you're saying happened.

I think your statement above to Megahertz07 is a bit harsh!

We are all volunteers here who give our advice free of charge in order to be able to help members solve their problems. It can be difficult coming up with a solution to a specific problem when we don't have the computer in front of us. That's why we try and narrow down the problem by asking questions so we can eliminate certain approaches and hopefully resolve the problem!

 

[Megahertz07]

On your post #1, YOU wrote "They don't show up in Device Manager or Control Panel"

The Touch pad / Track point can use a PS2 or USB hardware and be listed on device manager under this devices.
ALL hardware devices are shown on device manager. If it doesn't show on device manager the hardware isn't connected to the computer.

 

[iko22]

Here is video on Keyboard removal on the Lenovo T510 Lenovo ThinkPad keyboard removal | YouTube.

The video was posted on Youtube. Other videos on that site also show removal of palmrest, for example this one: Lenovo ThinkPad T510 Palmrest removal and fix | YouTube

 

[iko22]

Do you know some way to find old versions of drivers? I don't. I scoured the Lenovo site and find no trace of any possible way to get old drivers. I searched online and can't find sites with old drivers (for any kind of device) or even anyone discussing anywhere how to get them. Oldversion.com has maybe dozen old drivers *total* out of the many millions that are out there.

You can use Device Manager to find versions of drivers. Either Delete the current driver then select Scan for Hardware Changes. Or select Update device.