[SOLVED] Lenovo T400: Touch pad issue: Cursor gets shifted somewhere while I type

san2ban · 09-17-2019, 09:15 AM

Hello
I am fed up. I use hunt and peck system for typing.Do not see the monitor while I type. Bloody cursor would have jumped some where and I, without having noticed it, continue to type. In the end, only garbage
Is this a hardware issue or synaptics package or some other issue
Kindly enlighten me

montagdude · 09-17-2019, 10:21 AM

Is it possible you are unknowingly touching the touchpad while typing?

Labinnah · 09-17-2019, 04:51 PM

It could be trackpoint issue. On some other hardware I've problem with it when it was unable to detect neutral position, and cursor slowly migrates to edge of screen.

Try to type looking at screen and observe cursor behavior - it maybe helps detect problem.

upnort · 09-17-2019, 06:26 PM

I have a T400.

I don't know if any of the following will help you, but here is what works for me. I use Slackware 14.2 and the Xfce and MATE desktops.

I never found the red eraser head trackpoint gizmo useful for anything. I kept bumping my thumbs against the contraption. I removed the "eraser" head.

In the trackpad configuration:

* Set drag-and-drop threshold to maximum.
* Set the double-click speed to slow.
* Disable touchpad while typing.
* Disabled using mouse clicks with the trackpad.
* Disabled two-finger and three-finger click emulation.
* Disable all scrolling options.

In addition to those precautions, long ago I wrote a shell script to disable the trackpad. I use a mouse. The script disables the trackpad upon logging in (~/.config/autostart). I can toggle the trackpad status but seldom, no, rarely do that with laptops I use.

I have a cynical low opinion of trackpads and trackpoints, but there is an old saying about opinions and a--holes. Every one has one and they both stink.

Edit: I have the top trackpad buttons disabled in the BIOS.

Jan K. · 09-17-2019, 09:06 PM

I have the T440s... disabled touchpad in BIOS and got a wireless Logitech M705. Happy again!

Touchpads are so inefficient compared to use of a mouse...

phalange · 09-17-2019, 10:42 PM

https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...ut-4175660871/

Parallel threads. I've been getting irritated with my Asus trackpad too, which is needlessly large. I'm typing this on a lenovo T61 that has a pad like a postage stamp and never misbehaves.

upnort · 09-17-2019, 11:07 PM

In my T400 /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ I have 50-synaptics.conf:

Code:

# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE - IT WILL BE OVERWRITTEN ON UPGRADES
# Copy this file to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ and edit the copy
#
# Use "synclient -l" to see all available options
# Use "man synaptics" for details about what the options do
#
Section "InputClass"
  Identifier "touchpad"
  Driver "synaptics"
  MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
  MatchIsTouchpad "on"
  Option "TapButton1" "0"
  Option "TapButton2" "0"
  Option "TapButton3" "0"
  Option "TapAndDragGesture" "0"
  Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "false"
  Option "VertEdgeScroll" "false"
EndSection

Some time ago I wrote online about trackpads. In that article are links to my two shell scripts. Nothing magical and possibly might need tweaking for other users. The article mentions using the T400 Fn-F11 keyboard shortcut to toggle the trackpad. Still works on my T400. I still detest trackpads.

For good measure, unlike Will Rogers, I never met a laptop keyboard I liked. The keycaps are always smaller than normal, mushy, and none have well placed navigation keys.

Quote:

I've been getting irritated with my Asus trackpad too, which is needlessly large.

I notice many new models place the trackpad offset from center to favor right-handed users.

san2ban · 09-17-2019, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montagdude

Is it possible you are unknowingly touching the touchpad while typing?

My fingers will be in the air. Not even an accidental touch on the pads

upnort
Thanks for your inputs. The behaviour is better now. Will live with this.
Recession in automotive industry. Cant buy a new one

Thanks to all for your inputs