Laptop Touchpad (Dell): Pressing both left + right mouse buttons doesnt do anything

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
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on my Dell mini10 netbook, i could press both the left and right touchpad buttons at same time to bring up an IE window.

I have dont remember how I did that.


I sold the mini10 and Now have a Dell 11z netbook.

How do i get the netbook to open up a new IE window when i press both the left and right touchpad buttons at the same time?

aka How to simulate middle button on laptop Touchpad?
 
Last edited:

Electric Mayhem

Senior member
Oct 18, 2004
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There are two touchpad manufacturers, synaptic and Elan. I believe Elan touchpad has the intergrated buttons and has a pre-installed program in which you can customize buttons (like you mention, touch both buttons to get IE to open). The touchpad with the two separated buttons is made by Synaptic, and AFAIK it isn't set up to open IE. It may be customizable in the Mouse settings in the control panel.

Your mini10 probably came with the Elan touchpad and maybe you now have the other style.

I have had 11z's with both styles but not sure which one I like better. My 11z with the Elan touchpad had a problem with the screen (well I kinda broke it myself). I have that touchpad, extra 6 cell battery, 250GB hard drive and 2GB ram stick if anyone is interested in buying it).
 
Dec 10, 2005
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Is there a program that is running that controls the touchpad? There would probably be configuration options that can be set within it.
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,738
126
There are two touchpad manufacturers, synaptic and Elan. I believe Elan touchpad has the intergrated buttons and has a pre-installed program in which you can customize buttons (like you mention, touch both buttons to get IE to open). The touchpad with the two separated buttons is made by Synaptic, and AFAIK it isn't set up to open IE. It may be customizable in the Mouse settings in the control panel.

Your mini10 probably came with the Elan touchpad and maybe you now have the other style.

I have had 11z's with both styles but not sure which one I like better. My 11z with the Elan touchpad had a problem with the screen (well I kinda broke it myself). I have that touchpad, extra 6 cell battery, 250GB hard drive and 2GB ram stick if anyone is interested in buying it).

yeah, my mini10 has the Elan. when i first opened it, i was like damn, no raised mouse buttons.

i was happy my 11z had raised mouse buttons, but sucks not to be able to press both at same time to open IE.


Brainonska511,
synaptic's software doesnt have that option :(
i installed microsoft mouse, and selected 3button mouse. i programmed it to open IE with the middle mouse button. Didnt work :(

guess synaptic's software takes presedence when using the touchpad, and microsoft mouse is activated when using usb mouse.
 
Dec 10, 2005
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Brainonska511,
synaptic's software doesnt have that option :(
i installed microsoft mouse, and selected 3button mouse. i programmed it to open IE with the middle mouse button. Didnt work :(

guess synaptic's software takes presedence when using the touchpad, and microsoft mouse is activated when using usb mouse.

That's weird. On my laptop, you open the mouse settings, go to the "device settings" tab, select the touchpad and click on Settings and it brings up an advanced settings window.

I have a Synaptic's touchpad btw.
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,738
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That's weird. On my laptop, you open the mouse settings, go to the "device settings" tab, select the touchpad and click on Settings and it brings up an advanced settings window.

I have a Synaptic's touchpad btw.

synaptoics touchpad v7.4

under the buttons tab, it only has:
Left button action
Right button action

Nothing for 'both buttons', unlike some other synaptoics touchpad versions for certain laptops have.
 
Dec 10, 2005
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synaptoics touchpad v7.4

under the buttons tab, it only has:
Left button action
Right button action

Nothing for 'both buttons', unlike some other synaptoics touchpad versions for certain laptops have.

Oh. Mine is v6.1 with drivers provided by Asus. But the option I was referring to is not under the buttons tab. Here's a diagram of what I was referring to in my machine, though mine has only 'tap zones'. Later drivers should have more options with multi-touch.

Synaptics.JPG