Touchpad not working on Dell XPS L501x

Question

I just installed Ubuntu 11.10 (64 bit) and my touchpad is dead. Some ideas?

Solution 1

Because it is not working only in Gnome 3 and Unity 3D, you can fix it like this :

• Install dconf-tools
• Launch it dconf-editor
• Search for: /org/gnome/settings-daemon/peripherals/touchpad/
• Check "touchpad-enabled"

Solution 2

Here is the trick :

sudo modprobe -r psmouse
sudo modprobe psmouse proto=imps

Solution 3

This worked for me:

System Settings > Mouse and Touchpad > Touchpad

in section General uncheck 'Disable touchpad while typing'. Restart.

Comments

[Natim]

It didn't worked for me. But then strange thing is that the touchpad is working on the login screen, detected by all the pointing configuration systems but not working under Unity.

[Natim]

Actually after a restart it is not working again. Even more, the configuration of the touchpad is not working anymore with this fix.

[P05TMAN]

Touch the enable/disable function key for the touchpad at login

[ImaginaryRobots]

this worked for me as well. It seems like it's disabling the touchpad when typing starts, then just never re-enables it.

[ImaginaryRobots]

messing with kernel modules should not be necessary, especially if the touchpad started out working.

[Marky]

This works on my Ubuntu 11.10 install (network upgrade from Natty). However on the next boot the touchpad goes back to dead. How can this be made permanent? Is it safe to place it on rc.local?

[Natim]

You should use askubuntu.com/a/66197/11333

[Drew Noakes]

Worked perfectly, and doesn't even require a reboot. This should be the accepted answer, for my problem at least. Thanks.