[INTEL MBP GEN2] disabling Ubuntu Hardy Touchpad...

[ThatGuyThere]

I would like to disable my mbp's touchpad. It causes me nothing but grief whenever i try to type, as my hand continually swipes it, switching to some part of the text that i did NOT want to be typing in. Alternatively, disabling the touch=click or lowering sensitivity options would also be welcomed. Thanks!

[tchorix]

Hi ThatGuyThere,

I have a MPB GEN1. And this is what it worked for me: System->Preferences->Mouse, and then go to the Touchpad tab, where you can enable or disable it (under General). After doing that I was able to open System->Pereferences->Touchpad, where there is a tab "Tapping". That is the one you want to disable. For having the Touchpad option, you will need to install gsynaptics

sudo install gsynaptics

I hope it helps
cheers
Tchorix

[Brightbelt]

Just as an alternative, you can also install gsynaptics in the Synaptic Package Center.

I think it's accessable through the System/Administration menu. Once there, do a search for 'gsynaptics' and mark for install and you're there.

[ThatGuyThere]

Hi ThatGuyThere,

I have a MPB GEN1. And this is what it worked for me: System->Preferences->Mouse, and then go to the Touchpad tab, where you can enable or disable it (under General). After doing that I was able to open System->Pereferences->Touchpad, where there is a tab "Tapping". That is the one you want to disable. For having the Touchpad option, you will need to install gsynaptics

sudo install gsynaptics

I hope it helps
cheers
Tchorix

I have already tried sudo apt-get install gsynaptics, and it tells me that it is already installed. There is no 'general' tab whenever i go to my mouse preferences. I do have a synaptics touchpad option in my preferences, but when i click it, it gives me this:

GSynaptics couldn't initialize.
You have to set 'SHMConfig' 'true' in xorg.conf or XF86Config to use GSynaptics

Where is that file usually located?

[Rog-Mahal]

It's found in /etc/X11/xorg.conf

[ThatGuyThere]

I've found the file, but i don't know where and what to type in

[cyberdork33]

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookPro

[ThatGuyThere]

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookPro

I followed the touchpad instructions, pasted in, saved, logged out, logged in, but i get an error. Had to go to a failsafe terminal session, and open firefox... Is this a known error, or did i mess up somewhere along the line...?

[issih]

The little program you want is syndaemon, which you almost certainly already have installed...this blocks touchpad events when the keyboard is in use. For simple use, "syndaemon -d" will do, but type "syndaemon --help" to get an idea of the syntax if you want to be more specialised. I just launch it at startup by adding the command to the current session (System->Preferences->Sessions)

[cyberdork33]

I followed the touchpad instructions, pasted in, saved, logged out, logged in, but i get an error. Had to go to a failsafe terminal session, and open firefox... Is this a known error, or did i mess up somewhere along the line...?

I referenced it because it shows how to put the option you are asking about in the file. You should not just copy and paste. add only the options you need/want and tune it.

The little program you want is syndaemon, which you almost certainly already have installed...this blocks touchpad events when the keyboard is in use. For simple use, "syndaemon -d" will do, but type "syndaemon --help" to get an idea of the syntax if you want to be more specialised. I just launch it at startup by adding the command to the current session (System->Preferences->Sessions)

I think that still relies on the above option being set.