Solved! How do I disable my laptop keyboard without also disabling the touchpad?

[thegardengnomes]

Disabling or uninstalling the keyboard doesn't work, so I update it to a non-working driver as a workaround. When I do this, the keyboard successfully doesn't work anymore, but then neither does the touchpad. How do I do this without also disabling the touchpad? Is there an alternative touchpad driver I can use? The laptop is HP Stream serial number 5CD83379CQ Windows 10.

 

[Lutfij]

I would ask you to leave this aspect alone. If you knew the inner workings of a laptop, you'd know that the wiring for the keybaord and trackpad are often one and the same or they are shared. If the option to disable the keyboard from Device Manager doesn't help then it's the maximum you can go through without causing a catastrophic device issue with the wrong drivers.

Might I ask why you're so keen on disabling the keyboard on your laptop? You could explore the idea of physically detaching the keyboard's ribbon cable from the motherboard/PCB and use a USB driven keyboard.

 

[shmoochie]

I think physically detaching the keyboard ribbon is the best bet. Like Lutfij said, messing with old drivers can cause a lot of issues down the line.

 

[thegardengnomes]

I would ask you to leave this aspect alone. If you knew the inner workings of a laptop, you'd know that the wiring for the keybaord and trackpad are often one and the same or they are shared. If the option to disable the keyboard from Device Manager doesn't help then it's the maximum you can go through without causing a catastrophic device issue with the wrong drivers.

Might I ask why you're so keen on disabling the keyboard on your laptop? You could explore the idea of physically detaching the keyboard's ribbon cable from the motherboard/PCB and use a USB driven keyboard.

What you think should or shouldn't be left alone based on your limited information is irrelevant. Entertaining you anyway, the laptop keyboard is damaged such that input is garbled. I use a USB keyboard and must use the laptop on my lap (preemptively, why is again irrelevant) and I need the bottom of the USB keyboard not to make random inputs on the laptop keyboard. Hence the question. It's ok if you don't know the answer.

 

[shmoochie]

What he thinks you should or shouldn't do based on the limited information you gave him is relevant because you asked for his opinion by making a forum post. He also gave you a solution - unplug the keyboard ribbon.

 

[Corwin65]

Nasty attitude but I'm here so - Questions are asked cause all of us use checklists to help. The more we know the better we can try to help you. Questions we ask may seem irrelevant or dumb to you but you will learn that these questions come from years of experience, and knowledge. For example, sometimes people plug their video cable into the motherboard instead of their GPU. We ask where they are connected and it seems simple but sometimes people forget.

That said, just unplug the keyboard ribbon.

 

[Peter Martin]

he has far greater knowledge of what talks about is why you should listen to him... lol, he answered you correctly and you dissed him.

I never use my laptop kb unless the system is away from desk, i don't disable it, lid stays shut (power setting lets it close and not power off) and I use external kb, mouse and monitor at desk.

if my laptop kb didn't work, I would repair/replace as well.