If you have a laptop which comes with a PS/2 touchpad (most) and you’re running XP or Vista, you may notice something like this with this month’s Windows software updates:
The entry in question is the “IdeaCom Technology Inc. – Input – IdeaCom HID Touch Screen (PS/2) MOUSE” update. Do NOT install it (unless you have one of those), as you will lose the ability to use your trackpad and/or PS/2 mouse. If you’ve lost said ability, here are the steps to fix.
- Figure out a way to navigate to \Windows\int\oemXX.inf (XX is different on different systems, mine is oem11.inf). Maybe plug in a USB mouse if you’re not good with the keyboard.
- The file should have a “Modified” date of December 11, 2008.
- If yea, delete that file.
- Open Device Manager, look for HID devices. Open it up, fine the IdeaCom device, and remove it.
- Reboot. Everything should be back to normal.
Driver rollback and system restore do NOT work. Nice job Microsoft, you started the new year with a giant Zune fiasco, and now this, which I imagine will affect a LOT of people that don’t think about whether they have a touchscreen or not.