Aspire Switch Alpha 12 Touchpad Button Always Pressed, Turning Movement into Click-and-Drag

quadpixels
quadpixels Member Posts: 17 Troubleshooter
edited November 2023 in 2020 Archives

Hello Forum,

 

I recently purchased an Acer Aspire Switch Alpha 12 2-in-1 device from AcerRecertified.com, and I love this machine except one glitch in the Trackpad integrated into the keyboard cover: When I slightly apply force on my finger while trying to move the cursor on the Trackpad, the touch will register as a click. That's as if the physical buttons are pressed (because this happens even if tapping is disabled in the system settings), and when I intend just to move the cursor the action becomes a click-and-drag. It happens so frequently that it's almost impossible for me to use the trackpad and I have to disable it.

 

The symptom persists in Windows 10 even if I disable "Allow taps on the touchpad" in the System Settings.

The symptom can be observed in the BIOS as well (by pressing F12 during power-up).


Based on the aforementioned observations, it seems to me that there exists some fault in the touchpad.

 

Can you advise me on what I should do now to have this problem addressed? I really like to keep using the Switch Alpha 12 and it would be perfect if the problem with the touchpad can be fixed.

 

Here are some information related to the purchase and the unit:
Order Date: November 23, 2016, 4:57 pm

Order No: ACER-REC-41810-CZ934***

SN: NTLCDAA0106217********

SNID: 621********

 

Thank you so much!!

Answers

  • quadpixels
    quadpixels Member Posts: 17 Troubleshooter

    Alright, it seems that if one might be able to remove the false-contact by re-seating the trackpad. It seems I have succeeded in this way and the trackpad has been working perfectly normal for a whole day. Will see if the symptom appears again ...

  • hankscorpio21
    hankscorpio21 Member Posts: 1 New User

     

     

    How did you "re-seat" the trackpad? I am having the same issue

  • quadpixels
    quadpixels Member Posts: 17 Troubleshooter

    I used a prying tool to remove the bottom edge of the Trackpad from the base. It can take a lot of force since the Trackpad is very tightly fixed onto the base. Also do not exert excessive force or attempt to remove the entire Trackpad since the top edge cannot be removed from the base.

  • Be_Abbott
    Be_Abbott Member Posts: 4 New User
    I used a prying tool to remove the bottom edge of the Trackpad from the base. It can take a lot of force since the Trackpad is very tightly fixed onto the base. Also do not exert excessive force or attempt to remove the entire Trackpad since the top edge cannot be removed from the base.
    :#  Yikes!  Glad that worked for you.  I would be [read "am"] too nervous about prying on the touchpad.  I see great risk in potential damage.  Curious thing, though, is that I'm having exactly the opposite problem.  While your touchpad was HYPERsensitive, mine is HYPOsensitive.  It doesn't recognize taps at all.  Anytime I want to make a selection I have to engage the click mechanism.  It's a small quibble but frustrating nonetheless.  I just simply want the option to tap for a single-click function.
  • rkstormer
    rkstormer Member Posts: 3 New User
    edited August 2018
    This fixed my problem.  Thanks!  I had the "always pressed" problem.  I applied some pressure pushing down on the front edge of the keyboard in front of the trackpad, pushed up underneath the keyboard (below the trackpad), wedged a knife point under the front of the trackpad, and pried up a little.  Trackpad popped out just slightly, then I pushed it down and it popped back into place.  Seems to work OK now.  Still a bit sensitive to touch though.
  • rkstormer
    rkstormer Member Posts: 3 New User
    After a little more messing around I also found that it is possible to push the trackpad TOO far down when you pop it back into place.  You have to find the sweet spot.
  • pawv
    pawv Member Posts: 2 New User
     :o prying up on the trackpad worked for me too!!! it was in click and drag mode, and wasn't able to scroll with 2 fingers. had a difficult time putting it back in place as the bottom 2 corners of the trackpad have metal pieces on it. each corner piece needs to be pushed in and down with a good amount of force until they go down into the keyboard again. thanks for the suggestion quadpixels said:

    I used a prying tool to remove the bottom edge of the Trackpad from the base. It can take a lot of force since the Trackpad is very tightly fixed onto the base. Also do not exert excessive force or attempt to remove the entire Trackpad since the top edge cannot be removed from the base.


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