Arch Linux

Rolfi

Member

Registered: 2026-08-14

Posts: 3

erratic Synaptics touchpad / clickpad

Hello,
I'm taking a shot at digging up this post from over 10 years ago. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to find you still logged in.
I have the same problem you described with a Synaptic touchpad on an old Clevo W310Cz. It seems to me that this idea really makes sense, especially after trying multiple software solutions without success.
Unfortunately, I’m not an electronics or computer whiz, even though I can use a soldering iron.
You’ll probably be able to help me if you read my reply.
I’m not sure which components to solder on the touchpad.
Did you solder each small pad around the edge of the PCB to one of the ground pads on the chassis (as shown in the photo)?

I really hope I can use this computer “normally” again.
Thanks in advance

Lone_Wolf

Administrator

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 15,348

Re: erratic Synaptics touchpad / clickpad

Moderator Note
Split off from Found hardware solution for erratic Synaptics touchpad / clickpad  and moved to kernel and hardware board.

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Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

clean chroot building not flexible enough ?
Try clean chroot manager by graysky

dimich

Member

From: Kharkiv, Ukraine

Registered: 2009-11-03

Posts: 760

Re: erratic Synaptics touchpad / clickpad

I’m not sure which components to solder on the touchpad.

The original post talks about joining grounds on motherboard and touchpad board. I.e. single wire, one end to motherboard's ground, other end to touchpad board's ground. You can find ground pad on touchpad board by tracking corrsponding wire in flexible flat cable, and solder additional wire in parallel.

Rolfi

Member

Registered: 2026-08-14

Posts: 3

Re: erratic Synaptics touchpad / clickpad

Sorry for digging an old post. I would like to ping @rallyemax this way.

Rolfi

Member

Registered: 2026-08-14

Posts: 3

Re: erratic Synaptics touchpad / clickpad

I’m not sure which components to solder on the touchpad.

The original post talks about joining grounds on motherboard and touchpad board. I.e. single wire, one end to motherboard's ground, other end to touchpad board's ground. You can find ground pad on touchpad board by tracking corrsponding wire in flexible flat cable, and solder additional wire in parallel.

Thanks a lot for this precision. I will check that ASAP.

Thor-x86

Member

From: Java Island, Indonesia

Registered: 2021-10-15

Posts: 27

Website

Re: erratic Synaptics touchpad / clickpad

Embedded system engineer here. You supposed to not add extra ground wire except if the ground wire in the ribbon cable got damaged. Typically, there are two reasons:

1. If it's only happening while charging, that means your laptop charger has earthing issue. Since you already have soldering skill, I suggest you to craft your own USB grounding cable.

2. or, if it always happen, that means your touchpad is either poorly designed or about to break. The only solution is by software: https://askubuntu.com/a/456333/1109616. Drawback? Your touchpad will feel heavier than it used to be.

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Stay curious,
Eric
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