I recently picked up a Lenovo 14w, and I can't get the trackpad or mouse keys to work. EVERYTHING but the trackpad works. I tried Fedora, Ubuntu, and Elementary - which I stayed with. None of the Linux distro's are compatible with my Lenovo 14 w's trackpad. I've spent hours on this stupid thing, making me regret my purchase of an otherwise very nice laptop. I have tried numerous "fixes," which have either done nothing, or knocked out my wifi. One thing I ask: when replying, please don't tell me "download a tarball," etc., as my understanding of Linux is very basic (which is why I am putting my question here). Please give me step by step instructions, written in a way that someone with no understanding, would grasp. Thank you in advance for your time. PS: The trackpad works fine with Windows, and when navigating through the BIOS settings at startup: it's a software issue not a hardware issue.
It sounds frustrating to deal with trackpad issues across multiple Linux distributions. Since you've tried several fixes without success, here's a straightforward solution that might help you get the trackpad working in elementary OS without needing deep technical knowledge: 1. **Update Your System**: First, make sure your system is up to date, as updates often fix hardware compatibility issues. Open a terminal (you can search for it in the Applications menu) and type: ``` sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade ``` Enter your password when prompted and allow the process to complete. 2. **Install Input Driver (if not already installed)**: Most trackpad issues on Linux are related to missing input drivers. Install the `xserver-xorg-input-synaptics` package, which supports a wide range of trackpads: ``` sudo apt install xserver-xorg-input-synaptics ``` Restart your computer after installing to see if the trackpad starts working. 3. **Check for Additional Drivers**: Sometimes, proprietary drivers are needed for specific hardware. Check if there are drivers available specifically for your device in elementary OS: - Go to Applications > System Settings > About > Hardware - Look for additional drivers and install any that are recommended for the trackpad. 4. **Restart the Touchpad Service**: Sometimes, restarting the touchpad service can kickstart the hardware into working: ``` sudo modprobe -r psmouse sudo modprobe psmouse ``` 5. **Reboot Your Laptop**: After trying the above steps, reboot your laptop to apply any changes: ``` sudo reboot ``` If the trackpad still doesn't work after these steps, it might be a compatibility issue with Linux and your specific laptop model. In such cases, seeking support from the elementary OS community or a dedicated Linux forum might provide a solution tailored to your device.
