Dell Vostro A860 Touchpad Issue

You can remove or change the Window's User or administrator's password. You need access to a computer with Internet access to download the Hiren's Boot CD and burn it onto a CD. Then insert this CD into the laptop/computer and boot up the laptop/computer with the Hiren's CD and follow the instructions. There are very useful utilities CD and it a Linux boot CD which contains quite a lot of Utility programs including a password removal program. Click on one of these links to download HIREN'S BOOTCD :- http://www.hirensbootcd.net/ http://67.20.82.163/

It is the screen Inverter, or the LCD screen itself.

Screen Inverter: A small circuit board located behind the Display Bezel, and mounted towards the bottom of the LCD screen,

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/vosA860/en/sm/display.htm#wp1183775

The yellowish long object, at the bottom, is the screen Inverter.

Here is another look at it,

http://www.batterycenturys.com/dell-vostro-a860-inverter-p-185294.html

Dell Support > Vostro a860 Notebook PC > Service Manual,

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/vosA860/en/sm/index.htm

In the list clicking on -> Display, will get you to the first link above.

Need guidance in replacing the screen Inverter, post in a Comment.

(Just a basic guide using a Vostro 1014/1015 Notebook PC. Not yours, but good for basic guidance. This is replacing the LCD screen,

http://www.insidemylaptop.com/replace-lcd-screen-dell-vostro-1015-1014-laptop/ )

[ Primer:
An LCD screen cannot produce light by itself,

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/NA_Optical/Systems/BehindTheScenes/Optics101/

( Click on the small window with the monitor in it )

It needs an additional light source. A Backlight is the additional light source.
A Backlight can be a CCFL, (or more than one), or a series of LED's used as lights.

The Dell Vostro a860 Notebook PC uses one CCFL, for a Backlight, OR there are Vostro a860's that use LED lights.
(If you replace the LCD screen, make sure FIRST of what type of Backlighting it uses)

A CCFL is a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp. Similar to Fluorescent lighting used in homes, and businesses, but on a MUCH smaller scale.

[Average thickness of a CCFL is 2mm. That is a little larger than 1/16th of an Inch.
Average length is almost as long, as the LCD screen is in height ]

A screen Inverter is used to convert the power from the laptop, for the Backlight, and LCD screen.

Most of the time the fault is the screen Inverter.

The Vostro a860 Notebook PC's, that uses LED's as a Backlight, MAY also use a screen Inverter.

Primer over.

For your problem it could be the screen Inverter, but I lean more towards the LCD screen itself, is the problem.

How to test a screen Inverter? Requires a very sensitive multimeter.
Read; Expensive,

http://www.fonerbooks.com/test.htm

For a layman who does not have access to a sensitive multimeter, the method is to just replace the screen Inverter, and see if it is the problem.
'Parts changing', I know, but if you do not have the proper equipment to test with?

Screen Inverter replaced, and problem still persists, replace the LCD screen,

http://www.laptopscreen.com/English/model/Dell/VOSTRO~A860/

For additional questions please post in a Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette

What you can initially do is to update the driver.

1. Press on the windows key + R. A run box will appear.
2. Type devmgmt.msc then click on ok. The device manage will appear.

1. Click on the plus sign besides mice and other pointing devices.
2. Right click on the item that will be pertaining to your touch pad.
3. Choose update driver and let the internet work for you.

If this does not work, you will need to totally reinstall the driver.

1. On the same screen (device manager) right click on the touch pad driver again, the choose uninstall.
2. follow the prompts for uninstallation. You might wanna uninstall any mouse related drivers as well (these application can also cause conflicts thus causing your touch pad not to work)
3. download the touch pad driver available from the link I provided below.
4. follow the prompts for installation.
5. restart

Dell Vostro Driver list (click here to view all available drivers for your portable system)
Dell Vostro Touch Pad Driver (click here to download the touch pad driver)
It this does not work, you will need to call Dell Technical Support to have the laptop serviced. That is if the portable still has warranty. If not, then you will need to buy a USB mouse as a replacement.
for additional information visit Dell support website: support.dell.com

You can download the drivers from Dell WEB site, thesupport download page. Make sure you select your model desktop or laptop,better still, type in the Service Tag number, it is printed on the label on thebottom of the laptop and on the back or sides of a desktop. (If the Service Taglabel is missing then go into the BIOS setting and on one of the BIOS pages,the Service Tag number will be displayed). This will open the page where thespecific drivers for your model computer are located. Also make sure you selectthe Windows XP or Vista version of the drivers for your Windows operatingsystem. Click on this link to download the drivers: - http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen

Due to the shock, your laptop may have broken and have displaced parts and the fan/ heat sink etc might not be working. Over heating can cause further damage. Hence, it is strongly recommended that you immediately seek professional assistance to avoid any permanent damage to the system

GoodLuck!
Dont forget to appreciate the solution if I could have been of any help!
CreativeTECH

Hi,
you can download all the driver for your Dell vostro A860 notebook from here follow this link to download the drivers,
http://www.getpcmemory.com/drivers/dell-vostro-a860-download-dell-vostro-a860-notebook-windows-xp-drivers/

this will solve your laptop driver problem
Thank you for using Fixya.

Regards
Manish

you need the following to resolve this issue, your service tag number its written under the laptop, after you have retrieved it , go www.dell.com, or http:// support.dell.com and folow the instructions

go to support.dell.com and click on drivers and downloads and enter in your service tag and update drivers like bios and mobile chipset.

You can go to this link. Look under the drivers section and plug in your service tag ID. Then select drivers and downloads for Windows XP.

You can download the drivers from Dell WEB site, the support download page. Make sure you select your model laptop, better still, type in the Service Tag number, it is printed on the label on the bottom of the laptop. This will open the page where the specific drivers for your model laptop are located. Also make sure you select the Windows XP version of the driver for the Windows XP operating system.
Click on this link :-
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen