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Enabling trackpad cannibalizes the trackpoint

T60/T61 Series
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dcfbf
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Joined: Wed May 01, 2024 7:28 pm
Location: Jurupa Valley, California

Enabling trackpad cannibalizes the trackpoint

#1 Post by dcfbf » Tue Nov 25, 2025 4:59 pm

This is a strange one:
I'm currently using the T61 4:3 that I'm going to frankenpad, but it seems whenever I enable the trackpad, the trackpoint and trackpad both get disabled.

I've tried to reset the bios and install drivers in windows, use linux, but nothing seems to work.

Something that I have noticed is that there's only options for "automatic" and "disabled" but not "enabled" in the bios.
Is there a way to get the enabled option?

Is my trackpad just broken?
If so, can I try a T60 palmrest with trackpad to test or will that cause any issues?

I don't need the trackpad. It is just nice to have.
IBM: 760ED, 600E, 570, T23, X30, T40, G41, T43 SATA, T43 UXGA, R52 IPS SXGA+
Lenovo: X41t, T60p UXGA, R60, T60, T61 4:3, T61, X61 SXGA+, T500, X301, E40, X201t, W520, X220, T430, W541, T450s, Yoga 460, P71, X1 Carbon 6, T480, T14 G3, X1 Carbon 12

Current Dailies: X1C6, P71

axur-delmeria
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Location: Metro Manila, Philippines

Re: Enabling trackpad cannibalizes the trackpoint

#2 Post by axur-delmeria » Tue Nov 25, 2025 11:02 pm

The Trackpoint and touchpad share the PS/2 port. One of them misbehaving will affect the other.

Yes, you can try the T60 touchpad on the T61.
Planned Purchase: T480s i5-8350 FHD Touch
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons :lol:
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E :cry:

Glaurung-quena
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Re: Enabling trackpad cannibalizes the trackpoint

#3 Post by Glaurung-quena » Thu Nov 27, 2025 6:09 pm

dcfbf wrote:
Tue Nov 25, 2025 4:59 pm
This is a strange one:
I'm currently using the T61 4:3 that I'm going to frankenpad, but it seems whenever I enable the trackpad, the trackpoint and trackpad both get disabled.

I've tried to reset the bios and install drivers in windows, use linux, but nothing seems to work.

Something that I have noticed is that there's only options for "automatic" and "disabled" but not "enabled" in the bios.
Is there a way to get the enabled option?

Is my trackpad just broken?
If so, can I try a T60 palmrest with trackpad to test or will that cause any issues?

I don't need the trackpad. It is just nice to have.
Yes, the T60 palmrest will function if plugged into the T61. I have done this.

Another possibility is that the keyboard's trackpoint is misbehaving in a way that affects the trackpad (I think I've seen this happen once). If swapping the palmrest doesn't help, try swapping the keyboard.

dcfbf
Sophomore Member
Posts: 139
Joined: Wed May 01, 2024 7:28 pm
Location: Jurupa Valley, California

Re: Enabling trackpad cannibalizes the trackpoint

#4 Post by dcfbf » Thu Nov 27, 2025 8:51 pm

Glaurung-quena wrote:
Thu Nov 27, 2025 6:09 pm
Another possibility is that the keyboard's trackpoint is misbehaving in a way that affects the trackpad (I think I've seen this happen once). If swapping the palmrest doesn't help, try swapping the keyboard.
I've tried with a keyboard from my other T61 and it still has the same issue. I think I'll wait for the T60 15 inch that will come tomorrow to test if it really is the trackpad issue.
I do have another T60 but just in case the motherboard is actually the one that's not good, I don't want to risk damaging that one's trackpad.
IBM: 760ED, 600E, 570, T23, X30, T40, G41, T43 SATA, T43 UXGA, R52 IPS SXGA+
Lenovo: X41t, T60p UXGA, R60, T60, T61 4:3, T61, X61 SXGA+, T500, X301, E40, X201t, W520, X220, T430, W541, T450s, Yoga 460, P71, X1 Carbon 6, T480, T14 G3, X1 Carbon 12

Current Dailies: X1C6, P71

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