Chromebooks coming back with non-working or disabled trackpads

[MrEprise]

Does anyone know if there is a key combination in Chrome OS or one specific to the ASUS C202X model that disables the trackpad?

 

Reason being that I had a report a few days ago of a Chromebook with a non-functioning trackpad, so I go to fetch it and sure enough it doesn't work. I've replaced it with a spare with a functioning one (and I've tested it to be sure) only to get a report of the replacement now not having a functioning trackpad and I wonder if our students know how to disable these somehow. But it does only seem to be one it's happening to.

 

I've checked our device settings and this one isn't getting anything different to the others so I'm a bit stumped as to why this is happening. I'm also slightly loathed to replace it with a third spare if it's likely to happen again.

 

EDIT: I tell a lie, this is the third one that's come back in this state, the first one it started working again after leaving the battery to go flat and charge it up again.

Edited April 27, 2021 by MrEprise

[Meldrew]

Have you tried a powerwash see if that changes anything?

[MrEprise]

No, powerwash doesn't seem to bring either back to life.

[smurfomatic]

If debugging keyboard shortcuts are on, Serch & Shift & P will turn off the trackpad:

 

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/disable-the-touchpad-on-a-google-chromebook/

[MrEprise]

If debugging keyboard shortcuts are on, Serch & Shift & P will turn off the trackpad:

 

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/disable-the-touchpad-on-a-google-chromebook/

 

If I turn them on and use the key combo, a cursor shows on screen but I still can't move it with the trackpad which is odd.

 

Maybe I'm just unlucky and these just have failing trackpads which means I'll have to send them back for repair, and use ASUS's horribly slow support portal (or at least it was just before Christmas.)

[southhamster]

Does a USB mouse work if plugged in?

[MrEprise]

Yes a USB mouse works fine.

[PrimaryNetMan]

Had similar issues with the C202SA, at one point was having 1-2 a day being reported. Ours was down to the mb / trackpad fly lead becoming damaged. Looked like a design flaw as the cable would rub against the trackpad under heavy handed presses and break.

[MrEprise]

Had similar issues with the C202SA, at one point was having 1-2 a day being reported. Ours was down to the mb / trackpad fly lead becoming damaged. Looked like a design flaw as the cable would rub against the trackpad under heavy handed presses and break.

 

Sounds like this might be it since the C202X is basically the ARM version of the C202SA (so same design more or less) and some of our students can be a bit heavy handed at times.

[Danp]

I've got some older Acer Chromebooks where the keyboards have started acting up, random keys not working. Full factory reinstall via usb sorts them out.

 

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chromebook-recovery-utili/pocpnlppkickgojjlmhdmidojbmbodfm

[caffrey]

Just had my first none working trackpad on a acer c722, barely used a week

 

Is it just an Acer thing ?

[MrEprise]

Probably not, but I bet they're all manufactured by the same OEM & if I had to hazard a guess, probably Pegatron.