Dell M4800 - Track Point Not Working?

Sorry to ask a possibly stupid question, but what prevents you from claiming warranty on this problem?

 

Well I got this without warranty. If I could, I would have already haha.

STILL looking for possibility here... I am just baffled how BOTH the trackpoint itself and the buttons dedicated for trackpoint BOTH do not work. Since trackpoint is connected via keyboard into motherboard and the buttons are connected to touchpad, which is in turn connected to the motherboard.

 

Just for reference: The trackpoint does not show in device manager as a separate device. It’s all just “Dell Touchpad”.

 

MJS,

Yeah I compared it to the Latitude I have. The only way to find out if hardware is recognized, looks like is through the drivers settings. In which case, it does not even show up, which is consistent with not working.

I am worried maybe I chipped something off on motherboard? But this would still be soooo rare... I am just baffled how literally this can happen. This must be first time ever.

 

I was thinking…

While Dell seems to only sell “dual pointing keyboards” with M4800, chances are the machine is designed for the possibility of a keyboard without the trackpoint.

What if there is some setting, somewhere in a non-volatile memory the BIOS uses to hold the system configuration—and I am now using very generic terms simply to avoid having to dig up specifics… Even if you can’t see it in BIOS settings available to the user, what if there is some setting, inaccessible to the user, which might have been ‘flipped’ during re-assembly with a bit of static or whatever.

Is there a way to completely reset what the BIOS knows of the machine config? To have it completely ‘reassess’ the machine? I’m not saying such move could not have other adverse effects. You would have to do your own research.

 

Yes, true, forgot to mention this, no difference there.

The only change you've made is replace the base bottom (casing)?

And I'm sure you've used the Owner's manual to disassemble and reassemble the machine?
(ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_laptop/esuprt_precision_mobile/precision-m4800-workstation_Owner's%20Manual_en-us.pdf)

I'm sure there's a reset option in the BIOS, and you could also remove the CMOS battery in addition to that (though not sure what exactly that would do).

 

MJS, rQ

Super thanks again for the ideas.

1. Yes I did use the manual to swap out the base. And it was the chassis only that I swapped out. I double checked to make sure there was no static build, etc. I have been replacing all parts for Alienwares and Precisions so this swap job was really a routinal thing. Never had any issues with servicing on my own.

2. I just reset the bios by unplugging the battery and CMOS battery and doing power reset (holding power button for 20 seconds). I went into the bios and changed back the settings that were reverted. Still no settings for the trackpoint on the bios of course. And I have also tried flashing A09 bios (no luck) and flashed back into A06 right now. I went into the touchpad settings and made settings default again, but no luck.

3. I thought EVERY M4800 truly came with trackpoint anyways. Since it has dedicated 3 buttons just for the trackpoint.

I feel like the only plausible reason is that as I was swapping out from my old base into new base, could have harmed a small chip that controls trackpoint only? But what are the odds.... Especially with computer performing perfectly besides this issue.. I know how to disassemble to assemble Dells from Alienwares to ultrabooks to fully rugged systems and these were not hard at all to service. So I really don't think it was some kind of amateur mistake made..

Again, would love to hear some other possible things I can do. Thanks again folks!!!

 

Maybe any of this info can help you: (do note though, this is from my M6700)

 

rQ, Thanks for the screen shots again. Given how many times I flashed the bios, reinstalled the drivers, and looked around for potential setting that was hindering recognition, I don't think this is software issue. If my memory serves me right, trackpoint works in bios as well and on Windows without any drivers. At this point looks like some kind of hard wired hardware issue. I don't know what really could have triggered it to stop being recognized and run in the first place though..

I did too much Google search and I have not come up with a single issue with anyone having issue like this before. This is crazy..

 

Electronics are fragile. Things can break no matter how careful you are.


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