V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r

Q: A NEW TRACKPAD DRIVER IS OUT

I've got a good news for Macbook Pro / Air owners: a new multitouch trackpad driver for Windows 7 is out.

This driver (codenamed 'Trackpad++') neither contains, nor modifies the original Apple code.
However, it relies on Apple drivers stack for raw hardware access, that's why Boot Camp 3.1 shall be installed first.

Features of the Trackpad++ driver (vs. Boot Camp 3.1 driver):

1. Improved pointer ballistics (pointer movement can be very slow or very fast, depending on the finger speed);

2. Dramatically improved two-finger scrolling experience: Mac OS X-similar (accelerated) scrolling model implemented;

3. Elimination of the most annoying Windows issue of Apple Multitouch Trackpad, i.e. false detection of drag'n'drop actions;

4. Trackpad++ Control Module for adjusting the Trackpad settings.

Supported Macbook Pro generations: Early 2008, Late 2008, Early 2009, Mid 2009;
Supported Macbook Air generations: all generations;
Supported Windows versions: Windows 7 32-bit, Windows 7 64-bit (Boot Camp 3.1 shall be installed first).

You may visit http://trackpad.powerplan7.com for details.

Just by the way: there was an extensive beta-testing phase, and a lot of volunteers have tried Trackpad++ already, so I can assure You that the driver is rock-stable.

P.S. I wrote this driver. My another project is Power Plan Assistant - a popular utility for Boot Camp-enabled Macbook Pro and Air notebooks.

Cheers, and enjoy Trackpad++, something Apple definitely have had to implement a while ago... but I know and You know - it never would...

Posted on May 21, 2010 1:05 AM

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Q: A NEW TRACKPAD DRIVER IS OUT

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  • by V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r,

    V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r Aug 30, 2013 12:03 AM in response to mauriciofromhuixquilucan
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Aug 30, 2013 12:03 AM in response to mauriciofromhuixquilucan

    @mauriciofromhuixquilucan: This is a known thing, discussed a few times through all this topic. It's Microsoft who pushes developers of the 64-bit drivers to either use test mode or pay iteratively for certification. And while the Power Plan Assistant is designed to handle this issue by itself (that's one of the reasons of it being the Trackpad++ pre-requisite), it seems like in rare cases you have to apply the fix manually. So, quite a long time ago I had cooked a simple standalone fix for this case:

     

    http://www.powerplan7.com/Windows 7 x64 SP1 Unsigned Drivers Fix.zip

     

    (If doesn't open, copy and paste ENTIRE line into browser address line)

     

    Usage: unzip, copy BOTH OF THE FILES (the fix executable and its manifest) to C:\Program Files\PowerPlanAssistant, then run the fix from PPA folder (C:\Program Files\PowerPlanAssistant). Finally, reboot.

     

    I noticed your question about horizontal scrolling. Of course, it's there and it works, but not all applications in Windows OS are capable of handling it. To check that it works, try to zoom in page in Google Chrome, then pan it. Also, a simple place to check is Windows Task Manager, e.g. Processes tab. After arranging it in the way that the horizontal scroll bar appears, it does scroll horizontally.

  • by mauriciofromhuixquilucan,

    mauriciofromhuixquilucan mauriciofromhuixquilucan Aug 30, 2013 9:46 AM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2013 9:46 AM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r

    Hi Vladimir, thanks a lot for your prompt answers. I will try with the Unsigned Drivers Fix. With regards to the horizontal scrolling issue, it definetly works for me, it was my fault not trying it with the explorer or Firefox. Thanks a lot again ! Regards !

  • by mauriciofromhuixquilucan,

    mauriciofromhuixquilucan mauriciofromhuixquilucan Aug 31, 2013 2:41 PM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 31, 2013 2:41 PM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r

    HI Vladimir, I have another problem, I think it is related to Power Plan Assistant (as a prerequisite for Trackpad++). Once Power Plan Assistant is installed my windows 7 processor power management minimum and maximum state options disappear form the power options window. That is a problem, but besides it, I suspect that my Mac was locked in a power saver state because I run Flight Simulator X and it was very slow, I could not make it run at the usual speed. Have you heard about this problem ? What could this problem come from ?

     

    Thanks and regards,

     

    Mauricio.

  • by V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r,

    V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r Aug 31, 2013 11:56 PM in response to mauriciofromhuixquilucan
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Aug 31, 2013 11:56 PM in response to mauriciofromhuixquilucan

    @mauriciofromhuixquilucan: Just to remind everybody, Power Plan Assistant is an ultimate manual and automatic power plan switcher with a compact yet very informative system Power icon replacement (optional) and lots of other goods. Since the first releases in 2009-2010, I am constantly improving this tool with the focus on the Macbook Pro / Air family (see http://powerplan7.com/features_macbook.htm). Everything is written and tested on the Macbook Pro AND Air in both Windows 7 and 8. Because of this, and because of the thousands of emails with positive feedback through these years, I am very, extremely, confident that such a defect cannot occur because of the Power Plan Assistant. Yes it can switch Power Plans, yes it can monitor battery and even manage keyboard backlight, but it cannot remove processor states, neither it can lock the certain system power scheme. Furthermore, if you even ask me how to do it, if you even pay me 1000 dollars, i don't know how to let the processor states disappear

    I suggest to try to reset SMC and PRAM, as Apple recommends in such circumstances.

     

     

    @ALL: I will soon have the very final news regarding the new zoom gesture in Trackpad++. Will make another post here soon.

     

    Cheers,

    Vladimir

  • by mauriciofromhuixquilucan,

    mauriciofromhuixquilucan mauriciofromhuixquilucan Sep 2, 2013 12:45 PM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 2, 2013 12:45 PM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r

    Vladimir, thanks a lot for your prompt response. I know the problem I am having is very wired, but knowing that you do not see any relationship with PPA, I will further investigate what the heck is going on with my system. Thanks also for your recommendation on reseting SMC and PRAM. Best regards !

     

    Mauricio.

  • by mauriciofromhuixquilucan,

    mauriciofromhuixquilucan mauriciofromhuixquilucan Sep 3, 2013 12:43 PM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 3, 2013 12:43 PM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r

    Confirmed, te problem I had with the processor power management process was not due to the installation of niether Trackpad++ nor PPA. I did a clean windows install, and then installed both apps and everything is ok. It most have concided with some missing or corrupted stuff in my installation. Thanks again.

     

    Mauricio.

  • by BodomTheVixen,

    BodomTheVixen BodomTheVixen Sep 3, 2013 2:49 PM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 3, 2013 2:49 PM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r

    How did you get Windows 7 to install on on a MBA 2013?
    My keyboard and trackpad stop responding as soon as the windows installation launches.

  • by mauriciofromhuixquilucan,

    mauriciofromhuixquilucan mauriciofromhuixquilucan Sep 3, 2013 3:16 PM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 3, 2013 3:16 PM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r

    Hi Vladimir, Trackpad++ is already a very nice and useful piece of software. Just going one step forward, would it be possible to have the sensetion of "inertia" that one gets in OS X when one stops scrolling and the page or document seems to go in the direction of scrolling for a little while, descelerating and then coming to a complete stop, you know what I mean? One can get that sensetion of inertia in Win 7 too, with the magic mouse so I thouhght it may be possible with the trackpad, using Trackpad++ of course. Thanks for your comments. Regards.

     

    Mauricio.

  • by BodomTheVixen,

    BodomTheVixen BodomTheVixen Sep 3, 2013 6:37 PM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 3, 2013 6:37 PM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r

    Hey Vladimir,

     

    Is there any way to install windows 7 on the new 2013 macbook air?
    It seems there is no native USB 3.0 drivers for windows 7 so they keyboard, mouse and trackpad all go unresponsive and langauge select screen.

     

    thanks,

    -Bodom

  • by V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r,

    V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r Sep 4, 2013 11:47 PM in response to BodomTheVixen
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Sep 4, 2013 11:47 PM in response to BodomTheVixen

    @mauriciofromhuixquilucan: The feel of inertia could be added in the future; at this moment of time user can choose between Boot Camp-like linear and Trackpad++ own accelerated scrolling with a few speed presets, and choose the scrolling direction (which now defaults to natural).

     

    @BodomTheVixen: This actually goes off-topic, but I can confirm that I installed Windows 7 on the Mid-2013 MBA. The key to succesful installation seems to be: use Boot Camp assistant utility in OS X to create bootable flash drive. When I created flash drive with other program, I couldn't install because of the same issue as yours.

  • by MurdocZero,

    MurdocZero MurdocZero Sep 4, 2013 11:53 PM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 4, 2013 11:53 PM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r

    Hey Vladimir,

     

    When will 3 finger actions be usable instead of 4 finger?

  • by V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r,

    V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r Sep 6, 2013 12:12 AM in response to MurdocZero
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 12:12 AM in response to MurdocZero

    @MurdocZero: This was the default behavior of the Trackpad++ before March 2013. 3-finger left/right swipe for back/forward navigation, 3-finger tap for middle mouse button emulation, 4-finger gestures for other goods. But then, an extremely anticipated 3-finger dragging had finally been introduced, which forced the other Trackpad++ gestures to be shifted to higher finger count. Simply because 3-finger space became totally occupied with dragging. However, I still offer people a choice: you can select to install the old 2.3d gesture set during the Trackpad++ setup procedure. As the result, you will get exactly the same features I just described (but no 3-finger dragging).

  • by Lgjmac,

    Lgjmac Lgjmac Sep 6, 2013 12:23 AM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 12:23 AM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r

    Hi Vlad, thanks again for this software and thanks for those serials.

     

    Has anyone had a problem where occasionally trackpad++ seems to detect gestures that have not taken place? For example: the start menu may pop up, as if there had been a four finger tap, but there has been none. Or it could be one of the charms bars opens. It happens often enough that I am certain that it is not me inadvertently leaning on it.

     

    I have tried reinstalling the bootcamp drivers; then reinstalling powerplant; then reinstalling trackpad++ but it has made no difference.

     

    I wonder if there is some interference problem which means that the bootcamp trackpad drivers are not being fully over-ridden by the trackpad++ drivers. For example if I change the secondary tap setting in Bootcamp, with trackpad running, this will change mouse behaviour; I would have expected this to have no effect (assuming that the bootcamp drivers are intended to be disabled and replaced by the trackpad drivers?).

     

    Thanks for your help. It is greatly appreciated.

  • by MurdocZero,

    MurdocZero MurdocZero Sep 6, 2013 3:18 AM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 3:18 AM in response to V-l-a-d-i-m-i-r

    But I guess since I'm on a mid 2013 Air I'm out of luck and need to use the 2.3b drivers? Any chance 3 finger gestures will be enabled in the near future for us haswell people?

  • by FrederiQ,

    FrederiQ FrederiQ Sep 6, 2013 12:11 PM in response to Lgjmac
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 12:11 PM in response to Lgjmac

    Hey Lgjmac. We've to wait for Vladimir's response, but since I'm on the Windows side all day I can tell you that I've never faced such behavior. Altough I use the 3-finger dragging-enabled build, maybe that makes the difference, IDK.

     

    K.R.,
    Fred

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