User profile for user: Jeremy Riga
Jeremy Riga Author
User level: Level 1
35 points

Way to use both trackpad and mouse at the same time?

I would like to be able to use my trackpad for pinching, rotating, zooming, etc while using my mouse for mousing around the screen.

Is this possible?? Can't seem to find any setting for this in Sys Prefs or other.

Thanks!

2.4GHz MacBook, 4GB, 320GB 7200RPM, Mac OS X (10.5.5), 24" LED Cinema Display (Soon?)

Posted on Nov 10, 2008 3:25 PM

Reply
20 replies
User profile for user: Jeremy Riga
Jeremy Riga Author
User level: Level 1
35 points

Nov 10, 2008 5:28 PM in response to Douglas McLaughlin

Really?! No, there are no error messages - it just doesn't function. The second I plug in my Logitech Wireless USB Receiver in to my MacBook the trackpad ceases to register any inputs from me. Once unplugged the trackpad resumes normal operation.

I'm not using any Logitech drivers, just the Mac OS ones. The only thing I have running is SteerMouse - and there are no options regarding trackpad or mousing, I use it just to correct the Mac acceleration curve of the mouse.
Reply
User profile for user: Douglas McLaughlin
Douglas McLaughlin
User level: Level 9
63,786 points

Nov 11, 2008 12:38 PM in response to Jeremy Riga

Really?! No, there are no error messages - it just doesn't function.


Thanks for that. It was not clear from your original post that it wasn't functioning or what you'd tried to do already to fix the issue.

I think you have a problem with Logitech or SteerMouse then, not Mac OS X. My Apple Mighty Mouse (USB) allows me to use the trackpad as well a the Bluetooth version. There's nothing built-in to Mac OS X to prevent you from using a mouse and trackpad at the same time.

-Doug
Reply
User profile for user: Jeremy Riga
Jeremy Riga Author
User level: Level 1
35 points

Nov 12, 2008 9:45 AM in response to Douglas McLaughlin

Finally had some time today to mess with this... uninstalled SteerMouse, made sure Logitech was fully uninstalled, repaired permissions, restarted.

No luck... even plugged in my MightyMouse (wired) and tried it with that. The trackpad just will not register any inputs with any mouse plugged in.

Also created a fresh user account and switched over to that thinking it was something in my user Library causing it. But, no luck again.

I seem to remember somewhere in the Sys Prefs seeing a 'When mouse is plugged in ignore input from trackpad' but honestly can't remember where or if it was on OS X.

Any other thoughts?
Reply
User profile for user: Jeremy Riga
Jeremy Riga Author
User level: Level 1
35 points

Nov 12, 2008 3:25 PM in response to Glorfindeal

Per my previous post, I tried an Apple Mighty Mouse and the trackpad was still unable to be used while it was plugged in. Very strange.

I've always done clean installs when I get new Macs, and then transfer my files via Migration Assistant. So I would assume if something was enabled by default it would be intact on this mac. It's a MacBook and is only 1 week old.

Wish I could get this figured out!
Reply
User profile for user: JCC123
JCC123
User level: Level 1
53 points

Nov 17, 2008 3:10 PM in response to Jeremy Riga

I'm having the same issue. I used the migration assistant when I transferred my girlfriend’s old white MacBook to her new Alum MacBook. On her old White one the configuration was set so that if the mighty mouse was connected then the trackpad won’t work. I assumed erroneously I guess that the same toggle would be available to the new OS. Well, to my surprise, it isn’t. So now the mouse will disable the trackpad when it’s connected and there’s no way to toggle it!!!

I tried connecting the mouse to my new Alum MacBook Pro just to see if it defaults to enable or disable and it defaults to enable so I’m able to use BOTH the mouse AND the trackpad on my new MacBook Pro.
Reply
User profile for user: Douglas McLaughlin
Douglas McLaughlin
User level: Level 9
63,786 points

Nov 17, 2008 5:24 PM in response to Jeremy Riga

This is good, at least we've determined that it's not a hardware conflict or system/software conflict. It's fairly straightforward to troubleshoot this and you may even be able to determine exactly which preference file of yours is causing the trouble. (This won't involve the Terminal!) I would drag your entire user's "Preferences" folder to the Desktop, log out and log back, then check to see if the problem is gone. You can find the folder in this path:

<Macintosh HD>/Users/<YourUsersShortName>/Library/Preferences

A brand new "Preferences" folder will automatically be created. If that did fix the issue, you have two options. One, go on about your business and reset all your preferences as needed from inside each application. (This might be the simplest thing to do, as your pictures in iPhoto and music in iTunes should not be affected.) Two, drag a few preference files from the folder on your Desktop into the newly created Preferences folder in your Library folder, log out and log back in and see if it's still working. By doing this, you may be able to determine exactly which preference file is blocking the use of both the trackpad and mouse at the same time. Personally, I think it's easier to manually reset all the preferences from each application.

-Doug
Reply
User profile for user: Kurnalbert
Kurnalbert
User level: Level 1
0 points

Nov 20, 2008 5:26 PM in response to Jeremy Riga

I am having the exact same issue on my brand new Macbook. I transferred my user account from my old White Macbook to this new one and now the trackpad disables itself when a mouse is plugged in.

Does anybody have any idea what preference file to delete to fix this? I tried deleting com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist which reset some of my mouse settings but didn't fix the trackpad issue. Anyone else have any ideas?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is starting to annoy me now.
Reply
User profile for user: Jeremy Riga
Jeremy Riga Author
User level: Level 1
35 points

Nov 21, 2008 9:00 AM in response to Douglas McLaughlin

Yes - I did see the post, thanks for following up too!

Unfortunately, this issue isn't severe enough for me to have to go through what happened when I removed all the plist files. Adobe CS3 asked to be resinstalled (which takes forever, then must be updated all over again, which takes twice as long as forever). Most of my other apps (CandyBar, Transmit, etc) all asked for new serial numbers - which is fine, but taking the time to go to each website and ask for my serial to be resent wasn't an option this week.

My current plan is to remove PLIST files that sound like they pertain to the trackpad 1 at a time until I get the magic one.
Reply
User profile for user: Douglas McLaughlin
Douglas McLaughlin
User level: Level 9
63,786 points

Nov 21, 2008 11:34 AM in response to Jeremy Riga

Sure, you can attempt to find the .plist file by removing them all and then putting them back one by one or pulling them out one by one...

But, you can move the whole folder to you Desktop, log out log back in and see if you still have the issue. Whether or not it's fixed, you can move the folder from your Desktop back into the Library folder. (You may have to delete the new one first.) If nothing else, you can determine if a preference file is the culprit and then put all your preference files back.

-Doug
Reply
User profile for user: Jeremy Riga
Jeremy Riga Author
User level: Level 1
35 points

Nov 21, 2008 1:35 PM in response to Douglas McLaughlin

This ended up not working out well for me. Moving the Prefs folder to the desktop was easy enough, but once I logged out and back in I've had some serious issues.

For one, the problem isn't fixed. Even though a brand new prefs folder was created, the trackpad was still ignored after a logout and a restart, but just for my user account. The test account I created still does not display the issue.

Second, the system would not allow me to replace the prefs folder again - it asked me to login, I did, and then it copied all the prefs back in to the User/Libray/Prefs folder like it should. Upon logout and restart, then login, none of the prefs seem to be working. My desktop is trashed, files everywhere. The dock prefs are also messed up. Mail lost all my mail accounts and can't find them. Adobe CS3 has asked me to "Reinstall from the CD". etc etc etc

I do NOT recommend anyone to remove your Prefs folder for any reason.

I finally gave up and had to login as 'root', manually delete the /User/Libray/Prefs folder, then resinstall it from a copy I had (wisely) made just in case. This fixed SOME issues, but not all. The permissions on the Prefs folder is now wrong and even though I am logged in as a Sys Admin under my user account, OS X still says I do not have permissions to change my own Prefs Folder.

I can get that sorted out. Back to the trackpad issue; What we know so far:
1. A new user account enables the use of the trackpad and mouse at the same time.
2. The issue is not in a preference file in /User/Library/Preferences
3. Moving the Prefs folder is a very dangerous operation while logged in.

Any new ideas??
Reply

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Way to use both trackpad and mouse at the same time?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up