Turn a Trackpad From a Broken Laptop into a PS/2 Mouse

A friend gave me a broken HP Pavilion laptop. With just a little work, you can remove the trackpad and connect to a PS/2 or 9-pin Serial port . Connect to your PC and use as a simple mouse, or even wire to an Arduino for a unique interface for your project. You can make this project entirely from recycled parts you may just have lying around.

What you need:
-trackpad (I used a Synaptics TM41PUZ307)
-male PS/2 connector with cable (or a 9-pin serial)
-multimeter
-soldering iron
-screwdriver
-razor blade
-electrical tape

Step 1 Remove Trackpad from Laptop

Unscrew all the parts to the trackpad. Gently pry up any plastic. I used a hair dryer to help loosen the glue that held the pad to the laptop palm rest.

Comments

[yaly]

Mine is TM-00372-011 I need pinout quick

[yaly]

please PM me

[didgitalpunk]

like recordmasta001 said, how do you right clik? but first of all, is it even possible to right click?
and for my own trackpad, i used a usb-B connector(went on pinout.ru and search for the usb connector page)
and i got help from this instrutables(thanks Jamby):
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-build-your-own-USB-Keylogger/step3/Solder-First-Zone/

[hg341]

hum... any idea on how to do usb?

[Fodaro]

I believe that to adapt PS/2 to a USB port is a simple matter of connecting different pins of the PS/2 connector to pins on the USB plug. http://pinouts.ru/InputCables/usb_ps2_mouse_pinout.shtml looks like it's got a pin-out for it.

[Kasm279]

Some trackpads are USB, depends on the model, but most aren't. Only one I can think of is the MacBook line's trackpads.

[cheft]

You'd need to purchase (or build) a 'USB to PS/2 mouse and Keyboard Converter'. Or you could salvage an old mouse and piggyback this onto it.

[hg341]

hum i have a usb to ps/2 to din!

[Kasm279]

What model of HP laptop was that? Let me guess, death by overheating?

[zapskate]

i don't know for sure but ctrl click should work!? try it out

[recordmasta001]

how do you right click though?!

[etsitservice]

I like the idea, but where's the buttons? I understand that the actual touchpad unit does not contain mouse buttons, but how would they be added? Could I piggyback onto an old mouse for the button functionality?

[duckythescientist]

On my mouse pad, the ribbon cable has 6 connectors: power, ground, data, clock, and two for buttons. The mouse pad may not have buttons on it, but it probably has the inputs for buttons. (On mine, the button lines are designed for buttons that short pull up resistors to ground. The lines are also protected by double diodes that clamp stray voltages to the power and ground lines.)

[freerunnin1]

if you enable the number pad as a mouse can be done in control panel> accessibility options> mouse> use mouse keys then the 5 button will be left click and the button next to right ctrl will be left if he wires it up so he has extra buttons on the touch pad then it will be like a propper mouse :D

[comsa42]

You could also bun the cable on some models

[f86sabre]

from an old mouse, otherwise the colors do not match

[stephenniall]

Omg this is perfect i am gonna do this (have a trackpad in one of my drawers somewhere) and make a rubber pen for it n use it as a sorta mini graphics tablet

[twocvbloke]

Cool, I have a spare touchpad from the old upper casing of my Tosh. Satellite A50 (was going to respray, but got parts from a Tecra A2), and I have always wanted to make use of a touchpad on a PC!!! :D With a little work, you could make a case for the touchpad and buttons using the old laptop's casing, and a bit of wood or a project box... :) I think I shall do this, just to see if I can... :D

[jstelzer]

Any pictures of the wires all soldered and whatnot? How did you strip the ribbon wire to connect them?

[cheft]

I used the razor blade to carefully scrape the plastic on the cable. There are already small bits exposed on it, I just increased by 100%. I added a photo of the solder work. Sorry, my camera does not take close pictures well.

[stone3408]

Great job! I've been looking for this exact idea for soem time now for a specfic project. Thanks!

[CameronSS]

Cool, now I don't feel guilty about not writing it up when I did this.

<sub><sup>and I forgot to take pictures

and I mangled the soldering</sup></sub>

[munchman]

I love it. And I look forward to seeing the arduino project.

[munchman]

Nice, will do this when I can dig up that old, broken laptop. Very Cool.