Problem with trackpad (palm click, and regular click not registering) on Envy 15

[slap_shot_12]

I have a Envy 15 (A7H00UA) that was sent to me as a warranty replacement for a 1st gen Envy that kept breaking down. I just got this new one and am now having problems with the trackpad. I would really like to not have to go without it - AGAIN - while it goes in for repair - AGAIN. If it goes in they will likely start with reinstalling the OS and I will end up having to start reinstalling all my programs and data, and will lose a few more days of work.

It is running Win 7 Ultimate and the problems are:

1. I keep getting 'palm-clicks' where I am typing and my palm makes contact with the touchpad and it clicks wherever the mouse happens to be. I have gone into the 'Properties for Synaptics Clickpad' and unchecked 'tapping' entirely. I have also turned smartsense up to maximum. Any suggestions for any other settings I can change to stop this from happening?

2. Sometimes the clicking doesn't work at all. So I will click the trackpad - either in the bottom left or the middle - and I can hear the click and physically feel it click, but it doesn't register at all. If I wait 10 or 15 seconds then it starts to work normally again. 

3. Sometimes it will register a click, but doesn't stop - so I will click and instead of it registering as a click it registers as a click-and-drag and doesn't release until I hit the escape key.

I've tried a physical reset (holding down the beats button and the power button for 15 seconds) but that didn't help. HP tech support said it was a hardware issue with the actual trackpad. I'm hoping there's a software solution before I send it in, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.