FIX LOST SYNAPTICS TOUCHPAD USER SETTINGS + DRIVER --- WINDOWS 10 + MOST LIKELY WINDOWS 11:

[Simonics]

ISSUES:

- I recently found answers to Synaptics touchpad issues, that are not on this forum

- Lost user settings:  momentum glide, pinch zoom, 2 finger slide for scroll, etc [called Synaptics Touchpad Enhancements]

+ Difficulty opening Synaptics Control Panel, and when open it, a dialogue box mentions lost driver.

- Windows 10 64 bit, but may also apply to Windows 11.

- My HP Omen is 8th Gen CPU - There will be more up to date drivers on HP support site specific for newer PCs and CPUs, eg 10th Gen comet lake, etc.

- Solution: Manually install Microsoft drivers rather than off HP support website for my older model PC.

- I don’t know if this is now a wider issue with all HP touchpad drivers or just older ones.

- Microsoft drivers are digitally signed for security, and acceptance by Device Manager.

- HP touchpad drivers off HP Support site didn’t install, via Device Manager.

- Maybe older drivers for older PC models in HP support site have expired digital signatures?

- Synaptics Touchpads have history of security flaws, so could also be Windows security issue.

- Also, Synaptics Touchpad Control Panel moved from Windows Control Panel in Windows 10 a while ago, which may be an issue too.

- Changing items manually in the Registry does not work long-term.

- Installing drivers via Device Manager ensures registry is updated to correct version, but does not seem to update driver version appearing on Synaptics Touchpad Control Panel.

- In my case there is a disconnect between Synaptics Touchpad Control Panel and Windows core parts [Device Manager and Registry].

- It may be newer Windows security dealing with past flawed drivers. Synaptics has a history.

- This may be a disconnect between HP drivers and Windows, with old driver version number left over from a past HP driver.

- It may be due to Synaptics Touchpad Control Panel moving from Windows Control Panel.

- Device Manager detects the driver setup file with the .inf extension, in the driver folder.

- This is why drivers need to be extracted first to a new folder to be detected by Device Manager.

- It may take a few times for Device Manager to detect the extracted driver, as mentioned in detailed instructions below.

- Best Install Method - Microsoft Drivers Using Device Manager ‘Have Disk’ Method:

• Check touchpad hardware device ID with Device Manager
• Download matching hardware ID touchpad drivers from Microsoft Catalog Website, [as .cab file]

• Do manual driver install with Device Manager ‘Have Disk’ Method

• Restart PC and do settings in Touchpad Control Panel
• These settings should then be retained after future restart of PC.

- [I also tried to update drivers with Device Manager and Windows Updates in Settings, but it didn’t work].

ANSWERS:

- In the details below, you will have your own touchpad device, hardware ID, driver numbers, etc.

- I have used my examples to show you the method.

1)  FIND SYNAPTICS TOUCHPAD CONTROL PANEL:

• Type ‘Synaptics’ into Windows search bar, and pin to Start Menu
• [Synaptics Touchpad Control Panel moved from Windows Control Panel long time ago]
• If Synaptics Start Menu tile not work, then just use Windows search bar in taskbar

2)  OPEN SYNAPTICS TOUCHPAD CONTROL PANEL:

• If issues opening, may need to repeat from beginning a few times.
• Right Click Touchpad Control Panel saved in Start Menu Tiles - Click More - Click Run as administrator
• [If not work, type ‘Synaptics’ into Windows search bar - Right Click - Click Run as administrator]
• Click Yes, allow changes on this PC
• May see dialog box 'PC can't find driver. Uninstall Driver?’
• = Click ‘Yes’ button = Uninstalls driver [Not sure what driver is uninstalled] - Touchpad Control Panel opens - Close it
• After, when re-open Synaptics Touchpad Icon it opens immediately.
• Version Driver not change on Touchpad Control Panel [even when later install different driver].
• Uninstalled driver may be older HP driver that conflicts with Windows newer security measures perhaps?
• After this, will need install updated driver

3)  DOWNLOAD SYNAPTICS DRIVERS FROM MS CATALOG:

• Some forums say Microsoft Touchpad Drivers work now where HP support drivers don’t.
•  
• (1) HARDWARE ID OF DRIVER ETC:

• Right Click Start Menu Button [or Win key + X on keyboard] - Device Manager - Mouse and Pointing Devices - Right Click touchpad device [eg 'Synaptics SMBus Touchpad'] - Properties - Details tab - Note Device Description [eg 'Synaptics SMBus Touchpad'], then Scroll down to ‘Hardware IDs’ - Note down hardware ID [eg ACPI\SYN327C in my case] - Close window - Close window

•  
• (2) MS CATALOG DOWNLOADS:
• Go to catalog.update.microsoft.com

• Search touchpad device [eg 'Synaptics SMBus TouchPad'] Top right corner = list drivers appears

• Latest drivers [in my case] are eg:
• Synaptics - Mouse - 19.5.35.58:
• Windows 10, Vibranium and later, Upgrade & Servicing Drivers  
• Last Updated 8/17/2020
• Synaptics - Mouse - 19.5.35.61:
• Windows 10, Vibranium and later, Upgrade & Servicing Drivers  
• Last Updated 11/1/2020    
• Windows 10 1903 = May 2019 Update, [successor to Windows 10 1809] = Earlier drivers before these above
• Windows 10 Vibranium = codename for Windows 10 version 2004, released May 2020
• Start with highest number driver left to right, which should be latest
• Note what kind of driver it is, eg upgrade and servicing [should be better], or just servicing.
• [Best to download and install ‘upgrade and servicing’ driver, and also later dated ‘servicing’ driver if there is another driver of the same driver number.]
• Click blue link on left ‘Title’ column = Update details
• - Overview Tab should have Driver model [looking for 'Synaptics SMBus Touchpad' in my case]
• - Click ‘package details’ tab - See if ‘supported hardware id’ matches your Device Manager hardware ID [eg acpi\syn327c in my case].
• If hardware ID matches, Click ‘Download’ button on right - On Download details panel, Click blue link with .cab at end, which will download to Downloads folder on your PC

4)  MANUAL INSTALL TOUCHPAD DRIVER FROM MS CATALOG .CAB FILE - USING DEVICE MANAGER:

• Better to install the 2 latest drivers in order, in case latest one fails at some point, then got another option to ‘roll back’ on, stored in Device Manager Touchpad Driver List
• [eg in my case Install driver 19.5.35.58 first, restart PC, then driver 19.5.35.61, restart PC]
•  
• PROCESS:
• Extract .cab file contents to a new folder
• Open Device Manager in administrator mode
• Right Click the mouse / pointing device, select ‘Update Driver’

• Click 'Browse my computer for drivers' option
• Click ‘Pick from list of available drivers on my PC’ option
• Click ‘Have Disk’ Button - Click ‘Browse’ button 
• Browse to the extracted folder with.inf driver setup file and Click Open - Next = installs driver.
• Restart PC
• Check if Device Manager, Synaptics Touchpad Control Panel, Registry updated to new driver versions.
• Do settings in Touchpad Control Panel
• These settings should then be retained after future restarts of PC

•  
• INSTALL FIRST SYNAPTICS DRIVER [eg VN 19.5.35.58 FROM MS CATALOG]:
• (1)  EXTRACT .CAB FILE:
• Open File Explorer - Browse to the folder with the driver cabinet file.
• Double Click .cab file to open it, [or Right Click .cab file, select ‘Open’].
• Select all contents ['Ctrl + A' keys].
• Right Click the selection and select Extract option.
• Select or create the destination folder to extract the files to [eg in new folder in Downloads Folder].
• Make new folder with ‘New Folder’ button, name it and open it [eg ‘New folder58’]
• Click Extract button.
• Make sure to click File Explorer View Tab - Tick ‘Show File Extensions’ [Untick it at end of all installs]
•  
• (2)  INSTALL DRIVER USING DEVICE MANAGER ‘HAVE DISK’ OPTION:
• Click Start Menu Button [or press Win key] - Open Windows Administrative Tools - Right click ‘Computer Management’ - Click ‘More’ - Click ‘Run as administrator’ - Device Manager - Mouse and Pointing Devices
• Right Click the device [eg 'Synaptics SMBus Touchpad'] and select ‘Update driver’.
• Click ‘Browse my computer for drivers’ option.
• Click ‘Pick from list of available drivers on my PC’ option
• Click ‘Have Disk’ Button - Click ‘Browse’ button to go to Manufacturer’s files to copy Manufacturer’s files
• Click on folder with .inf file extension [and ONCE on .inf [driver setup] file itself if needed] - Click ‘Open’ button
• May say:
• i) ‘Got best driver already installed’ = not install
• Click ‘OK’
• [May have to do this latest ‘Browse’ button a few times to get it to work, and detect .inf file/s!]
• ii)  Or says ‘This driver digitally signed’ = will install
•  Click ‘Next’ button = Installs
• [Device Manager detects and installs driver components to set up touchpad device].
• ‘Restart PC’ after = Click ‘Yes’
•  
• (3)  CHECKS:
• Check if Device Manager, Synaptics Touchpad Control Panel, Registry updated to new driver versions:
• My case example shown below:
• Device Manager - Mouse + Pointing Devices - Double Click Synaptics Touchpad - Driver Tab now shows driver Vn 19.5.35.58  driver dated 18/08/2020
• Also, Driver Tab - Update Driver - Browse - Pick List Available Stored Drivers = now shows new driver Vn in list  19.5.35.58  driver dated 18/08/2020
• This list can be used to rollback to a previous driver Vn
• An older driver in the list 19.5.35.47 has now gone, which is fine
• I notice a much older driver 19.5.10.68 dated 17 April 2018, which is concerning as there is a Synaptics driver security flaw for any driver up to and including 6 June 2018.
• I don’t think it can be removed, but best never to use it.
• Close window after looking at list - Do NOT press ‘Next’, as it will install any selected driver from list!
•  
• Synaptics Touchpad Control Panel = Ignore version showing here = For me shows past Driver Vn number 19.5.35.54  which didn’t change after new install.
• [Driver Vn number 19.5.35.54 is not in Device Manager List of stored drivers]
• Device Manager and Registry both have correct newer driver number.
• So, a disconnect between Synaptics Touchpad Control Panel and Windows core parts [Device Manager and registry]
• Maybe newer security from Windows doesn’t accept certain numbered drivers due to security flaws in driver? Synaptics has past history of security flaws.
• Maybe relates to past drivers’ security issues [maybe HP driver], rather than MS Catalog Driver installed now. Disconnect between HP drivers and Windows?
• Or Touchpad Control Panel moving out of Windows Control Panel, got disassociated from Windows Registry and Device Manager?
•  
• Registry Key Files to check for Driver Vn + Service Vn Etc After Install:
• Search and Double Click ‘Regedit’ in Windows search bar. Navigate to:
• Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Synaptics\SynTP\Install
• ‘DriverVersion’ & ‘ServiceVersion’ files now changed to newer driver Vn 19.5.35.58 
• ‘Delete User Sttgs on Upgrade’ now changed to 0 = off
• Note that ‘DriverSuite’ = PUWP [UWP = Universal Windows Platform driver]
•  
• (4)  INSTALL LATEST SYNAPTICS DRIVER [eg VN 19.5.35.61 FROM MS CATALOG]:
• WITH DEVICE MANAGER ‘HAVE DISK’ OPTION:
• As mentioned before, better to install the 2 latest drivers in order, in case latest one fails at some point, then got another option to ‘roll back’ on, stored in Device Manager
• Now install latest driver using install notes above [eg in my case Vn 19.5.35.61 driver dated 02/11/2020] 
• [Older driver was installed first: eg 19.5.35.58 dated 18/08/2020 in notes above]
•  
• (5)  ADD TOUCHPAD SETTINGS IN SYNAPTICS TOUCHPAD CONTROL PANEL:
• Add user settings for momentum glide, pinch zoom, etc in Synaptics Touchpad Control Panel
• When press Synaptics Touchpad Control Panel, it should open immediately, and any user settings should be retained after any PC restart from now on.

[Simonics · Accepted solution]

I wrote the above post, and can confirm that it has worked for me.