Touchpad tabs missing from mouse properties settings options

[DAPoadster]

HP's knowledge base (https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03882926) indicates that I should have two tabs on the mouse properties settings scfreen for the Synaptics Touchpad.  It also says that these tabs would allow me to (1) turn the touchpad on and off by double-tapping the upper-left corner of the touchpad and (2) set up the touchpad to turn off whenever a mouse is attached to the computer.

Problem is that my mouse properties settings screen does not show either of the tabs.  All Windows and HP updates are installed and I've checked for updated drivers for the touchpad in Device Manager. 

Any ideas?

[sandytechy20]

@DAPoadster

First, restart the computer and tap on F10 during restart, once on BIOS screen, move the mouse cursor around to check if it works normally, 

If it does, it would confirm a software issue and you follow the below steps if it doesn't work on its a hardware failure and I would suggest a touchpad replacement. 

 
I recommend you to uninstall any generic synaptic drivers showing up for the touchpad (if available) under hidden devices from the device manager: 

• Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command Prompt. 

• At a command prompt, type the following command , and then press ENTER: 

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 

• Type the following command a command prompt, and then press ENTER: 

start devmgmt.msc 

• Troubleshoot the devices and drivers in Device Manager. 
  NOTE: Click Show hidden devices on the View menu in Device Manager before you can see devices that are not connected to the computer. 

• When you finish troubleshooting, close Device Manager. 

• Type exit at the command prompt. 
   
  Note that when you close the command prompt window, Window clears the devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 variable that you set in step 2 and prevents ghosted devices from being displayed when you click Show hidden devices. 

And then download a new version of the synaptic drivers using this link: Click here  

Let me know if that helps.

To thank me for my efforts to help you, please mark my post as an accepted solution so that it benefits several others.

Cheers.