elan touchpad problems

[K-frank]

I am having a problem with my mouse/touchpad/keyboard.  It is very erratic, I can't touch the keyboard or mouse without the screen blinking and somehow opening 18 gazillion apps and never once allowing me to get to where I need to go. Downloading new drivers is a good thing to know, but how do you install them if you can't make the system stop flashing, opening apps, blinking on and off at the point of where the mouse is sitting. When I move the mouse to the area to get to control panel it just flashing that one spot refuses to allow me to click anything without it opening some other app I had no intention of opening.
I have hard set the computer a dozen times, I have even reset it leaving my files in tact and nothing makes the mouse stop flashing.
Can you provide me with a step by step instruction to get to safemode or a mode to install the new drivers.  BTW i also tried hitting "esc" when I reboot the laptop, it gives me the options to reset however there is no safe mode and if I try to use the mouse something gets invoked that I have no idea what it is. Yes the mouse is also erratic when going through this startup process.  So this is not an easy set up. I would need to get to a command prompt and move the drivers from a usb to the "c" drive and then install the new drivers using the command prompt.
This only happens with my HP laptop. I had a problem recently with my 4262 something like that, printer where it just decided to go belly up for no reason. I'd really like to know if this is just something with HP products in that after a few years they can't be reliable? Please help fix my issue without wanting a few hundred bucks. I'd really be greatful.