I finally got sick of the damn touchpad on my laptop automatically clicking stuff without my finger even being on the button, so after hunting on Google for phrases like “auto click,” “random click” and “phantom clicking,” I finally figured it out. Synaptics touchpads have a tap-mode “feature” for auto-clicking whenever you tap the touchpad. It’s so sensitive that it’s triggered by casual movement of the mouse. I’d find myself randomly opening up links and selecting half a page of text.
I’ve been able to deduce from various Google hits that there’s an option to turn this off somewhere in Windows’ control panel.
But, like most things in Linux, it takes a little bit more effort.
1. As root (either by logging in as root, or with sudo), open up /etc/X11/xorg.conf with your text editor of choice.
2. Find the section labeled: Section “InputDevice” and within that section, look for Option “MaxTapTime” “180″
That option may have a different time; if so, change it to “0″, and if it’s not there at all, then add it like this: Option “MaxTapTime” “0″
Note: I’m using the synaptics driver (identified by Driver “synaptics”). I don’t know how or even if it’ll work with other drivers.
3. Save the file, and restart X either by logging out the same way you normally do, or by simultaneously hitting Ctrl+Alt+Backspace.
Now you should no longer be able to select things by tapping repeatedly on the touchpad!
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