When the "Tap Zone" on the Synaptics TouchPad is used to minimize the Windows Media Player, the mouse (TouchPad) pointer disappears.

This problem does not occur if you use the TouchPad pointer to select the Minimize button (at the top right corner of the window) and then click the primary mouse button (on the TouchPad), or even if you "tap" the TouchPad in the center while selecting minimize. If the Tap Zones feature is disabled (see below), the problem does not occur.

To re-display the mouse pointer, press the Enter key to close the Media Player's "mini-mode" warning, then press Alt+Tab repeatedly to select Windows Media Player. Release the keys to restore Media Player to normal size. The mouse pointer should reappear.

Consider disabling Tap Zones in the TouchPad Properties, as follows:

  1. Click Start, then Control Panel, then Printers and other Hardware, and finally Mouse. Alternately, double-click the Synaptics icon in the tasktray (systray).

 2. Select the Device Settings tab, then click the Settings button.

 3. Select Tapping, then select Tap Zones.

 4. Uncheck the box for Enable Tap Zones.

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