Disable touchpad (was: Re: switch off auto-selection of text (or what ever it is called ..))

[robert]

> So you have an Alps driver.
>
> Another poster had a Synaptics driver.
>
> Neither of our Dell owners seems to know what trackpad they have or
> what, if any, driver they are using.
>
> As I already said: they need to make sure they're using the right driver.
>
so how would i check what touch-pad I have?
Is there a system command for it or do i have to hunt the manufacturer's 
documentation?
robert