2. Synaptics installation:

On Ubuntu Dapper and Edgy and Debian Testing and Unstable, you need to install the package xserver-xorg-input-synaptics:
$sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-input-synaptics
Ubuntu Breezy and Debian Stable require xfree86-driver-synaptics:
$sudo apt-get install xfree86-driver-synaptics
Now, there is one thing to keep in mind: there is 2 types of touchpad out there:

• synaptics
• ALPSPS/2 ALPS GlidePoint

In order to know which one is yours, produce the following command line:
$ cat /proc/bus/input/devices
and check for the line where Name is either synaptics or ALPS. My laptop produce the following result:
I: Bus=0011 Vendor=0002 Product=0008 Version=7322
N: Name="AlpsPS/2 ALPS GlidePoint"
P: Phys=isa0060/serio4/input0
S: Sysfs=/class/input/input3
H: Handlers=mouse2 ts2 event3
B: EV=f
B: KEY=420 0 670000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B: REL=3
B: ABS=1000003
So basically, It is a Alps touchpad.

Okie, now it is time to edit and configure your xorg configuration file.

Table of Content:
Setting up Touchpad on a Laptop: Introduction
Setting up Touchpad on a Laptop: Configuration
Setting up Touchpad on a Laptop: Explanation
Setting up Touchpad on a Laptop: How to use it, conclusion and links