SFinger

SFinger adds two finger scrolling support to synaptics touchpads / trackpads that support multitouch on windows.

How it works

Synaptics provides drivers and an SDK http://www.synaptics.com/sites/default/files/SynCOMAPIv1_0.zip for working with their trackpads. When you install the manufacturer provided drivers, they install the drivers and essential files into C:\Windows\System32\ and drops helper executables / dlls into C:\Program Files\Synaptics.

The helper applications (if provided) are usually SynTPEnh.exe, Syn*.exe that run the background when windows starts. They setup windows to auto launch SynTpEnh.exe by writing to the registry, SynTPEnh.exe internally uses the synaptics sdk to translate gestures into things like scroll, zoom, applicaiton launch etc. A control panel applet is also provided to configure SynTPEnh.exe. In the case of a two finger scroll, SynTPEnh.exe simply translates the two finger down and finger move data that the SDK provides into windows mouse wheel messages.

The Problem

A. The two finger scroll implemention in the helper is bad and barely works - often failing to detect a scroll and is complicated / bloated with unnecessary gestures.
B. The Synaptics driver runs 3 processes in the background to implement gesture recognition and other features.
C. Everytime you scroll there is a really annoying cursor on screen.

The Solution

What if we wrote a simple program, one that is so light weight that it doesn't even have a GUI. Use the synaptics sdk like SynTPEnh.exe does and implement two finger scrolling only. Then we can simply delete all the helper Syn*.exe applications and have a pleasent scrolling experience that acually works. SFinger is that application.

Installation

1. Download Sfinger.exe

2. Place SFinger.exe in
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\

3. Try out sfinger by
3.1 Opening task manager and killing all the Syn* processes.
3.2 Launching SFinger.exe
At this point you should be able to scroll with two fingers, but the Syn*.exe processes might launch again - when the SDK is invoked and mess things up.

4. Remove the registry entry that starts SynTpEnh.exe from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

5. Go hard core and delete the
C:\Program Files\Synaptics directory
Do not worry, You can reinstall the drivers and get this directory back.

NOTE: SFinger is provided as is, with no warranty.