Brandon Live!

Update:  None of this is necessary anymore. Just install BootCamp 1.2

If you’re running Vista on a MacBook, you might be aware that installing the Apple Trackpad driver will let you scroll with the trackpad and let you right-click by holding two fingers on the trackpad and clicking the button (sadly there’s still no “tap” support, but hopefully that will come soon).  You might also be aware that if you install the driver, it fails after resuming from sleep or hibernation, meaning you have no mouse input until you reboot or go into device manager and restart the driver.

Well, neither of those options was going to work for me, so here’s my solution.  By the way, this assumes you have your machine set to be locked when it goes to sleep.

1. Download DevCon.exe (free from Microsoft.com)
2. Save it somewhere (I put it in Program Files\DevCon, but it shouldn’t matter where).
3. Open the Task Scheduler (type “task” into the start menu to find it quickly).
4. Click “Create Task” and give it a name (like “Fix stupid Apple driver”)
5. Choose a user to run the task - should be a member of the machine’s Administrators group.
6. Check the box that says “Run with highest privileges”
7. Select the option to “Run whether user is logged on or not”
8. Go to the Triggers tab and click New…
9. Select “On Workstation Unlock” from the drop-down and click OK.
10. Go to the Actions tab and click New…
11. Point it at wherever you saved Devcon.exe
12. In the “Add Arguments” field, type:  restart USB\VID_05AC&PID_021A&MI_01
13. The above string was one of the two Hardware IDs listed for my Apple Trackpad device (NOT the filter device).  It’s possible yours might vary, so check in Device Manager to make sure it’s the same, especially if this one doesn’t work.
14. Go to the Conditions tab and uncheck the box that says “Start the task only if the computer is on AC power”
15. Click OK and verify the password for the account you chose for the task to run under.

Now test it out by putting your machine to sleep and waking it up.  After unlocking it, you should find that your mouse works instantly!  Huzzah!

Yesterday I made a slightly impulsive purchase… I nabbed a black Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2.0Ghz, 120GB hard drive.  Upgraded it to 2GB memory), brought it home, and plopped down Vista Ultimate on it.  It’s up and running and nearly everything works.  I found a great guide for getting Vista running with all the right drivers for the MacBook, which is definitely helpful considering Apple’s bootcamp driver installer craps out on Vista.  Update: No longer necessary, just install BootCamp 1.2.

I’m still not 100% committed to keeping it, as I told myself when I bought it that I could take it back if I decide it’s not worth it.  But so far it’s proving itself to be a really great little PC.