My dell laptop sensor pad is not responding all the time can you help

Bad touchpad. Find one on ebay and replace.

The obvious question, Has there been any damage? Take a look at this Dell procedure, it may help: http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?&docid=DSN_362066&isLegacy=true

If you have a external mouse, or you can borrow, go into device manager to see if the pad is enabled, if okay! try a system restore bringing the computer back in time before this happened, if still no luck the sensor pad maybe defective, the last option a complete recovery of the operational system to factory setting, this will prove if the sensor pad is defective, or wire ribbon might have come loose from the motherboard.

you have to replace the keyboard

here is how to do it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m25N1eZj1FQ

here is the part number to order
Item Number: 330-7359. Part Number: RRGD8

Replace the mouse with a known good working one.
If you are not using a mouse (bad news) the touch pad may be failing.
In that case, an easy test and fix is to disable it in "Control Panel" then install a mouse in the USB Port.

If the problem is corrected then it is your touch pad.

Here is a link to the manual from Dell. FREE!

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins6000/en/om/D5181bk5.pdf

See Page 42 on disabling the Touch Pad.

Go to EBay and insert "6000 Dell Inspiron touch pad". It's cheap but difficult to replace.

Press fn key and whichever function key at the top of your board that has a lock symbol on it at the same time. You're in keylock and this will disarm it.

I have the same PC and mine does that too. I don't know if this is what's going on with yours, but I know for mine that if my fingers are damp at all, or even greasy/oily/etc. from cooking, my touch pad won't respond. The next time it happens, maybe try washing and drying your hands really good.

This is a common problem with laptop touch-pads.
You will have to use an external mouse. You can purchase a USB mouse which should solve your problem.

It's probably a hardware defect ,you can take it to an authorised Dell service center and they can make you a quote ,in the meantime you can use a USB mouse.

Let's try resinstalling the touchpad software first:

If you're using XP it's HERE

If you're using Vista it's THIS ONE

Let me know if that works.