Comment 28 for bug 571638

Please read all of the replies and you will find the temporary solution.

This one seems to work for me, but you shouldn't touch your on/off button otherwise this will mess it up your mouse/keyboard functionality.

Run the terminal and paste this:

gconftool-2 --set --type boolean /desktop/gnome/peripherals/touchpad/touchpad_enabled true

Then reboot your laptop. After start-up your touch-pad should work as it should.

To undo it when permanent solution will come up just paste:

gconftool-2 --set --type boolean /desktop/gnome/peripherals/touchpad/touchpad_enabled false