En Windows, Especially in portable, it is common to find a software called ETD Control Center, and users often wonder about its function, whether it is a necessary component, or whether it is safe to uninstall. This program has caused doubts and confusion as it is sometimes wrongly detected as a virus, but in fact it has a legitimate purpose. In this article we will break down all the information regarding the ETD Control Center and how it affects the performance of your PC. We will also explore whether it is worth disabling or removing.
El ETD Control Center It is mainly related to the drivers of the touchpad on your laptop, that is, the area you use to move the cursor if you don’t have a mouse connected. However, it is not uncommon for this software to consume computer resources or for a message to appear stating that it is “not responding.” Below, we will see exactly what this program is, how you can manage it, and whether it is safe to disable it on your computer.
What is the ETD Control Center?
El ETD Control Center, created by ELAN Microelectronics, is an application that comes installed on many modern laptops. Its main function is to manage the multi-touch gestures of the ELAN touchpad, allowing, for example, two-finger scrolling or pinch-zooming, just like you would on a smartphoneIn short, it is a driver that optimizes the use of the touchpad to offer more advanced functions than the basic ones.
However, in some cases, this program may cause performance issues such as a high cpu usage or be misidentified by antivirus as a threat. This raises a legitimate question as to whether it should be removed.
Is it safe to remove ETD Control Center?
Whether or not you remove this program depends on your needs. In general, getting rid of it won't affect basic touchpad usage, but you will lose certain advanced features like multi-touch gestures. So, if you don't use these types of gestures and it's causing you performance issues, it's not a bad idea to remove it.
To remove it, you can follow these steps:
- Open the Control panel on your computer.
- Go to Programs and Features.
- Search ETD Control Center in the list and select uninstall.
If you'd rather keep multi-touch capabilities but don't want it to constantly consume resources, there's also the option to disable the program without removing it completely.
How to disable ETD Control Center startup
The best option for those who do not want to remove the ETD Control Center es disable it from startup, which means it won't run automatically every time you turn on your computer, but it will still be available in case you want to use its multi-touch features.
To disable it:
- Right click on the taskbar and select Task Manager.
- Go to the tab Home.
- Locate the ETD Control Center, right click on it and select Deactivate.
This way the program will stop loading when the system starts, but you will not permanently lose your capabilities, as you can enable it again whenever you need to. This is particularly useful if you notice that the app is causing performance issues but you don't want to uninstall it completely.
Update touchpad drivers
If you decide to delete the ETD Control Center, it is important to note that the touchpad may lose advanced functionality. Your laptop will then use the basic touchpad drivers provided by Windows for simple tasks. To avoid problems with the touchpad after uninstallation, it is recommended update drivers.
To update the touchpad driver:
- Open the Device administrator.
- Find the section Mice and other pointing devices and displays the list.
- Right click on it ELAN Touchpad Driver and select Update Driver.
- Choose the option Automatically search for driver software and follow the instructions.
This will ensure that even if you delete the program, the touchpad works properly using the built-in Windows drivers.
Possible issues related to the ETD Control Center
In some cases, users have reported that the ETD Control Center consumes a lot of CPU resources, which can affect the overall performance of the system. This is sometimes due to the program conflicting with other processes or simply due to software glitches.
A recommended solution is to remove it completely if you don't need its advanced features. A common error mentioned is that the app doesn't respond when you try to open it, but this shouldn't be a cause for security concern.
Can ETD Control Center be a virus?
In most cases, ETD Control Center is not a virus. It is a legitimate program, although there have been situations where it is detected as a threat due to false positives by some antivirus programs. Still, this file can be dangerous if located in a suspicious folderas the C:\Windows o C:\Windows\System32, since viruses often disguise themselves as legitimate files.
If you have suspicions, it is advisable to do a full system scan with an up-to-date antivirus program to make sure everything is in order. Additionally, you can use security task managers to verify if this file is genuine.
In case you detect that it is a virus, remove it immediately and make sure you have a reliable antivirus to avoid future problems.
To avoid any risk, we recommend regularly scanning your system and making sure that the files on your computer are authentic.
Also, if you are using an Asus or similar laptop and you notice that the CPU usage is high, you might have a problem with ETD Control CenterSome recommendations to fix this problem include updating or removing related software, such as Asus Smart Gesture.
Ultimately, if you don't need the advanced touchpad gestures and are having issues with the program, removing it may be the best option.
- The ETD Control Center manages multi-touch touchpad gestures.
- The program can be disabled without losing functionality, or uninstalled completely.
- Update your touchpad drivers if you decide to uninstall ETD Control Center.
I'm Alberto Navarro and I'm passionate about everything related to technology, from cutting-edge gadgets to software and video games of all kinds. My interest in digital began with video games and continued in the world of digital marketing. I have been writing about the digital world on different platforms since 2019, sharing the latest news in the sector. I also try to write in an original way so that you can stay up to date while having fun.
I studied Sociology at university and completed my studies with a Master's in Digital Marketing. So if you have any questions, I'll share with you all my experience in the world of digital marketing, technology and video games.