How to disable click on touch pad?

I have a laptop with a touch pad running Windows 7 for HP EliteBook 8730w. I find it really annoying that it takes clicks from the touch pad surface.

How can I disable clicks originating from the touch pad surface? I only want the surface to control mouse position and to use the explicit buttons for clicks.

For laptops in general:

Go to Control Panel, then Mouse, then click the Device Settings tab and you should see your touch pad as one of the devices. Make sure your touch pad is highlighted and click the Settings button and you will see Tapping as one of the choices.

From: http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic52389.html

If you are using a Synaptics touchpad, right-click on the touchpad icon in the notification area (system tray) and uncheck Tap to Click.

In the device settings, you can leave the touchstyk enabled, but disable its buttons. that only disables the upper touchpad buttons. you can disable the touchstyk as well. But, if you re enable it, it will automatically re enable the top buttons again. Interestingly, if you disable the touchstyk buttons, the tap-to-clik on the touchstyk is also disabled, meaning you can only point with the touchstyk. The touchpad with its lower buttons are equally available for independent enable/disable. Signed, equally annoyed by the top touchpad and touchstyck click actions while typing rapidly.