How do you disable the Trackpoint Mouse Pointer (nubby button mouse) on a Dell laptop?

In the Dell touchpad driver software, there is an option to disable the TrackPoint and TouchPad.

You should be able to get to the touchpad software as follows:

Start > Settings > Control Panel > Mouse > Dell Touchpad > Device Select > Pointing Stick > Disable

This largely depends on which model of Dell laptop you have. On certain models, as long as the Dell drivers are installed, there is a hotkey for the touchpad/point that will toggle the available settings. On Latitude E7440, the hotkey is accessed by Fn+F5. Note that the F5 key has a blue icon of the touchpad:

This will toggle the TouchPoint Off, Trackpad Off, both Off, and both On, with an on-screen graphic indicating the setting.

On other models (for example the E7450), the Fn+ shortcut for this function is not present. Instead, you must use the Dell control panel to manage the nub and trackpad.

Go to C:\Program Files\DellTPad and run DellTPad.exe

Select device

Disable touchpad

You can actually pull the rubbery top of the trackpoint pointing stick off quite easily, this might help avoid the problem. There's a small grey square joystick base underneath.

I found that when the E7450 screen is closed, the trackpoint leaves a faint black circular pressure / dust mark on the screen. I've take the top of the trackpoint off to prevent any possible damage and to stop this circle being left on the screen.