You can control the laptop's mouse hardware through the Mouse Properties dialog box. Here, you find the controls for configuring and setting up your laptop's pointing device.
To access the Mouse Properties dialog box, choose Control Panel from the Start menu, and then click Mouse in the Control Panel menu. In addition to the standard mouse information, you might find a custom tab in the Mouse Properties dialog box. That's where you can configure the laptop's touch pad or custom pointing device.
If you're a southpaw, use the Buttons tab in the Mouse Properties dialog box to switch the functions of the left and right mouse buttons. Be aware, however, that most manuals refer to the main mouse button as being on the left!
You can use the Pointers tab in the Mouse Properties dialog box to change the way the mouse pointer looks on the screen. That can be a fun waste of time.
Items on the Pointer Options tab can be used to help you locate a lost mouse pointer. Settings such as Pointer Trails and Show Location can be used to help find hard-to-see mouse pointers on the laptop's display.
Note that it's possible to disable your laptop's mouse pad. Some laptops, such as some models of the HP Pavilion, might even have a mouse pad on/off switch. This is entirely acceptable if you plan on using an external mouse.