jumping mouse - callin' dr1 computer squad

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,266
363
0
dear geeks,
i have a dell laptop and i use external mouse. every time i write anything (be it word or a post on dr1) a cursor seems to be jumping about. can happen every few words or every few lines. usually cursor jumps towards the same letter and continues from then on.
not sure i explain it right... say, in a middle of a word towards a cursor will jump back to a word dell, from one d to another. sometimes it jumps out of the page completely. i write looking at the keys so i will not only note a change after few words.
i tried writing with a laptop mouse pad, the same happens. i lokked at control panel and mouse settings but i cannot see anything that would correspond to this issue.
any suggestions?
 

AlterEgo

Administrator
Staff member
Jan 9, 2009
23,097
6,247
113
South Coast
I've been having the SAME problem. I also find that sometimes while I'm typing, the whole line becomes highlighted and then gets erased. Very aggravating when it happens.

Looking forward to seeing the answers too!
 

waytogo

Moderator - North Coast Forum
Apr 3, 2009
6,407
580
113
Santiago DR
Sometimes a little bit of dirt or a piece of lint, hair, etc can cause this in the laser underneath the mouse.......
And, check your batteries......both of them....

B in Santiago
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,266
363
0
it's not the mouse. the same happens when i connect miesposo's logitech mouse, the same happens with my laptop mouse pad :(
 

waytogo

Moderator - North Coast Forum
Apr 3, 2009
6,407
580
113
Santiago DR
Does your laptop seem unusually hot.............
This can also happen if it's overheating because the fan isn't working properly..........

B in Santiago
 

Matilda

RIP Lindsay
Sep 13, 2006
5,485
338
63
I had exactly the same problem - there is a thread on it somewhere. It was because too much electricity was coming into the lap top. We were in a new house and the wiring had been done wrongly - two positives and one negative instead of positive, negative and earth. Is it the same when working on battery?

matilda
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,266
363
0
laptop is cool. it is connecetd and turned on at all times, i hardly ever switch it off.
lemme try battery only, mat, i will let you know.
 

Hillbilly

Moderator
Jan 1, 2002
18,948
514
113
I do know that my guru told me that laptops need to be turned off every now and then. It allows the systems to adjust.

I agree on the lint on the mouse. Sometimes you need to clean up inside. Or else get a cat!!

Also make sure you do not have a bunch of lint in the air intake for the fan.

Let us know is something we say works..

HB
 

cobraboy

Pro-Bono Demolition Hobbyist
Jul 24, 2004
40,964
936
113
I do know that my guru told me that laptops need to be turned off every now and then. It allows the systems to adjust.

I agree on the lint on the mouse. Sometimes you need to clean up inside. Or else get a cat!!

Also make sure you do not have a bunch of lint in the air intake for the fan.

Let us know is something we say works..

HB
The inside of a mouse can get really nasty.

Also: download and install new drivers.
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,266
363
0
ok, i tried working on battery only and my hopes rocketed but then bang, the same thing, jumping cursor.
seems to be a bit better thou when the power is on. or maybe on those rare moments when we actually HAVE power i do not write as much :)

miesposo says mouse cannot be properly cleaned, it's an optical mose, whatever that means. he also says it's a generic one so downloading new drivers does not make sense. can anyone confirm it's true? if he said he feeds my mouse cheese every full moon i'd believe it, this is how much i know about computing...

i do not touch mouse pad, i rest my palms i the side of the laptop and only move my fingers.
 

cbmitch9

Bronze
Nov 3, 2010
845
8
18
If it's a laptop and you are using an external mouse, try to disable the mouse pad (the flat surface where you put your finger to move the pointer) on the laptop. This happens to almost every single laptop that I know of, especially Dell laptops.

You can also try to download the latest mousepad driver for your laptop and if that doesn't help and you are brave enough, you can disassemble the laptop and blow out the dust and lint on the keyboard.
 
Last edited:

Hillbilly

Moderator
Jan 1, 2002
18,948
514
113
DV8: Have you talked to Marco???? A quick trip over to Sos?a might resolve this really quick...

Jus' thinkin'


HB
 

Chip

Platinum
Jul 25, 2007
16,772
429
0
Santiago
I would recommend disabling the Synaptics touch pad when the mouse is plugged in - see image below. If you don't see this box you will need to update the Synaptics driver from their webpage. If for some reason the latest generic driver won't work you can always roll the driver back. That may be a little complicated for you though.

synapticsettings.png
 

Koreano

Bronze
Jan 18, 2012
1,546
0
36
Sometimes keyboard and mouse problem can come from bad battery. Can you try without your battery and report back. I remember awhile back I was having major issues with both mouse and keyboard. Replacing battery fixed it right up.
 

james

Active member
Jan 14, 2002
407
16
38
If you are using an external and wireless mouse make sure that there is NOTHING metalic or of aluminum foil between the mouse and the USB receiver for the mouse. This can block part of the signal to the mouse and cause this exact reaction. It has happened many times to me. Remove the object between the receiver and the mouse and problem gone. Could be as small as at foil wrapper from a cookie or other food or even a large calculator made of metal or aluminum. Of course it may be something entirely different but thats my experience with similar problem. Good luck!
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,266
363
0
i downloaded and disabled a driver for a mouse pad.

now point me to a good thread so i could test it by making a lenghty contribution to a subject at hand :)
 

jrhartley

Gold
Sep 10, 2008
8,190
580
0
64
mine did the same - i had to restore the computer to a previous point in time when it worked properly
 

SKY

Gold
Apr 11, 2004
13,470
3,604
113
Try disconnecting the touch pad. It might be interfering with the mouse.
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,266
363
0
BLESS YOU DR1ERS!
success! as i said i downloaded mouse pad driver and then disabled it. worked a treat! at least so far!
laptop was also restarted (for the download). i did not do any major cleaning but i know i will probably have to change the battery and the keyboard soon.