Cursor moves on its own.

Hi- This problem just started. I have a Toshiba laptop and replaced the keyboard. Pretty simple task. Only problem since I replaced the keyboard my mouse is acting very stangely. I am using a logitech wireless mouse.

I have searched and read similar posts of the same problem and tried all the fixes suggested to no avail. I have reinstalled the drivers, different mouse, virus scan,new mouse pad, moved it 45 feet away from my teleporter, had the mouse blessed by a Shaman etc. It seems to happen at random, logged on or not logged on to the internet. The cursor tends to head for the top right corner or the lower left corner. It starts out very slowly and then speeds up. To make things stranger I have noticed when I have my hands resting on the palm rest I can make the mouse move faster by applying pressure to the palm rest. No I do not have bionic hands causing some sort of interference with the computer at that location.

Sometimes if I right click and bring up a selection menu it will stop in its tracks, but not always. Other times if I move the mouse around on the pad like a mad man it will also stop, but again not always.

Since the only thing I did before this started happening was to replace the keyboard I suspect that this may have something to do with it.

If anyone can give me a fix I would really appriciate it.

Thanks for you time.

TRoof

 

No fix but an idea, is it possible when you replaced the keyboard you over tightened some screws and it's actually the mouse pad on the laptop that's causing the problem?

As I said, just an idea but perhaps one woth investigating?

 

Thanks for the reply WF. That is a thought. There are only two screws at the top of the keyboard and tabs at the bottom (at the top of the palm rest) I was thinking about removing the new keyboard and replacing with the old keyboard and see if that has any effect. I will check the screws and tabs then. Who knows, you may be on to something. Oh ya, I also removed all my USB cables including the mouse USB stick and it still happens when I use the built in mouse pad on my computer. Thanks. - TRoof

 

You may be able to disable the Touchpad in device manager if you only use the mouse.

 

The information about how you "rebuilt" it sounds pretty accurate. Pressure on the palm-rests may be causing activity on the Touchpad. There will be all sorts of settings for the touchpad, I don't like the "tap" feature on the Touchpad and turn it off. You may be able to adjust the settings.

How you "put it back together" seems like a probable cause. Time to recheck your work?

"Like a mad man ", I like it! The mouse has to stop to find out what's going on

Matt

 

Shot in the dark but .......
When you replaced your keyboard, there was a small ribbon cable that had to be disconnected from the old keyboard and reconnected to the new one. This should have had a small tabbed plastic compression fitting. Disconnect it and reconnect it again. You should also check the cable on your touchpad and I would recommend checking both ends of both cables just in case a little pulling and tugging might have affected the integrity of these sensative connectors.

 

Thanks everyone.

I will try the above suggestions and get back with the outcome.

I do have one question. In the device manager where I can disable (remove) the touch pad mouse, can it be restored if need be?

Thanks, TRoof

 

You can enable or disable at will and this is not the same as removing the device. If you elect to remove it, Windows will redetect it the next time you boot up.

 

I'd disable (if possible) it not remove, if you need it in future you can always enable it.

If you can't disable then try the other suggestions first, if you decide to remove take note of the name of the touchpad. It should be easily enough restored but better safe than sorry.

 

Hello again. I changed out the new keyboard and reinstalled the old keyboard. I have been using the old keyboard (minus the backspace key and a few others- result of a dropped telephone) waiting for the problem to happen again. So far it seems to be working just fine. I will switch back tomorrow and see what happens with the new keyboard. Maybe it is just an install problem. I shall see I guess.

Another question about the mouse pad.

I checked in the control panel and did not find any way to disable the mouse pad however there was a disable feature for the Logitech optial mouse. I then went to the divice manager and only found these choices - roll back and uninstall but no disable.

Not sure about the uninstall choice. If this is the problem how would I be able to stop the reinstall at boot

The touch pad is under the case which is not accessable when removing the keyboard. I really don't think that anything has happened to any cables in and around the mouse pad. Don't want to break open the case just for a look. Maybe later when all else fails.

Where do I find the adjustable settings for the touch pad?

I will return with the results of the keyboard switch.

Thanks TRoof

 

In Control Panel (Classic view), look through the icons. Look under the Mouse icon, mine has a tab for the touchpad. Most manufacturers use Synaptic to control the touchpad, mine is called UltraNav.

It could well be a problem with that touchpad controller software, it will also have control over the keyboard (actually, we should say keypad). If the old keypad works fine, the new one might be a slightly different model or a different version controller chip. I wouldn't hesitate to uninstall the touchpad/keypad software in Add or Remove Programs, then put the new keypad back in (but I would have an updated version from Toshiba ready to install after restarting). I would also go to Device Manager and uninstall any of those related items there (keyboards and Mice and other pointing devices). Don't worry about uninstalling software or drivers, basic drivers will be automatically reinstalled when you reboot.

Don't use "find drivers on the internet ", they are often wrong, get them from Toshiba.

Oh, and check through all the settings in Regional and Language Options.

Matt

 

First of all, my apologies for some bad information. I will now list everything as it is. Not a Toshiba ( my old computer)

My computer is a Dell Latitude D600 Intel Pemtium M
OS Windows XP pro version 2002 service pack 2
Browser is Mozilla Seamonkey v 1.0.4

Now back to the cursed curson. The old keyboard worked fine, the new keyboard did not. I can only assume that the new keyboard is causing the problem.

Mattman

There is no mention of the touchpad in the control panel in the mouse icon. I checked the add/remove programs in the control panel and the only thing I found was Logitech setpoint 44.44MB used occasionally. Could it be listed under another name?

In the device manager under mice and other pointing devices:
Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse (Location 0)
Logitech-compatible Mouse PS/2 (plugged into PS/2 port)

The keypad is listed in the device manager as a Logitech PS/2 Keyboard - plugged into keyboard port (keyboard their term not mine)

I would guess that the same holds true for Dell as you stated for Toshiba regarding the software for the touch pad/keypad. Just what would I need to download for the new keypad?

I think we are getting close to a solution by narrowing it down the the new keypad. Still not sure about removing stuff at this point especially since I cannot locate anything that would allow me to disable the touch pad.

FLASH! FLASH! This may negate everything above.
I just came across this web page claiming that if you cut the ribbon cable to the track point then all will be right with the world. See- http://gimbo.org.uk/blog/2005/11/12/fixing-mouse-drift-on-a-dell-latitude-c600-with-a-sledgehammer/

There were many replies and I noticed some were favoring downloading synaptics touchpad driver first before cutting the cable. What is your opinion on this. I never use the track point. I will not do anything until I get a more learned opinon on this subject.

Thanks for hanging in there. TRoof

 

Did you see this link?
http://www.laptopsunlimited.com/dellmouse/dellmouse.htm

Matt

 

The cursed cursor has been exorcised.

Mattman, thanks for the link but I found a less invasive fix.
The fix that was shown was a bit more then I think I would want to attempt.

After reading here http://gimbo.org.uk/blog/2005/11/12/fixing-mouse-drift-on-a-dell-latitude-c600-with-a-sledgehammer/ about the snipping of the ribbon cable that connects the track point via the plug of the keypad to the computer I decided to take a closer look at the plug. It turns out that the ribbon cable from the track point can be removed from the plug with some tweezers by removing the ribbon keeper on one side and lifting out the smaller ribbon cable and reinserting the keeper in the plug. Then I folded over the small ribbon cable I removed and scotch taped it to the big ribbon cable and pluged in the keypad to the computer. No cutting required and can be reinstalled if ever needed.

So far so good. No more roaming cursor and nothing else was affected. Feels good to be rid of this problem. Drinks are on me.

I appriciate all the imput from everyone that responded.
I hope others will be helped with this thread. There is a lot of good information to be gleened from this thread besides the fix I chose.

I have had so many problems resolved just by doing a search. Windows BBS is a great tool. Long live Windows BBS.

Thanks all - TRoof

 

Glad to learn that you were able to "jury rig" this but will still go back to my post #6 encouraging you to re-check your connections on the touchpad ribbon cable and the keyboard ribbon cable. (actually easier than disconnecting, disabling and scotch taping) If you had remade these connections as suggested you would have had both a working touchpad and a stable (non-roaming) cursor.

Regardless, if you are happy with no touchpad then I'm happy for you.

 

Agreed, if you're happy troof then we're all happy but I do think this thread highlights the importance of correctly identifying your system. The Dell issue is fairly well known, and not an issue with Toshiba laptops.

For others reading this thread please, when asking for help identify your hardware as much as possible.

 

Rockster2U- I did check the ribbon connections of the keypad by defult by removing the new keyboard and replacing the old keyboard which worked hence the cables were solid. I then replaced the new keyboard which continued malfunctioning. When I did the "jury rig" it did not in anyway affect the use of the touch pad. Never said it did. The only thing that was disabled was the track point, the little eraser like thing in the middle of GBH (which stands for good bye hassels) Also where many people who have acutally cut the same cable which I just unpluged, they will never be able to reattach their cable if they ever have cutters remorse. I don't think I will ever miss the little bugger. I bet the next computer I get will not even have one.

The real question that will probably never get answered is why the new keyboard which looks and feels identical in every way to the old keyboard would have this problem and why disconecting the track point would solve the problem of the roaming cusor. Any takers?



Wildfire- I did realize the error of my post by calling my Dell a Toshiba and corrected the mistake right away in detail. (hey, a wandering cusor can really mess with you head, just wasn't thinking straight) You think that was bad, let me tell you about the night I spent with Barbara and I called her Joanne my previous love intrest.

Yes, I am very happy with my touchpad and wireless mouse - Troof

 

Look at the information in the link I pointed you to. There is a bar at the back of the touchpad and something about it is causing information to be sent from the trackpoint. The "press test" was the same as you described. The new keypad must be a slightly different shape (the parts don't all get made in the same production line).

Matt

 

I stand corrected. I was thinking touch pad all along - never even differentiated track point until you put the Dell in there and that went right by me the first time around.

 

This may sound so stupid but hey I have been known to say stupid things before. I have the same type of mouse too. And this happens when the batteries are getting low and just about to quit on you. Like I said it sounds so stupid but it works for me when my mouse starts to act up the way your saying. Hope you get the problem fix!