Why is my Cursor Jumping All Around My Screen?

[Ro_Laren]

I am going crazy because my cursor all of a sudden started jumping around my screen while I was typing. It happens all the time now when I am typing on Word and when I am typing on the internet (it is happening while I am typing this message). I ran a virus scan and it came back clean. What is happening? How do I fix it? I have an XP if that helps.

Help me please!!! I can't take it any longer!!!!

 

[Ro_Laren]

By the way, I have a laptop. I don't know if that info is important.

 

[Ro_Laren]

Also, I am not accidently hitting the touchpad making the cursor jump. I 100% know I am not doing this.

 

[Brent]

Also, I am not accidently hitting the touchpad making the cursor jump. I 100% know I am not doing this.

how do you know? cause that is the most logical reason for your problem

if not the touchpad, perhaps you are pushing on the laptop hard enough with your wrists that it is causing the sensor on the touchpad to detect mouse movement, i've seen this happen, simply pressing too hard on the wrist area around the touchpad can cause it to move the mouse cursor

 

[backstept]

the few times I've had that happen to mine were most likely because of the computers having a high cpu load and being close to overheating
seemed to clear up when I hit ctrl+alt+del and closing a few of the programs hogging the resources

 

[John Clark]

I have had the same problem on both desktop and laptop occasionally.

In those cases it seemed to be something to do with the contacts on the lead (usb). After a quick clean(or another port) it seems to be ok.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I had that issue when I had a certain kind of mousepad. It was one of those ones that the image changed when you looked at it at different angles, so it had a shiny reflective quality. This, in combination with an optical mouse caused the cursor to move around quite a bit. However, if you are only using your touchpad and have no mouse attached, this could obviously not be the case for you.

 

[backstept]

maybe your trackpad is dirty, or there's some moisture built up underneath?

 

[Ro_Laren]

But if it only jumps while I am typing what does the mousepad/trackpad on the key board have to do with the jumping??? My cursor is fine when I move it with the pad, it is when I type when I have the problems. & BTW, I have been using this laptop for years without this problem... that also makes it weird. It just started all of a sudden.

 

[trampledamage]

Is there any chance you've switched on what's called (at least on my computer) "Caret Browsing"?

I've no idea what it's meant to do, but it's happened to me a couple of times - most likely from my son 'helping' at the keyboard, and it causes the cursor to move, I think, to find the links on the page.


(ETA: Pressing F7 switches it for me)

 

[FordSVT]

I had that issue when I had a certain kind of mousepad. It was one of those ones that the image changed when you looked at it at different angles, so it had a shiny reflective quality. This, in combination with an optical mouse caused the cursor to move around quite a bit. However, if you are only using your touchpad and have no mouse attached, this could obviously not be the case for you.

Reflective surfaces cause all sorts of laser mouse pointer problems. They ordered a bunch of mouse pads at work once that we had to send back because they had this laminate-like surface that reflected laser light. Our old kitchen table wouldn't allow you to use a laser mouse properly either.

 

[RJDiogenes]

My mouse pointer does this a couple or three times a day. Just jumps to another part of the screen for no apparent reason. It's been doing it for months and I can't figure out why. Luckily, it's not really too disruptive.

Also, please remember not to Post more than twice in a row; that's Spamming.

 

[Ro_Laren]

^ Sorry, I wasn't trying to spam. I just kept remembering extra details after my first post.

My cursor is still be stupid!! *grrrrrr

 

[Sakrysta]

I would first have said it was a low wireless mouse battery, but you said you're using a laptop touchpad, so that's likely out. Last time I had the problem, it was a wireless signal that was the cause, either interference from another wireless device, or a low battery. I occasionally had this trouble with my wireless presenter that I used to run my laptop from across the room. Rebooting would remedy the situation.

I think pressure to the panel housing your touchpad is the likely culprit. Try typing for a while without resting your wrists on the laptop and see if the problem persists.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Check the touchpad itself--does it feel hot? Your system may be overheating.

 

[doubleohfive]

I had/have the same problem with my Windows Vista laptop. I did a little research and the most productive workaround I have found so far has been updating my touchpad drivers. Still doesn't get rid of it entirely, but there's been marked improvement.

I use a wireless mouse when at home now, but whenever the touchpad is being used I will invariably have the skipping cursor problem all over again. Not fun.

 

[Jadzia]

If you use a usb mouse, you could disconnect the laptop's trackpad (logically) within system configuration. This would render the trackpad unusable (reversible), but as long as you always have a usb mouse, the problem shouldn't present.

I have an occasional computer problem. It doesn't happen very often but in did happen yesterday: I start saving a document and as I'm typing in the filename my toolbars start disappearing from around the sides of the application. I realise that some of the letter keys are toggling certain toolbars visibility. If I press the letters again the toolbars come back, but these letters won't type as text and I can't type in the filename I want. I don't know what causes it and once it happens it doesn't stop until I exit the affected application.

 

[Holdfast]

It's the poltergeist.

Feed it.

It will then go away.

 

[RJDiogenes]

^ Sorry, I wasn't trying to spam. I just kept remembering extra details after my first post.

I know. Just a reminder.

I start saving a document and as I'm typing in the filename my toolbars start disappearing from around the sides of the application. I realise that some of the letter keys are toggling certain toolbars visibility. If I press the letters again the toolbars come back, but these letters won't type as text and I can't type in the filename I want. I don't know what causes it and once it happens it doesn't stop until I exit the affected application.

How do you save the document?

 

[Jadzia]

I start saving a document and as I'm typing in the filename my toolbars start disappearing from around the sides of the application.

How do you save the document?

Toolbar save button to open the save dialog. Then using whatever keys worked to type a filename, then after exiting the program I renamed the file.