Wandering pointer

Katykat

This is really annoying me now. When I'm typing, the pointer will jump back to an earlier part of my document and if I'm not watching it all the time, the words then are out of order. How do I fix it?

RussJK

Palm might be brushing the touchpad if you are using a laptop.

If this is the case, turn off the touchpad completely (e.g. using the Fn key or whatever method comes with the laptop, or disabling it entirely in Device Manager).

If you can't turn the touchpad off, see if there is a way to alter the sensitivity in Control Panel > Synaptics (or whatever brand of touchpad you have).

paddyrg

If it's a desktop or a lappy with an external mouse, check the mouse batteries (if it has them). If it's a lappy, RussJK speaks truth...

Katykat

Hi, its a laptop but I use a wireless mouse, so I dont really brush the touchpad. However I dont really want to turn the touchpad off as my OH does use it, he doesn't like the mouse. Back to the drawing board

Darksun

Katykat wrote: »

Hi, its a laptop but I use a wireless mouse, so I dont really brush the touchpad. However I dont really want to turn the touchpad off as my OH does use it, he doesn't like the mouse. Back to the drawing board

There are a few options to quickly disable the trackpad, try looking at http://www.pcworld.com/article/155654/stop_accidental_touchpad_touches_while_typing.html

On my laptop I have a function key (Fn-F10) that switches the trackpad off and on, so if you have something similar on your laptop that would probably be the best option (just make sure you tell your OH how to switch it back on incase you forget to do it when you're finished)

closed

You can still brush it when typing

RussJK

Katykat wrote: »

Hi, its a laptop but I use a wireless mouse, so I dont really brush the touchpad. However I dont really want to turn the touchpad off as my OH does use it, he doesn't like the mouse. Back to the drawing board

If you can't turn the touchpad off, see if there is a way to alter the sensitivity in Control Panel > Synaptics (or whatever brand of touchpad you have).

Depending on the firmware, there are options to reduce "palm mashing".

Or just get used to disabling it while you type, it's quick to re-enable.

Toxteth_OGrady

There is a setting in Synaptics that will auto disable the touch pad whenever an external pointing device is detected.

scooby088

try the batteries in your mouse may need replacing

timcreggan

i'm guessing its an optical mouse too?

i've found that my mouse moves around on its own when its resting on shiny patterned surfaces (particularly my polished wood table), is it on a mouse mat?

hbk619

To make enabling/disabling easier you could create a shortcut to the settings on your desktop. Right click, new > shortcut then navigate to C:\Windows\system32\main.cpl

Double clicking that will bring up the options and probably under the device settings tab there's be an option to disable/enable the touchpad. You can set it to off, then on again when you're finished, or make the OH do the work

Or if any of you f-keys have a picture of a hand pointing, that'll be the the function key that does the same thing as RussJK said. (My laptop doesn't have that function ).