Member Avatar for tekkie2008

I haven't had this problem w/ XP or 98 os. Usually I am able to resolve about 85% of my OS problems but this has stumped me. When I type in Vista even in Word Pad or the addres bar I run into this problem. I'll type in the adress bar and while i'm typing the characters for example www.abcnews.com, while i'm typing the c in abc the cursor will jump to a causing this.
cabc. Also, i'll type a paragraph and the cursor will jump to the previous paragraph and start somewhere in that program. I'm thinking maybe there is some program on my pc causing this like a virus. Also, i've reformatted my hardrive and reinstalled my vista a couple of times. Has anyone had this problem with Vista? What was the corrective action?

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Dani AI

Generated

A short, practical diagnosis + fix checklist that builds on what described and on the touchpad/palm-contact ideas raised by and (and the driver observations from and ).

First, why this usually happens: the most common cause on laptops is the touchpad registering an accidental tap or movement while typing (modern touchpad drivers include “palm rejection”/PalmCheck features to counter this). If the problem survives a clean reinstall, it’s usually either a driver/setting or a hardware input being seen by the OS. ()

Quick diagnostic checklist (do these in order):

  1. Temporarily disable the touchpad (hardware Fn toggle or Control Panel / Device Manager) and type. If the jumps stop, you’ve isolated it to touchpad input.
  2. Plug in an external USB keyboard and mouse and test. If the problem moves with the external devices or disappears, you know which device to focus on.
  3. Boot from a Linux “live” USB (choose “Try Ubuntu”) and type in a text editor. If cursor jumping happens in the live session, it is almost certainly hardware. This isolates Windows/drivers vs hardware. (help.ubuntu.com)
  4. If touchpad is implicated, open the touchpad driver control panel (Synaptics/ELAN/Alps) and: disable tap-to-click, increase palm-rejection (PalmCheck/SmartSense), or enable the option to disable internal pointing when an external USB mouse is attached. If you can’t find those controls, update the vendor touchpad driver first. ()

Other tips: do a Clean Boot / Safe Mode test to rule out background software, check Device Manager for duplicate HID devices and reinstall them, and check for physical keyboard issues (liquid, debris, or a damaged ribbon cable) if the problem follows into other OSes. If hardware is the cause, replacement of the internal keyboard/touchpad or vendor repair is the long‑term fix. (learn.microsoft.com)

Notes tied to the thread: several members here hit the touchpad/driver root; try the fast isolation steps above before buying parts. If tests show hardware failure, include the laptop make/model and the exact steps you used when you request parts or support.

Recommended Answers

All 22 Replies

Member Avatar for naz82

are you using an optical mouse? i had one that kept jumping around the screen.

Member Avatar for tekkie2008

no, i have not installed a mouse.

Member Avatar for naz82

no, i have not installed a mouse.

hi tekkie
Initially i thought it was laptop problen, then i saw you wrote PC. Sometimes the laptop mousepad drivers need to be updated, or they do weird things. SInce you wrote you haven't installed a mouse, does that mean you meant laptop? trying covering it/disabling it while you type and see if that solves the problem.

hope this helps, good luck

Member Avatar for tekkie2008

thanks for your reply,
I'm using a laptop the problem is not w/ the mouse pad. When i type sometimes the cursor will jump a couple of line up to a random location. Kind of frustrating when coding.. no very aggravating causes typo bugs. Maybe I'm being paranoid it could be a program like a virus causing this? Or maybe i need to replace the keyboard?

Member Avatar for naz82

hi,
apparently if the mouse sensitivity is set to high, pressing the keys can cause the cursor to jump. you can fix this in control panel->mouse. You could also try hiding the cursor when you type(pointer options tab).
do you have a trackstick? if so, have you tried disabling it?

I can't think of anything else other than as you said, a hardware issue. Have you tried a usb keyboard?
Have you tried running your antivirus in safe mode?

btw i found this, it may help;
http://code.google.com/p/touchfreeze/

Member Avatar for fd97207

I have the same problem. Please let me know if you found a solution. Thank you very much.
I have a Gateway laptop MX6454 with a USB mouse. I never had this problem with XP but since I upgraded to Vista am having this problem.

Member Avatar for bellbiv

I haven't had this problem w/ XP or 98 os. Usually I am able to resolve about 85% of my OS problems but this has stumped me. When I type in Vista even in Word Pad or the addres bar I run into this problem. I'll type in the adress bar and while i'm typing the characters for example www.abcnews.com, while i'm typing the c in abc the cursor will jump to a causing this.
cabc. Also, i'll type a paragraph and the cursor will jump to the previous paragraph and start somewhere in that program. I'm thinking maybe there is some program on my pc causing this like a virus. Also, i've reformatted my hardrive and reinstalled my vista a couple of times. Has anyone had this problem with Vista? What was the corrective action?

I have an Acer with Vista Ultimate and have had the same problem even with vista basic
The last couple days I have tryed differant versions Apls drivers / software always going back to the 7.0.1101.17 I have tryed every possable setting there is in the control pnl.
Nothing works. Keeping the cursor completely as far to the side of the typing area helps
and you have the least trouble. I was convenced it was Acer defect untill I come to this site.
It drives you nuts. I was thinking of using a mouse but seems that they are haveing same problem. Here is a ssolution that would work maybe, keeping the cursor to the far side works good but if your palm of your hand touches the touch pad while you are typing it moves the cursor back into the type and there you go again problem. Keep your hands inthe air and not touch the pad and no problem. If there was a sensitivity adjustment on the Alps control pnl thaat would stop it. My question is,can I install another touch pad software
that has sensitivity adjustment and fixthe problem? In the mean time move the coursor to the right out of the way of typing and do not touch the Pad and you can get by.

Member Avatar for bellbiv

I have an Acer with Vista Ultimate and have had the same problem even with vista basic
The last couple days I have tryed differant versions Apls drivers / software always going back to the 7.0.1101.17 I have tryed every possable setting there is in the control pnl.
Nothing works. Keeping the cursor completely as far to the side of the typing area helps
and you have the least trouble. I was convenced it was Acer defect untill I come to this site.
It drives you nuts. I was thinking of using a mouse but seems that they are haveing same problem. Here is a ssolution that would work maybe, keeping the cursor to the far side works good but if your palm of your hand touches the touch pad while you are typing it moves the cursor back into the type and there you go again problem. Keep your hands inthe air and not touch the pad and no problem. If there was a sensitivity adjustment on the Alps control pnl thaat would stop it. My question is,can I install another touch pad software
that has sensitivity adjustment and fixthe problem? In the mean time move the coursor to the right out of the way of typing and do not touch the Pad and you can get by.

Member Avatar for oldhippie

I have a Dell XPSM140 and it started with Vista. It is driving me crazy and really slowing my work Super Guys Please Come To The Rescue. HELP..............

Member Avatar for comlor

hi,
apparently if the mouse sensitivity is set to high, pressing the keys can cause the cursor to jump. you can fix this in control panel->mouse. You could also try hiding the cursor when you type(pointer options tab).
do you have a trackstick? if so, have you tried disabling it?

I can't think of anything else other than as you said, a hardware issue. Have you tried a usb keyboard?
Have you tried running your antivirus in safe mode?

btw i found this, it may help;
http://code.google.com/p/touchfreeze/

It is possible your palm is touching your touching you touchpad as you type. I have had customers at work having similar problems and when i had the show me that was the problem.
Alot of touchpad settings have an option for accidental touches for the touchpad during typing. check those settings as well.

I seriously doubt it is virus related if you have tried reformatting your computer already.

Member Avatar for Ricknas

i haven't typing to the any text document.because opening the my computer. pleas help me now.

Member Avatar for Bob_180_Bob

Hi Ricknas and welcome to Daniweb,
You have hijacked a very old thread (Oct 6th, 2008).
Please start your own thread and supply a lot more information about your machine, OS and your problem. I see that you may have a small problem with English, see if you can get someone to help you ask your question so that we can assist you.

Member Avatar for gangchenghuang

I had the same problem with my Vista after re-installation. Then I found I have to install the Touchpad driver. This driver seems to solve the problem.

Member Avatar for lisajs

my laptop cursor will not move. I have tried a system restore and it still will not work

Member Avatar for caperjack

my laptop cursor will not move. I have tried a system restore and it still will not work

most laptops have a button to turn the mouse pad off ,if yours does make sure it turned on

Member Avatar for Eumenio

are you using an optical mouse? i had one that kept jumping around the screen.

Member Avatar for Paul Holmes

I have installed the Touchfreeze program from;
http://code.google.com/p/touchfreeze
and it has solved the problem just before I was going to throw the bloody Acer out of the window ! Great thanks guys.

Member Avatar for Eloise6611

My insertion point is jumping from line to or within the line of type. How can I correct the problem?

Member Avatar for berniemcc

Hi, I have the same problem with Vista on my laptop. I am using an optical mouse but very frequently the curser jumps and i have overtyped something a para before. Very frustrating. Its the same without the mouse though. It happens on emails and word and in general anything that involves typing.

Help! I am using my laptop a lot more than previous and its really annoying me.

Member Avatar for Just-enough

Hi guys. I have a Toshiba laptop and the same happens. The cursor jumps up, down, forward or backwards at random. No mouse installed. Any suggestions?

Member Avatar for gregglooker

Ok, I thought I was losing it but this cursor jumping all over is happening on my work laptop (with an external USB mouse) and my personal laptop (using the trackpad). It is driving me nuts also as when you are typing it jumps up somwhere else and you text is now in the middle of another part of the document.

Both machines are running Windows 7 Home Premium. I never noticed it on Vista.

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