wblackburn

Q: My trackpad is going crazy, cursor moves on its own

My trackpad shows no visible change, however my cursur moves on its own, clicks on things, drags icons, and at other times refuses to move.  Sometimes for a moment it will work, but then it is back again.  I highly suspect malware.  My computer worked fine, there is no sign of hardware damage and I reset my Pram.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2010), Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Apr 13, 2012 8:48 AM

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Q: My trackpad is going crazy, cursor moves on its own

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  • by Linc Davis,Apple recommended

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Apr 13, 2012 9:13 AM in response to wblackburn
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    Apr 13, 2012 9:13 AM in response to wblackburn
  • by Deheart,Helpful

    Deheart Deheart May 8, 2012 10:38 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (5 points)
    May 8, 2012 10:38 AM in response to Linc Davis

    I just started having this problem today, I was lucky to have a bluetooth mouse with me so that I could use my macbook barely.

  • by Al_Pacino,Helpful

    Al_Pacino Al_Pacino Jul 29, 2012 4:29 AM in response to wblackburn
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 29, 2012 4:29 AM in response to wblackburn

    I have 2 MBA from late 2011 on which I have installed Bootcamp and Win7. All works fine except the Trackpad!

    It's been quite frustrating because both my wife and myself have been suffering from the same problem:

    as we type, the cursor would suddenly go to a different position in the screen (where the arrow happens to be positioned) and as you continue typing you only realize later that you have typed in the wrong place and need to go back, cut, past back where you initially intended the text to be.

    We have been using notebooks for years without any problem and the fact this is happening to both of us just suggests there's a magnetic or electrical (static or otherwise) interference that makes the Trackpad jump without being really touched.

    I have seen many threads about this but no real solution from Apple.

    anyone please as this is really annoying.

    thanks.

  • by SKJohnson1,

    SKJohnson1 SKJohnson1 Oct 27, 2012 11:07 AM in response to Al_Pacino
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 27, 2012 11:07 AM in response to Al_Pacino

    I'd like to add my voice to this. I have the same problem as Al_Pacino and the same model MacBook Air (mine is 11").

  • by Ukoker,

    Ukoker Ukoker Oct 29, 2012 2:12 PM in response to wblackburn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 29, 2012 2:12 PM in response to wblackburn

    Same problem here, also MBA 11" from late 2010.

  • by Fancytricks,

    Fancytricks Fancytricks Nov 14, 2012 8:31 PM in response to wblackburn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 14, 2012 8:31 PM in response to wblackburn

    Ok I have had this issue for months. I figured out that it was a folder workflow that I put on the machine.

  • by Teovmy,

    Teovmy Teovmy Nov 17, 2012 9:31 AM in response to wblackburn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 17, 2012 9:31 AM in response to wblackburn

    Same problem here. I had never problems before. Started since a month. Maybe an update is causing this

  • by pennbank,

    pennbank pennbank Nov 17, 2012 9:49 AM in response to wblackburn
    Level 4 (1,688 points)
    Nov 17, 2012 9:49 AM in response to wblackburn
  • by Fancytricks,

    Fancytricks Fancytricks Nov 18, 2012 12:29 AM in response to Fancytricks
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 18, 2012 12:29 AM in response to Fancytricks

    Read my post and check. There is litterally 30-40 of these same posts on this forum and my solution works.

     

    "Ok I have had this issue for months. I figured out that it was a folder workflow that I put on the machine."

  • by Pinoncely,

    Pinoncely Pinoncely May 4, 2013 8:41 AM in response to wblackburn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 4, 2013 8:41 AM in response to wblackburn

    I don't know exactly why but the solution I found works prety good. Change your OS to, let's say french or spanish. Then go back to your original language and the trackpad phantom disapears.

  • by ODYSSEY40,

    ODYSSEY40 ODYSSEY40 May 4, 2013 3:36 PM in response to wblackburn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 4, 2013 3:36 PM in response to wblackburn

    HI

     

    (macbook pro user)

    had same issues with trackpad. installed wireless mouse, no problems with that, returned to trackpad same problematic issues. no surprise but you never know! then, using wireless mouse changed settings on trackpad to a slow tracking speed (3 or 4) and have had no problems so far with trackpad. fingers crossed

  • by Patrick140897,

    Patrick140897 Patrick140897 May 4, 2013 3:57 PM in response to Deheart
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 4, 2013 3:57 PM in response to Deheart

    Give the trackpad a light hit, it should work, but take it to the Apple store or reseller for inspection and/or replacement/repair.

     

     

    Had the same problem, and i got ****** and i tapped the trackpad hard a fiew times and it worked fine for about an hour, and i did the same again and i rarely encounter the problem anymore.

     

    Ps, some water was spilled at the trackpad, might have been the cause of my problem.

    But i do recomend to get it inspected tho.

     

     

    Regards Patrick

    Update what happends pls.

  • by simirilium,Helpful

    simirilium simirilium Jun 17, 2013 3:06 AM in response to wblackburn
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jun 17, 2013 3:06 AM in response to wblackburn

    It seems everyone has a different "solution"  to the problem. SMC reset, PRAM reset, cleaning, language, folder workflow. Which means:

     

    there is no clear solution!

     

    So just to help (or not) even more, I'll add what worked for me:

     

    1. Cleaned up really good my trackpad
    2. Did a SMC reset
    3. Did a PRAM reset

     

    None of this helped. Then this final step is what it *fixed* (at least for the time being) the problem (btw you need a mouse to make this work):

     

    • Go to system preferences > accesibility > mouse & trackpad > then check "Ignore built-in trackpac [...]"

    Play around for a bit with your mouse, say 15 seconds, then come back and uncheck that box.

     

    THAT solved the issue for me. Again, for the time being.

     

    Why, how, what .... who knows!?

  • by Pearldrummer28,

    Pearldrummer28 Pearldrummer28 Apr 21, 2014 1:28 PM in response to wblackburn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 21, 2014 1:28 PM in response to wblackburn

    My trackpad was SPAZZING. OUT. I reset the SMC, and it didn't work. I was totally freaked... then I read an article about cleaning your trackpad, cleaned it. Boom. Good as new. It was so simple I feel like an idiot. Get a cleaning cloth dude. Maybe that'll help!

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