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Helpful answers
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Oct 16, 2015 8:03 AM in response to beautyofbathby lllaass,★HelpfulWhat is the battery cycle count?
Determining battery cycle count for Mac notebooks - Apple Support
Could be a swollen battery. If you battery is user replaceable is it swolen?
Just what model MacBook Pro?
This is the Mac Pro desktop forum. I requested your post be moved to the MacBook Pro laptop forum.
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Oct 16, 2015 7:29 AM in response to beautyofbathby Linc Davis,There are several possible causes for this issue. Please take each of the following steps that you haven't already tried until it's resolved. Some may not apply in your case.
1. Follow the instructions in this support article, and also this one, if applicable. A damaged or defective AC adapter could be the cause, even if it's the right kind.
2. Press down all four corners of the trackpad at once and release. If there's any effect, it's likely to be temporary, and in that case the unit must be serviced or replaced.
3. Disconnect or power off each Bluetooth or USB pointing device, one at a time, testing as you go. You may be able to identify one that's malfunctioning. By a "pointing device," I mean a peripheral that moves the cursor, such as a trackpad, mouse, trackball, or graphics tablet. A plain keyboard is not a pointing device. If you have a desktop model without a built-in trackpad, at least one external pointing device must be active at all times.
4. If your model has an infrared receiver for use with an Apple Remote, disable it.
5. Start up in safe mode and test, preferably without launching any third-party applications. If you don't have the problem in safe mode, but it comes back when you restart as usual, stop here and post your results. Do the same if you can't start in safe mode. If there was no difference in safe mode, go on to the next step.
6. Reset the System Management Controller.
7. If you're using a Bluetooth trackpad or mouse, investigate potential sources of interference, including USB 3 devices.
8. A swollen battery in a portable computer can impinge on the trackpad from below and cause erratic behavior. If you have trouble clicking the trackpad, this is likely the reason. The battery must be replaced without delay.
9. A defective peripheral device or a damaged cable can cause the built-in trackpad of a MacBook to behave erratically. If you're using any wired peripherals, disconnect them one at a time and test.
10. There's also a report of erratic cursor movements caused by an external display that was connected but not turned on.
11. If you use Handoff, disable it in the General pane of System Preferences.
12. If none of the above applies, or if you have another reason to think that your computer is being remotely controlled, remove it from the network by turning off Wi-Fi (or your Wi-Fi access point), disconnecting from a Bluetooth network link, and unplugging the Ethernet cable or USB modem, whichever is applicable. If the cursor movements stop at once, you should suspect an intrusion.
13. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store to have the machine and/or external trackpad tested.
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Oct 16, 2015 7:51 AM in response to Linc Davisby beautyofbath,Hello,
Thank you for your detailed and informative answer, I think the problem may be the battery my brother's computer is around 4 or 5 years old, 10.8 ish, and he does tend to run it down. The other computer is even older and I know the battery is really run down, so I suppose that the same problem with the cursor was a coincidence, as with the Facebook problem, I suggested he change his e-mail address. I have tried turning off the wi-fi connetion etc. but the problem persisted, so I guess it is the battery.
I will try your other suggestions as well, I won't see him until tomorrow, but I will let you know how I get on. As the only way to access the battery is to take off the back off the computer, I expect it would be better to take it to an Apple dealer to get it fixed than trying it one's self.
Thank you again for all your help.
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Oct 16, 2015 8:07 AM in response to beautyofbathby beautyofbath,Hello,
Thank you for your e-mail, I think the problem is the battery, the computer is at least 4 years old.
Thanks again for your help.