actionshotsco

Q: MacBook Pro no control over mouse, windows, dictionary

My MacBook Pro has gone bananas. It's like someone else is controling the mouse pad / mouse. The screens keep changing without warning, mostly jumping around or going back to the Dashboard. If I am in Chrome of Safari the screen keeps enlarging, reducing, enlarging like crazy.  Then the dictionary pops up and starts looking up words in the menus and on the screen but the App doesn't appear to be open.  It is hard to control and I have to shut it down. It makes it very hard to work. Then suddenly it will stop and be ok for a while, then it will get worse. I ran Webroot Antivirus Software package but the problem remains.... Any ideas most welcome! Thank you.

 

I am using Yosemite 10.9.5

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Apr 15, 2016 11:18 PM

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Q: MacBook Pro no control over mouse, windows, dictionary

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  • by judysings,

    judysings judysings Apr 17, 2016 11:11 AM in response to actionshotsco
    Community Specialists
    Apr 17, 2016 11:11 AM in response to actionshotsco

    Hi actionshotsco,

    I understand your MacBook Pro is acting erratically.  Has something changed recently (software update, new software installed, etc.)?  The first thing I would suggest is to make sure you have a Time Machine backup of your data:

    Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac

    Next, unplug any peripheral devices you may have connected to your MacBook Pro (mouse, keyboard, printer, etc.), shut down your computer, and turn it on in Safe Mode.

    Try safe mode if your Mac doesn‘t finish starting up

    Starting up in safe mode

    Follow these steps to start up into safe mode.

    1. Start or restart your Mac. 
    2. Immediately after you hear the startup sound, press and hold the Shift key.
    3. Release the Shift key when you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.

    After the Apple logo appears, it might take longer than usual to reach the login screen or your desktop. This is because your Mac performs a directory check of your startup disk as part of safe mode.

    To leave safe mode, restart your computer without pressing any keys during startup.

     

    While in Safe Mode, open Safari, and Mail just using the MacBooks internal trackpad.  Do the issues persist?

    If your Apple wireless mouse, keyboard, or trackpad aren‘t working as expected

     

    Your mouse or keyboard intermittently stops responding

    Follow these steps if your mouse or keyboard sometimes stops responding temporarily. 

    Click or press a key

    • Click the mouse or trackpad or press a key on the keyboard to reconnect the device to the computer. It may take a moment for the device to respond.

    Check for signal interference

    • Wireless networks that operate on 2.4GHz may cause interference. Move cordless phone base stations, microwave ovens, and other 2.4GHz electrical devices away from your Mac if you suspect interference.
    • Keep wireless devices within 10 meters (approximately 30 feet) of your Mac.
    • Avoid putting metal objects between your wireless device and your Mac.

     

    Your mouse or trackpad doesn't track as expected

    • Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, then choose Mouse. Set the Tracking slider to adjust how fast the pointer moves as you move the mouse.
    • If multiple Bluetooth wireless devices are in use nearby, try turning them off one at a time to see if the issue improves. Bandwidth intensive devices could affect tracking.

    Learn more about what to do if your trackpad isn't tracking correctly.

     

    Open Activity Monitor to see what applications are taking up resources on your computer:

    Use Activity Monitor on your Mac

    Activity Monitor shows the processes that are running on your Mac, so you can see how they affect your Mac's activity and performance.

     

    If the computer seems to be working properly, restart the computer to get it back to Normal startup, and re-attach your peripherals to see if the issues arise again.

    Please reply back to let us know the results ....

     

    Take care,

  • by actionshotsco,

    actionshotsco actionshotsco Apr 17, 2016 7:04 PM in response to judysings
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 17, 2016 7:04 PM in response to judysings

    HI Judy,

     

    It's not the trackpad. That doesn't explain the constant enlarging etc and switching windows. Thanks for the response though. The only new thing would be having connected to Apple TV.. Could that cause an issue?

     

    Appreciated.


    Tara

  • by judysings,

    judysings judysings Apr 18, 2016 12:42 PM in response to actionshotsco
    Community Specialists
    Apr 18, 2016 12:42 PM in response to actionshotsco

    Hi Tara,

    Thanks for your response.  I provided instructions for Safe Mode and the Trackpad to help isolate the issue.  Have you tried disconnecting all peripherals (including Apple TV) and starting up in Safe Mode to test?

    Best,