Jumping cursor messes up typing?

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Level 1

84 points

Jumping cursor messes up typing?

I have noticed that while I am typing that my cursor may jump to a different location so as to cause me to continue typing in the wrong area. I do have one possible solution-- I have noticed that the page up/down buttons are a little close and thought that I may be bumping the key while typing as they are very sensitive.
I have also seen some erratic behavior with the mouse pad occasionally.

Two questions:
Anyone else having these issues and have you found the solution?
If it is just the bumping into the up page key then is there a way to disable the page up key?

Macbook Pro/ 2.2ghz/ 160GB, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Mar 6, 2008 5:00 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 6, 2008 6:25 PM in response to Edward House

Go to System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Trackpad tab and check the box to ignore accidental input.

Hope this helps...

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Answer 2

Rnasch

Level 1

5 points

Mar 18, 2008 11:10 AM in response to neuroanatomist

I have the exact same problem and it is pretty bad!.....And I already have the"accidental input " preference checked" So that won't really work!

I was wondering if my forearms lightly resting on the front of the MBP was causing some pressure in side the notebook...or something.....but it happens even when my hands are floating above the keyboard and track pad....

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Answer 3

CCRDVR

Level 1

20 points

Mar 18, 2008 12:35 PM in response to Rnasch

It's usually caused by accidental contact with the trackpad while typing especially if you have small hands. If you happen to be using a mouse, you can have touches to the trackpad ignored while mouse is present. Not the best "solution" but it works when your at your desk.

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Answer 4

Rnasch

Level 1

5 points

Mar 18, 2008 11:03 PM in response to CCRDVR

In My case at least this is not the problem .
I have had it for some time now and have tried to identify the cause by trying new methods of working with the keyboard.
With me fore arks resting on the face with my fore arms floating above the face. My rather large hands
are no where near the track pad. At least touching it. This is not an errant touch of some kind. there is something else going on.....
But thanks for the suggestion....

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Answer 5

Edward House Author

Level 1

84 points

Mar 18, 2008 11:57 PM in response to Edward House

Thanks for all the response. A solution for me still has not been found. Hopefully someone will help us all out.

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Answer 6

Squando

Level 1

0 points

Mar 31, 2008 8:06 AM in response to Edward House

I had the same problem. Got a tip from the Genius Bar; from system preferences got to "Keyboard & Mouse", go to Trackpad, uncheck tap to click under "One Finger". It seems that the new trackpad can be jumpy with this setting checked. So far it worked for me.

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Answer 7

Edward House Author

Level 1

84 points

Mar 31, 2008 8:40 AM in response to Squando

Perhaps are settings are different but I don't see one that says "uncheck tap to click under "One Finger". Mine references two finger use to scroll or anothers references two finger tap to use "secondary click".

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Answer 8

Rnasch

Level 1

5 points

Mar 31, 2008 4:23 PM in response to Edward House

Is it possible that you mean
Uncheck thee box for: "Tapping track pad using two fingers as secondary click" ????
If so , then This has already been done on my machine.
IN FACT I my cursor not only jumps to a new location at times, but at others it actually deletes whole groups of sentences I had just completed entering....and starts typing where the deletion started.

ANY IDEAS??????

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Answer 9

Edward House Author

Level 1

84 points

Mar 31, 2008 6:44 PM in response to Rnasch

Yes, I have also had the deleting problem. I noticed that it will highlight a sentence and then as you are typing it erases it. I did try the last suggestion and have not had a problem but it has only been a few hours. Will give update after a week or so if the problem goes away.

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Answer 10

Rnasch

Level 1

5 points

Apr 1, 2008 8:44 AM in response to Edward House

Look forward to hearing if your experience with it Unchecked is better than mine!
I have had it unchecked for some time... to no avail.

I am wondering if it is simply just a faulty keyboard or track pad.......
Or
if pressure (by resting my forearms on the front of the macbook) may cause it.....but then again whenI try floating my hands above the mac book it happens as well......

Do you think its possible that the track pad is reading my hands as they float over the track pad?
(1" - 3" above it? )

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Answer 11

Edward House Author

Level 1

84 points

Apr 1, 2008 9:02 AM in response to Rnasch

o you think its possible that the track pad is reading my hands as they float over the track pad?
(1" - 3" above it? )

Unlikely. I do not think it is possible.

I have not had a problem since doing the switch but I also have not done a lot of typing either so I am still keeping this post open for now.

I have noticed though that now my cursor gets stuck when I try to move it. I now have to sort of run my finger all over the trackpad to get it going. I think this is due to the one setting for "ignore accidental trackpad input".
It is a real pain by itself, lot to mention the jumping cursor problem.

I love Mac-- I hate Mac support.

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Answer 12

Apr 1, 2008 9:45 AM in response to Edward House

i had teh same issue and what i found was the way i was sitting and had my hands positioned my forearms/hands would tap the edge of the TP button causing the cursor to jump. after i got an external mouse i noticed it went away and thats when i figured out what was happening.

it could also just be hard ware issues. my dad's pc was doing the same thing and nothing fixed it until they replaced his machine but i would bet it is more likely you tapping the button

-matt

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Answer 13

Edward House Author

Level 1

84 points

Apr 1, 2008 1:20 PM in response to mattathayde

I had been told that using a mouse might work but when you pay this much for a laptop you sort of want it to work correctly. So far, haven't had the problem anymore since changing pad settings.
Thanks for everyones input.

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Answer 14

Apr 1, 2008 2:45 PM in response to Edward House

well the thing is that it is working correctly its just that (in my case at least) my hands were in a bad position. try paying attention to where you hands cross over the tp and if they hit the button and i bet you will see that is what is happening more than likely
-matt

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Answer 15

Edward House Author

Level 1

84 points

Apr 1, 2008 2:54 PM in response to mattathayde

Thanks for the input.
No, my hands are not the problem. I thought the same thing so paid close attention to doing this, thinking the same as you do. But the problem still continued. What I really thought was that I was hitting the "up page" key at the same time as I was hitting the shift key. And I was doing that occasionally but when I paid special attention I noticed that that was not very much the problem.

It has been about 24 hours since I changed the settings in the preferences and so far no problem with cursor skipping. But I am having an annoying problem with cursor delay when first starting to use the trackpad. I remember having this same delay issue on my old G4 desktop so I think it is a Mac software thing with that.

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