Mighty Mouse Problem - Jerky And Jumpy

Question

Level 1

8 points

Mighty Mouse Problem - Jerky And Jumpy

I seem to have developed a problem with my cordless Mighty Mouse in the past few days. It's become really erratic - seems to jump around the screen. When I'm moving the mouse to a certain position on the screen, it will just "jump" way over to one side for no apparent reason.

I cleaned the mouse, changed the batteries, checked all the settings. I made a few changes in the Keyboard and Mouse control panel and saved the changes (just to update the preference file) and then reverted back to the old settings. I've tried a different surface (you'd think that would be the main problem - the surface it's on - but that's not the case). Restarted numerous times. Ran YASU. Nothing changes - it just seems to be really "jerky" and "jumpy" all of a sudden.

Has anyone else had this happen and do you have any suggestions on how I can fix this problem? Is this maybe a defective mouse? I've had the mouse for 3 months now.

Maybe this is a system software problem? I haven't changed anything on my system in a few weeks - no updates or anything at all.

Thanks so much,
Gerard

iMac 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - 4 GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Mar 17, 2009 6:00 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 19, 2009 8:54 AM in response to Gerard James

Do you have another Bluetooth device nearby?

I had a new cellphone in my pocket, which I had paired with my Mac, and had the same jerky response to the mouse. I turned off Bluetooth on my cellphone, and my mouse is responsive again.

I might try to make the cellphone "invisible" and try that, but it did seem like the Mac might be trying to sync up wiht my cellphone more than it needs to.

Anyway, it has currently worked for me to resolved the jerky motion.

Good luck

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Answer 2

Mar 20, 2009 12:19 PM in response to Darryl Zurn

OK, that really didn't help. I'm getting the jerky movement again, but frustratingly intermittent.

The only other thing I can think of is that my mouse is on my left, keyboard in center, and Mac Pro under my desk on the right. Maybe there's just a little too much mutual interference to make it work well.

At least if I turn off the mouse until it says "Connection Lost" and then turn it back on, it will seem to clear up for a while.

Still looking for a "real" solution.

Darryl

Message was edited by: Darryl Zurn

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Answer 3

Mar 20, 2009 1:02 PM in response to Gerard James

I'm having the same issue, it seems specially jumpy when I'm using a memory intensive App. like InDesign or Photoshop, never noticed happening while just browsing the web. I've just put new batteries and my software is all updated. It could be interference I guess, but I don't have a bluetooth phone or other wireless device.

Also, I'm on a new MacBook Pro 15" hooked up up to a 30" Cinema Display. If I take the computer home with the mouse and just use it with no external monitor hooked up, it doesn't seem to happen. I'm gonna start keeping better track when it happens.

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Answer 4

Mar 23, 2009 5:28 AM in response to Gerard James

I am having the same problem.
For no reason my mighty mouse started jumping around, I had to turn it off and use my MBP touch pad instead.
I didn't install any new software nor new bluetooth devices.
The same mouse with the same settings worked fine in the past.

Thanks

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Answer 5

octafish

Level 1

38 points

Mar 23, 2009 11:22 PM in response to Gerard James

I'm having the same problem. Becoming quite unusable.

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Answer 6

Mar 25, 2009 2:41 PM in response to octafish

Same problem where. I think it can be related with airport /timemachine Backup (WIFI)

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Answer 7

Mar 25, 2009 6:37 PM in response to Jorge Rui Machado

I don't think it is the WiFi nor the Time-machine because I had them tuned off when mouse became unstable.

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Answer 8

octafish

Level 1

38 points

Mar 25, 2009 8:58 PM in response to Gerard James

I'm sending mine back. My Microsoft Wireless mouse is much better and more stable (believe it or not). Happy with the wireless keyboard though.

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Answer 9

rehatiel

Level 1

0 points

Mar 26, 2009 7:35 PM in response to Gerard James

This might seem like a weird question, but are any of you using the miniport to DVI connector? This is my situation

Jumpy mouse (logitech and keyboard not steady input made by M$).

With secondary monitory (connected to miniport to dvi adapter) cut off, the jumpy ness is all over the place. However, when I turn on the monitor, it goes away or when I unplug the converter.

Hope this helps.. What an odd problem

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Answer 10

Mar 28, 2009 3:00 AM in response to Gerard James

My actual situation with wireless mighty mouse.
Just changed by apple with new one.
It works well with an hp notebook without any problem.
No way to work with mac pro, it is correctly paired, but impossible to use due to imprecision of the movement.
Apple yesterday evening after all other attempts told me to reinstall the os; done with the same result.
I think really there is a problem with bluetooth chip.

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Answer 11

STU9000

Level 1

11 points

Mar 30, 2009 5:37 AM in response to playpiano

I have had the same issue with my mouse since I got it. The keyboard momentarily disconnects and then the mouse starts to get jumpy, like you describe.

Apple have failed to offer a solution to this, and I've tried everything.

I think it is a software issue, because it usually goes back to normal when I close down either safari or iTunes or both.

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Answer 12

Mar 30, 2009 6:56 AM in response to Gerard James

I'm still getting the intermittent jerky wireless mouse behavior. I'm running Tiger (10.4.11) and don't use Safari or iTunes or WiFi or Time Machine but still get the jerk once in a while.

On another thread, someone suggested when it gets jerky to use Bluetooth Setup Assistant to "set up" the mouse again. This basically gets the Mac to assign a new pairing with the mouse, and then it works well again (until the next time it happens)

So it's not a permanent fix, but it's easier than not using the mouse or restarting entirely. (This morning it started within 30 minutes of a cold startup).

This continues to confound and irritate.

Darryl

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Answer 13

Apr 4, 2009 7:32 AM in response to Gerard James

Not sure this will work for you...

My optical mighty mouse will suddenly jump across the screen without warning, but I have found thisonly happens when I use it on a white or shiny reflective surface. If I use it on my lap (I mainly wear black trousers) there is not problem at all.

I have read posts in other forums where it was suggested the user replaces coloured or white mouse mats with matt black ones.

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Answer 14

Apr 4, 2009 10:36 AM in response to Gerard James

I'm experiencing the exact same problem but it isn't restricted to cordless mice.

So far I've tried...
* the wired USB mighty mouse
* an old Logitech cordless mouse
* a bluetooth mouse
* the mouse that came with my Wacom tablet

In all cases the result is identical -- the mouse cursor has a 'skip' or a 'jerk' to its motion every several seconds. If you try drawing even circles with your cursor, or simply dragging the cursor up and down the screen in a straight line, the behavior is very apparent.

It's really annoying.

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Answer 15

STU9000

Level 1

11 points

Apr 6, 2009 4:18 AM in response to C.B.Powell

I'm not sure this is the same as what I am experiencing. The jerky motion occurs sporadically, and can be fixed by closing down programs or disconnecting the mouse and reconnecting.

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