Mouse moves randomly

Wingman1 wrote:
I've been using a plain piece of white paper as a mouse mat for around 9 days now and the problem has not yet re-occurred!! Perhaps this might be the way to go permanently, although it still doesn't answer the question: what is the basic problem that causes this in the first instance??

My problem occurs with both the mighty mouse and the trackpad so a plain white piece of paper isn't a sufficient solution for me.

I visited the Apple Store Genius Bar (in Japan) and of course my mouse and trackpad worked perfectly while at the store, and when I described the problem to the genius, he said, "I haven't seen this problem before."

In any case, the only suggestions he had was to have Apple replace the trackpad and install this software update: http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1048

He also said that I could try reinstalling Mac OS to see if that helped.

I elected to keep my macbook and tried installing the software update, however the problem is persisting.

I am considering replacing the trackpad, however I also read somewhere that a trackpad film might help as dirt, oil, moisture, etc. could really mess with the trackpad response. I just bought one today ($10 for two) so I will report back whether it helps or not. Not sure if it will cure the problem since the problem also persists while using the mighty mouse.

musicwind95 wrote:
Recently (last week or two), I've noticed another visual artifact—something that looks like my mouse pointer seems to jump across the screen very quickly, and it usually goes all the way to the edge of the screen, setting off an active corner or bringing up my Dock (which is set to hidden until I move the pointer to the bottom of the screen). The "real" cursor hasn't moved at all, but I'm sure I saw something else moving away from that location. Very strange.

Musicwind, did you ever find a solution?

It's definitely an issue with the Magic Mouse.

Once I switched it off and started using my Logitech M555b instead the pointer stopped jumping.

Frank.

I would be very wary of downloading the update at http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1048 as it contains Safari 5. I downloaded Safari 5 separately and found that, after having done that, the visual content of half the videos I had in iTunes had disappeared!! It seems as though Safari 5 was conflicting with one of the video codecs and whilst I still had sound on the videos there was no picture.

I removed Saf 5 and reloaded Saf 4, deleted the faulty videos and re -downloaded them and they were then fine again!! I went onto these Apple Forums to see if anybody else had been having problems with Safari 5 and it seems to be creating all kinds of problems with some computers.

fkoehn wrote:
It's definitely an issue with the Magic Mouse.

Once I switched it off and started using my Logitech M555b instead the pointer stopped jumping.

Frank.

Frank,

I thought it could be an issue with my mouse (which is a mighty mouse, not a magic mouse), however the pointer has acted up while the mouse has been completely disconnected from my laptop.

Thank you for your feedback, though, as maybe it will work for others.

Wingman1 wrote:
I would be very wary of downloading the update at http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1048 as it contains Safari 5. I downloaded Safari 5 separately and found that, after having done that, the visual content of half the videos I had in iTunes had disappeared!! It seems as though Safari 5 was conflicting with one of the video codecs and whilst I still had sound on the videos there was no picture.

I removed Saf 5 and reloaded Saf 4, deleted the faulty videos and re -downloaded them and they were then fine again!! I went onto these Apple Forums to see if anybody else had been having problems with Safari 5 and it seems to be creating all kinds of problems with some computers.

As far as I know, Safari 5 hasn't caused me any problems.

UPDATE:

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was going to buy a trackpad cover to see if that helped at all. Well, after I stuck one of those clear trackpad films on, it seems as though the problems is occurring LESS, however it is still a problem.

I think the next step is to have my trackpad replaced while it is still under warranty.

I'll keep you posted. (sigh)

I don't use a mouse, but I have a similar issue with the trackpad. My cursor doesn't jump around on it's own, but I find that I can't control it. Usually I use one finger to move the cursor around & 2 fingers to click. Randomly since upgrading to SL, it will suddenly be uncontrollable and want me to use 2 finger to move the cursor and then I can't get it exactly where I want it (close, but is jumpy so not exact). And I often can't select or click something. It will go away on its own as suddenly as it came, usually after a few minutes. I never had this problem with Leopard, ONLY since upgrading to Snow Leopard (10.6.4).

I originally thought I accidentally hit a wrong button and changed a setting, but when I go back into settings, I see nothing that appears different, nor anything I could change to put it back.

As it only happened with SL and not Leopard, it would seem related to the upgrade. Also, as it goes as suddenly as it came, it would seem S/W vs. virus. It can't be HW as I am not using a separate mouse with the MacBook Pro.

There's another post related to someone experiencing this with the trackpad, cursor, and mouse and someone suggested something involving Safe Mode, but for a newbie it would seem a difficult fix using safe mode.

It seems to be a setting software glitch and something Apple needs to address as so many of us are having similar issues. I used Leopard for about 8 months with no problem, but it happened almost immediately with SL, which I've had about 2 months. And really - if Apple's software can't control the simplest of functions (mouse / cursor / trackpad) - that's kind of basic and makes me wary about what else is going on (I haven't discovered) or may go wrong.

TJ - I have had my desktop icons automatically resized (smaller) as well.
I have always thought it was me accidentally hitting something, but couldn't find out what it could have been or how to fix it.

They not only resize, but rearrange. I will find them on the opposite side of the screen or the opposite corner - no rhyme or reason.

So I not only have to physically resize EACH one, but move them all back around as well. Ironically, to my knowledge, this has not happened simultaneously with the cursor issue.

For the record - I am using MacBook Pro with SL 10.6.4 (upgrading from Leopard) and have NO mice or external devices connected. My printer is using wireless so is not connected. The only thing I usually have plugged in (from time to time)is my iPhone. Also, as my cursor situation is slightly different (not involving a mouse), it doesn't involve that. It also has nothing to (apparently) do with the surface. I use it on my lap (no desk or reflective surface) and it is somewhat steady (flat). Same way I used it with Leopard, where I did not experience these problems.

Cursor problem also preceded the more recent desktop icon resize / move issue.

Hello - Apple? Anyone at home?

Apples are supposed to keep the doctor away, but apparently don't keep the computer doctors (techs) away . . .

I guess we only become "statistically significant" if we are unique users complaining and not the number of reposts by the same people?

Interesting that the post I put between those other 2 directly to Apple regarding this issue and that we who have this issue (because small in number) are being considered "statistically insignificant" and my being wary about Apple's quality as a result has not posted, but the one I posted AFTER it did.

Censorship, much?

Funny coincidence: I encountered frequent kernel panics while using Google Chrome Development edition.

Ever since I switched to the standard edition, the panics stopped AND the mouse pointer no longer jumps!

The crazy wireless mouse (wireless keyboard too) problem hits me every couple of days. I do believe it is very likely Bluetooth interference. I also have a pen tablet and when this happens, the pen tablet suffers the same fate, i.e., the pen has only "abstract" control of the curser. The keyboard delays, repeats entries and is virtually impossible to use. When this happens, I switch to my Macbook Pro keyboard and pad, or plug in a USB mouse. It goes away usually in a few minutes, but it is maddening to have the interruption. This being an intermittent problem, we can be too quick to claim whatever we were doing at the moment it went away was the "solution" to the wondering curser. The culprit, however, appears to be interference from 802.11b/g WLANs which takes "slots" in the the same 2.4 GHz band of Bluetooth. Microwaves are another source. I am in NYC with a hotel next door, and neighbors all around-- a particularly challenging environment for Bluetooth.

ANOTHER PIECE TO THE PUZZLE!!
i called apple tech support and we figured some stuff out regarding this jumpy mouse problem.

Definitely the case that when my second monitor is ON the problem is gone. Turn it off and the mouse starts jumping. i have an apple led cinema display as main monitor and a samsung as secondary. the main is Mini DisplayPort and the secondary is dvi. the tech said it may have to do with my video card. i have a radeon HD 4870.