macbook pro trackpad problem

Further to my last post, my replacement trackpad (salvaged, ebay) has solved my problem. All back to normal now!

if you have a wireless trackpad, make sure it is turned off, or turn your bluetooth off. if anything is resting, or pressing on the wireless trackpad it will interfere with the trackpad on your computer.

For what it's worth:

I took my MacBook Pro, 15", OS 10.8.4 to the Genius Bar at the Apple Store.

I described my problem with my trackpad not responding or automatically selecting or clicking on random things.

My pad had no give when I pressed on it. It would work for a short period of time after I restarted.

I was told my BATTERY was getting old and was SWELLING, causing the trackpad to malfunction since the battery is direcdtly underneath the trackpad.

It was the battery. Problem solved.

This seems to have fixed the problem. Hopefully it will remain fixed. Thanks. Pushing down on the entire trackpad with my palm seems to have fixed the issue.

The battery may be swollen:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2589804?start=135&tstart=0

Also, an external mouse may be a temporary fix.

wow i've been trying everything under the sun to figure this out. Who knew the solution was in my grasp the whole time! Thanks this was drving me crazy!!!!

Same problem for my Macbook Pro early 2011. It started spontaneously, with no apparent cause and made my MBP nearly useless. Trackpad was clean, haven't travelled with or dropped it, nothing out of the ordinary. I scoured the internet and here's my fix:

Disk Utility "Repair Disk Permissions."

I had trouble at first as the mouse/trackpad repeatedly clicked "Stop Disk Repair" and interrupted the process. Once I was able to move the cursor, DU found printer permissions that needed repair ("should be 80; set at 0"). Problem solved ... for now.

My experience

I have an older MacBook 13 with trackpad and a clicker. Well, strange things started to happen: no response, weird issues on the screen, typos flying all over while using some apps... terrible.

I took the battery out and disconnected power supply. Instead of using thin paper to clean the clicker as someone suggested (being afaraid that a piece of paper may stick underneath), I found a film negative, scrapped down the emulsion, cut 1/4 of an inch piece of film and with that, I was able to clean the space between alum. plates. After that, using compressed air in a can, I did thorough cleaning of the area.

But the problem persisted although the clicking pad was/is working perfectly.

Then I realised that I installed Dropbox a few days ago. I uninstaled the app, repaired the permissions, and the MacBook is working like a charm.

Was it the cleaning or Dropbox or a combo... but this is my case.

If you (generalized) have a '11 MBP or newer, the cause of this ghost trackpad, is likely the battery wrapping. The new MBP have the battery directly under the track pad.

Per my original post in January, it very well could the adhesion on battery separating from the battery, creating pockets of air and rubbing against the underside of the trackpad.

For me... removing the wrapping and replacing it with black duct tape solved the issue.

Well, now with some certainity I can say that on my 'oldie' MacBook (not Pro) with OS 10.6, the problem was Dropbox. Since removing it, I still sometimes have to click again on my trackpad clicker, but there is no ghosting or freezing.

it didnt work out????

I just fixed my friend's MacBook Pro's crazy trackpad by cleaning around the edges with a toothpick and getting out a lot of gunk. And to my surprise it started wirking normally again!

well... after trying probably everything in this thread.. cleaning the trackpad, running it without battery, resetting SMC, PRAM, disk repair, fixing permissions, remove startup items, and god knows what else.

Then I finally came to the last page of this thread and completly despared removed dropbox, and ALL the trackpad problems seem te be gone. (was experiencing erratic beheaviour, spontanious clicks and multitouch swipes).

Can't recall any dropbox update, but something is messed up with dropbox and my late 2009 MBP (5,5) with osx 10.7.5

I’m having thre same problem except with my Kensington mouse on my MacBook Air and also on my MacBook Pro with a cordless Logitech mouse. I suspect it is some kind of change in the systen since it is happening on 2 different computers with 2 different types of mice. Maybe something n a security upgrade? Whatever the cause, it is driving me crazy!!!!

As I indicated above, I did solve my MacBook issues by uninstaling Dropbox.

I must add that Dropbox was causing problem with Google Drive as well. Every time my Mac woke-up after sleep, Mac was unable to find Google Drive on the Web. Same was if there was an interruption in Internet services by my provider: the Google Drive triangle would become gray and not responsive. Then I had to restart my Mac and repeatedly 'allow' my system to load and accept/recognize Google Drive.

Since Dropbox was removed, I have no issues with Google Drive anymore.

Note that I have no association with Dropbox competitors in any way or with Google itself. This is only my personal experience.

I own MacBook 13' utilising OS 10.6.8 (Snow)