Mouse clicking, clicking, clicking, and...

When the trackpad starts acting out, the first step is to remove the main battery and inspect it for swelling, leaking gor any other signs of distortion. If a battery swells, it puts upward presure on the underside of the trackpad assembly and can casue very strange behavior.

Of couse, the trackpad could simpy be tired. I have a 17" PowerBook from 2003 whose original owner really hammerd the tackpad and there is now a dead spot near the right edge.

However, the other symptoms you describe strong suggest a battery issue.

Graiai wrote:

Occasionally when I open the computer and plug in the mouse, the mouse will click rapidly and repeatedly on its own. When the clicking frenzy happens seems to be random. I can't figure out if it relates to something. I bought a new mouse but am having the same problem.

Does this happen if you uplug the mouse, or startup with only the trackpad? If you are using a different mouse the issue may be in the trackpad, and can quite conceivably be caused by pressure from the battery as Allan suggests.

😉 cornelius

Graiai wrote:

That didn't work. I've tried the mouse in both USB ports. And tried two different mice.

Any other ideas?

What didn't work? Do you mean you tried booting without the mouse plugged in? Did you have the jumping around without the mouse connected?

😉 cornelius

I am trying to see if we can locate the source of the issue by isolating the trackpad function from the mouse. I do not want to know about the mouse as we already know how it behaves, so don't plug it in at all. Simply boot the computer without the mouse plugged in. Test the trackpad. Do you get the jumping around from working with the trackpad?

😉 cornelius

Graiai wrote:

No I don't.

That would seem to eliminate the concern Allan noted about the battery, since the Trackpad seems to be functioning normally. That would seem to indicate that the issue is somehow connected to using the mouse. If you are using a USB mouse is it connected directly to the computer, or via a hub? If the latter, try connecting directly to the computer. Another thought is if you have access to a wireless mouse it might be interesting to see whether that makes a difference.

😉 cornelius

Great! Looks like your issue might be with your USB port or hub, if you are using one.

😉 cornelius

Graiai wrote:

it's both ports though. that's the weird thing

Weird it is. Do the port with other devices?

😉 cornelius