stevensmena

Q: My cursor moves on it's own and does not respond to my movement on the trackpad or a USB mouse.

Just today, for some reason unknown to me, my cursor started moving erractically and does not respond to my touch on the trackpad.  I tried tightning the screws that hold my trackpad and yet the problem persists.  My battery does not seem to be expanded or swollen but I could be wrong.  The cursor moves erratically even when I have a USB mouse connected so I think the problem goes beyond my tracking pad.  Please help! I've had a lot of success using the apple communities. 

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Jul 20, 2013 5:05 AM

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Q: My cursor moves on it's own and does not respond to my movement on the trackpad or a USB mouse.

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  • by Linc Davis,Helpful

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jul 20, 2013 4:09 PM in response to stevensmena
    Level 10 (208,000 points)
    Applications
    Jul 20, 2013 4:09 PM in response to stevensmena

    There are several possible causes for this issue. Take each of the following steps until it's resolved.

    1. Follow the instructions in this support article.

    2. Boot in safe mode and test, preferably without launching any third-party applications. If you don't have the problem in safe mode, but it comes back when you reboot as usual, stop here and post your results. If you can't boot in safe mode, do the same. If you booted in safe mode and there was no change, go on to the next step.

    3. Reset the System Management Controller.

    4. If you're using a Bluetooth trackpad, investigate potential sources of interference, including USB 3 devices.

    5. A swollen battery in a MacBook Pro or Air can impinge on the trackpad from below and cause erratic behavior. If you have trouble clicking the trackpad, this is likely the reason. The battery must be replaced.

    6. There's a report that a (possibly defective) Thunderbolt Ethernet adapter can cause the built in trackpad of a MacBook to  behave erratically. If you're using such an adapter, disconnect it and test.

    7. There's also a report of erratic cursor movements caused by an external display that was connected but not turned on.

    8. If none of the above applies, or if you have another reason to think your computer is being remotely controlled, remove it from the network by turning off Wi-Fi (or your Wi-Fi access point), disconnecting from a Bluetooth network link, and unplugging the Ethernet cable or USB modem, whichever is applicable. If the cursor movements stop at once, you should suspect an intrusion.

    9. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store to have the machine tested.

  • by stevensmena,Solvedanswer

    stevensmena stevensmena Jul 20, 2013 5:48 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 20, 2013 5:48 PM in response to Linc Davis

    I reseted my PRAM and now my cursor works perfectly. 

  • by Ezannawi,

    Ezannawi Ezannawi Jul 21, 2013 1:31 AM in response to stevensmena
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 21, 2013 1:31 AM in response to stevensmena

    I have the same problem with my cursor. What is PRAM?

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Jul 21, 2013 2:02 AM in response to Ezannawi
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 21, 2013 2:02 AM in response to Ezannawi

    Resetting PRAM -> http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379.

     

    Good luck,

     

    Clinton

  • by stevensmena,

    stevensmena stevensmena Jul 23, 2013 6:19 PM in response to clintonfrombirmingham
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 23, 2013 6:19 PM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

    Reseting the PRAM only worked for about 3 hours and then the cursor became erratic again.  Anybody else have another solution?

  • by kikilee100,

    kikilee100 kikilee100 Jul 26, 2013 6:39 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 26, 2013 6:39 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Booting up in safe mode fixes the problem but it comes back in normal startup, what does that mean?

  • by jgoldoh,

    jgoldoh jgoldoh Jul 27, 2013 4:57 AM in response to stevensmena
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2013 4:57 AM in response to stevensmena

    Similar results here.  Trackpad was generally (and suddently) unresponsive and jittery.  Resetting the NVRAM gave me back the top half of my trackpad for about 30 minutes but is now flaking out again.  Seems that only the very top is responsive and it is now registering the wrong # of touches.

     

    I see a trip to the Genius bar in my future.

  • by DDilroy,

    DDilroy DDilroy Jul 27, 2013 9:12 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2013 9:12 AM in response to Linc Davis

    The reboot in Safe and then reboot normal resolved problem, so I guess it just needed a reboot. Thanks.

  • by atlantisur,

    atlantisur atlantisur Sep 21, 2013 11:36 PM in response to stevensmena
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 21, 2013 11:36 PM in response to stevensmena

    I'm having the same issue. I can get it to work for a few hours, sometimes even a day, but then it goes back to moving around again. Is there any info as to WHY this is happening?  Maybe that can help in stopping this once and for all. There's not much use in a computer that does whatever it wants and YOU can't.

  • by jgoldoh,

    jgoldoh jgoldoh Sep 23, 2013 3:59 AM in response to atlantisur
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 23, 2013 3:59 AM in response to atlantisur

    For me, I ended up taking it in to get serviced as I could find no other solution.   :-\

  • by jazzrascal,

    jazzrascal jazzrascal Sep 24, 2013 2:46 PM in response to stevensmena
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 24, 2013 2:46 PM in response to stevensmena

    Hi...

    My MacBook Pro has had this problem off and on and I accidentally discovered a way to "cure" it. When the cursor starts getting erratic, I quickly close the cover of my MacBook and wait a little. When I open it again, the cursor has usually calmed down, at least for a minute. Sometimes I have to do this over and over for several days, and then it finally stops. This last time it happened, it stopped in much less time than it had before. It takes patience, but it works, and you don't need to call a technician.

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Sep 24, 2013 3:14 PM in response to jazzrascal
    Level 7 (30,924 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 24, 2013 3:14 PM in response to jazzrascal

    jazzrascal:

     

    This is excessively bad advice! What you are recommending really just amounts to ignoring the symptoms and hoping that the problem goes away. If this is being caused by a swollen battery, ignoring it could result in permanent damage to the computer. If it is actually being caused by someone accessing the computer remotely, ignoring it gives them more opportunities to do something malicious.

     

    Please stop posting this advice everywhere!

  • by Blublud02,

    Blublud02 Blublud02 Feb 11, 2014 2:20 PM in response to stevensmena
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Feb 11, 2014 2:20 PM in response to stevensmena

    PROBLEM SOLVED!

    Thank the Lord! My mouse cursor was moving erratically, seemed to be opening tabs, maybe doing the equivalent of holding shift and dragging, minimized windows, etc. Pretty much the same problems I see on other's posts.

     

    I tried dissonnecting WI-FI, then shutting off Bluetooth, Disconnected and Turned off my Bluetooth Mouse, disconnected my wireless keyboard nub from the USB port, tried shutting off my Macbook and restrarting. I even shut the lid of my Macbook and worked off my second monitor in clamshell mode. NOTHING WORKED.

     

    I thought I was hacked or had some type of Malware for sure, but it was a simple fix that I found on another help board.

     

    I clean my Mac, keyboard and mouse regularly and had just got done wiping everything with a cloth with a mixture of warm water and rubbing alcohol (recommended)

     

    I saw on another board that someone fixed their problem by moving their trackpad (gently) to the right, since the trackpad seemed to be too snug on the left side of the macbook body edge it sits in.

     

    I moved the trackpad over and it took care of my problem immediately.

     

    It was comforting to learn that Malware on a Mac is in fact still rare and that it is unlikely that someone would hack into your computer to 'remote control' your machine and be obvious about it.

     

    No ghost in the machine. Trackpad is incredibly sensiitive I've learned.

    Share the knowledge!

     

    Blessings!

  • by TexasOma,

    TexasOma TexasOma Jun 12, 2014 9:10 AM in response to Blublud02
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 12, 2014 9:10 AM in response to Blublud02

    Blublud02,

    thank you for your advice. My cursor went crazy and I realized it was after I cleaned it. So I gently pressed from the left side to the right side of the pad and my cursor is obeying me again. Thanks

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