Q: TrackPad on macbook pro troubles

This thread has been great. Thanks to all who have posted. The trackpad on my MBP Retina 15" (purchased Jan 05, 2013) started doing the same thing LAST NIGHT (Aug 31, 2013). Out of the blue, and without me touching the computer, my pointer started moving about erratically and selecting objects left and right and wreaking all kinds of havoc on my desktop. I could only get slight control of it by using a USB mouse. So, I went into Settings->Accessibility and selected "Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present". This enabled me to use a USB mouse and regain control of the pointer, which is vital for me as this laptop is my work computer as well and I cannot perform my engineering job without it!!!

I did try cleaning the track pad (which I do every night anyways) and using a toothpick to clean around the edges (which were already spotless). No good. Tried all the diagnostics (disk verify, permissions verify) and reinstalling OS X 10.8.3. All no good. Problem persisted.

So, I have an appointment with the Genius Bar on Tues and am hoping they can fix it with a new trackpad and battery as per Dugan's experience above. However, this eposode - as well as an earlier one in which I lost the ability to log into the computer, solved by reinstalling the OS - has eroded my confidemce in this product for my job. Given these two problems, I almost a need a backup Mac of some kind in case this happens again! The whole reason I went through the pain of converting to Mac from PC earlier this year was so that I'd have some reliability for my job.

I have also taken to backing up every night to two backup drives in case of failure. Given that I'm into this rig for a good $4K with the laptop and all the additional hardware and software, I am not too pleased at this point.

This is my story to a "T". Six month old computer, $4000 investment, and it had to be sent to the factory to be refurbished. I can't get any work done for a week. I don't know where to go from here, if this is the best it's a sad commentary on big corporations selling out their clientele.

Well, at least we know we're not alone! I also tried resetting PRAM last night but that didn't work either. Pretty sure it's hardware. It's a real shame because I am totally sold on most of the Apple/Mac platform, especially the fact that it's Unix underneath and gives me a pretty darn seamless interface to the Linux workstations we use at work. No need to jump through hoops to VPN and VNC because it's all built into the X11 forwarding and the built-in Mac VPN, although that took some doing, as it is not well documented or supported. But, it works brilliantly and is wicked fast. In fact, my MBP is faster at running apps than equivalent Core i7 Linux desktops at work.

If it's any consolation I did do some research into laptop trackpads, in general, and found just as many folks having issues with PC trackpads as with Mac trackpads. I think it's the nature of the beast. Wired mice are inherently much more reliable than any other pointer interface. Trouble is, it's tough to chill in an easy chair with a laptop and a mouse! At work, I end up using a mix of both, making use of what each does best. I also find that the mouse works better in humid environments where fingertips can tend to stick to a trackpad and not slide very easily.

One other point of context. Do some searches on most reliable laptops out there and Macs seem to top everyone's list, even when running Windows! LOL.

Additionally, I have received EXCELLENT support from my local Apple Store so far. It's another reason I got a Mac. The Apple Store is 2 minutes from my office! Unfortunately, I need to take advantage of that tomorrow.

Well, let us know how the refurbishing works out for ya. I may find out tomorrow that I'm in the same boat!

- Dave

Can you tell me how to get to Settings -> Accessibility? I tired "Track" under Systems Preferences hardware, but I don't see it there.

Thanks.

Well, I don't have my laptop here with me because it's in for repair, but I guess it's "System Preferences"->"Accessibility" in OS X. I was referring to my iPhone, where it's called "Settings". LOL. Sorry. Anyways, I've got a 2-5 day wait while they replace the trackpad and battery. The guy at the Genius Bar only saw it for two seconds before he knew what is was, but he ran diagnostics for thoroughness and then shipped it right out. I need some kind of backup though and was thinking about a bar bones, bottom end MBP 13, to get me through and for for any future issues. Hate to blow the $1200 plus tax when it will really just sit there when I get my MBP Retina 15 back in a few days.

Thanks, Dave, I found it under "Universal Access" in System Preferences. For now, I'm just working with a mouse, which is ok when I'm at my desk. I'll have to see if I can live with that.

I was having a ton of problems with my trackpad on my macbook: wouldn't select, would select everything, opening random files. My battery was also going bad so I decided to get a replacement. Magically my trackpad issues are also gone. I read a few forums and the idea of "battery swelling" seemed to be the issue.

Interestingly enough, my battery checked out OK. But, the Apple Store sent it out for a replacement anyway. He said that to replace the trackpad, they had to replace an assembly which included the battery anyway. Hoping the new assembly includes a fix to prevent this in the future. In the meantime, I bought an MBP Pro 13 as backup (to keep me rollin' on the job), but I'm having trouble getting used to the non-Retina display and the much slower performance! I am definitely spoiled by the Retina 15! It's tough to use anything else, even the big monitors and Linux workstations at the office!

UPDATE:

I ended up doing a backup of my MacBook Pro.

Then I reinstalled Mac OS X 10.8

Then I did the Mac OS X Update 10.8.3

I did not and and will not update to 10.8.4

EVERYTHING works FINE. No trackpad issues. No hanging. Nothing. Everything is as it should be.

I will upgrade to Mac OS X 10.9 when it comes out. Supposedly it will be available when Apple has their presentation and launch on 10 September.

So, I just want to let you guys know that there was no need to replace the trackpad or the battery.

Cheers,

Sam

Mine did begin acting up after an OS update.  I have been using my Macbook by checking the turn off trackpad when using an external mouse tip posted above. My Macbook is not with me right now to check if it is 10.4.  Hopefully the 10.9 update will restore our machines back to full functionality.

There is another thing I did.

As excess heat affects the trackpad and the battery, I did some investigating and found this app that you install on your Mac that increases and adjusts the fan speed to keep the Mac from over heating. You can adjst to different settings as it loads on the menu bar.

A Mac should run between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius.

Ever since I installed the app, my Mac has worked great. So the combination of installing OS X 10.8.3 and this app has done the job for me.

Here is the app link.  It is called smcFanControl.

http://www.eidac.de/?p=243

Cheers,

Sam

Great tips, Sam. But, I suspected 10.8.3 myself and re-loaded the OS to 10.8.3 (which is the default "recovery" version) and the problem went away for a short while. But it came back and persisted even after booting a cold machine. I don't doubt that heat could br playing an issue with your machine, but mine seemed to act up even when cold with 10.8.3.

I got mine back from factory repair as promised: 7 days. AppleCare says: "We replaced these parts-- #605-3511 Top Case w/Battery, US" Symptom: "Trackpad Cursor Not Tracking Properly." I have no idea what the "top case" is, but I realize now that my trackpad was failing for a couple of months, and not "instantly" as I first reported it. What I blamed on finger moisture, lazy palms, and belly overhang all went away with the new "top case and battery." Without a doubt, mine had a burn mark on the back of the aluminum case caused by a partially melted protective case. They removed the stain from the melted plastic too. I'm scared to put the plastic case back on. Depending on the time of day I blame 1) defective parts, or 2) my protective case, or 3) the NSA putting malware on my machine. I suspect it's #1 because Apple replaced it without even blinking. Or maybe...NOW I have NSA malware implanted in my machine. If only I could get that kind of attention on my blog!  :-)

Dugan,

Glad to hear you're rollin' again. I just got back from the Apple Store myself to pick up my MBP Retina 15. It's working great. They also replaced "Top Case w/ Battery" but added "Trackpad Click Not Recognized", which is not exactly the symptom I had, but close enough! It was intermittent, so I don't doubt it didn't immediately behave exactly the same way for them at first blush.

Interestingly, though, they also replaced my Audio Board! Said the symptom was "Internal Speaker - No Audio"! Wow, I didn't even notice! So, they obviously did a thorough check of the whole machine...and with a 5-day turn! Pretty darn amazing, if you ask me! This is exactly why I made the initially painful switch from PC to Mac. Great service and support.

I gotta' hand it to Apple. They knocked it out of the park on this one. Nothing works perfectly forever. So, what separates the men from the boys is how well adversity is handled when it does occur. Apple really handled this about as well as humanly possible. Count me incredibly impressed! NOW, let's hope it keeps on working like this!

- Dave

My wife and two daughters each have a 15" MacBook Pro.  The three computers were purchased in 2011 at the exact same time and are configured indentically.  EACH of the three MacBook Pro's have had their trackpad replaced because of erratic cursors.  Apple store took care of all three of them under warranty and I have nothing but praise for the employees that I dealt with.  This week the problem came back on one of the computers and I have no doubt the trackpad with have to be replaced again.  Everyone raves about their computers but the trackpad has proven to be the achilles heel.  Not sure if they got a bad batch or what but when they start acting up they make the computer unusable.