Pointer Problem

Question

Nougueirets Author

Level 1

9 points

Pointer Problem

Hello Everyone,

I have a newly-acquired Macbook Air (11" 2013) and have a strange problem with my browser cursor, namely ..

When I hover over a link, the cursor stays as a pointer - not a hand

Other characteristics are :

The link still "works" OK

I happens in Safari, Chrome and Firefox

It doesn't happen all the time, but sooner or later it always does

It sometimes "dithers" between pointer and hand when I move in/out the link

It can sometimes be OK on some links and not others on the same page

It happens on all user accounts

It's (temporarily) fixed by a reboot

My system is up to date and I have an iMac with the same version of OS X and this is OK.

Any ideas?

Many thanks in anticipation

Nougueirets

MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Sep 8, 2013 6:33 AM

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Answer 1

dominic23

Level 10

83,904 points

Sep 8, 2013 6:37 AM in response to Nougueirets

Try Start up in Safe Mode.

http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11212

Best.

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Answer 2

Nougueirets Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 8, 2013 2:15 PM in response to dominic23

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

I'd actually tried that, the thing is, the problem is random - maybe occuring after 30 minutes or so. I've never seen it in Safe Mode - but it certainly recurs after rebooting from that state (after 30+ minutes)

It's very odd - one other thing I've noticed, if I go to another app (Mail for example) and get the hand back, it works again (for a while) in the browser.

I'm surprised it's not more widely observed? Or is it just me?

Salutations

Nougueirets

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Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

684,033 points

Sep 8, 2013 2:21 PM in response to Nougueirets

Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. If Back-to-My Mac is selected in System Preferences, the Guest account will not work. The intent is to see if it is specific to one account or a system wide problem. This account can be deleted later.

Isolating an issue by using another user account

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Answer 4

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,566 points

Sep 8, 2013 5:50 PM in response to Nougueirets

Do you have any Adobe CS apps installed? There is a long thread about the cursor disappearing and it appears linked to Adobe's products.

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Answer 5

Nougueirets Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 9, 2013 6:31 AM in response to Barney-15E

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the suggestions.

I had tried a second user (non-Admin) and the problem still happened.

I don't have any Adobe CS products installed.

However, I decided to uninstall apps until (and if) the problem went away. I started with "CursorSense", as it seemed an obvious candidate and after uninstalling, the problem hasn't reappeared. Now I know this is only circumstantial evidence, but so far (after a heavy day's use) the "non-appearing hand" problem hasn't happened after removing CursorSense.

Only time will tell ......

Salutations,

Nougueirets

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Answer 6

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,566 points

Sep 9, 2013 8:05 PM in response to Nougueirets

Hmm. A program that messes with the cursor is uninstalled and the cursor problem goes away.

I wouldn't consider that circumstantial.

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Answer 7

Nougueirets Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 9, 2013 11:57 PM in response to Barney-15E

I guess you're right - I just didn't want to point the finger too much.

I contacted the author to see if they're aware of any problems, but no reply as yet ...

Anyway, thanks for your input.

Salutations,

Nougueirets

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Answer 8

Sep 15, 2013 2:36 PM in response to Nougueirets

I have been experiencing the same problem for the last several weeks (MacBook Pro, early 2011, OSX 10.8.4), and I do not have any Adobe CS products or CursorSense installed.

It goes away when you reboot, and then comes back at seemingly random times.

Giuseppe

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Answer 9

Nougueirets Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 15, 2013 11:18 PM in response to Giuseppe from Verona

Hi Giuseppe,

This is my update ...

I uninstalled the suspected program (CursorSense) and the problem seemed to go away.

However, after a couple of days, it re-appeared - so obviously CursorSense isn't the cause.

Yes, it goes away after a reboot, but reappears after a random time. I haven't had it for a couple of days, so I live in hope!

I also found that "cmd-tab" to a different program, then back again, restores the proper pointer-hand.

I've now updated to 10.8.5 and haven't had it so far ......

I also don't have any Adobe CS products installed.

Salutations,

Nougueirets

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Answer 10

Nougueirets Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 24, 2013 1:16 PM in response to Nougueirets

Another update ...

It came back again, but ...

If I do the "four finger up" trick to get to Mission Control and then the "four finger down" to go back, the problem disappears until the next time.

Weird.

Salutations,

Nougueirets

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