giantrats
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Q: Trackpad has gone haywire

My trackpad has gone haywire, and Apple has replaced the trackpad, battery and logic board, but the problem still persists.  The track pad works fine when the computor wakes up from a long sleep or is turned on, but after a while, the cursur moves to the otherside of the screen when I try to click, trying to highlight text or scroll become impossible tasks as the trackpad seems to sense more insuructions than i am giving it.  It is as if there is something else on track pad, even though there isn't.  Nothing happens when the trackpad isn't being touched.  The problem is intermitant, but persists when I've quit all apllications, and when I've created and logged in as a new user.  The curser works fine when I control it from an app on my iPhone, but even with the Mac counterpart of that app closed, the problem persists with the track pad.  Apple has taken the computer in twice:  once to replace just the trackpad and again to replace all other possible componants.  I have downloaded all the virus scanners from the mac app store that I could, and nothing has turned up.  Where might this problem be?

 

Running 10.9.1on a 1.8 GHz Intel Core i7. 

MacBook Air

Posted on Jan 11, 2014 8:42 AM

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giantrats

Q: Trackpad has gone haywire

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  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jan 11, 2014 10:02 AM in response to giantrats
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Jan 11, 2014 10:02 AM in response to giantrats

    There are several possible causes for this issue. Take each of the following steps that you haven't already tried until it's resolved. Some may not be applicable.

    1. Follow the instructions in this support article, and also this one, if applicable.

    2. Open the Bluetooth preference pane in System Preferences and delete all pointing devices other than the trackpad, if applicable. Disconnect any USB pointing devices. By a "pointing device," I mean a peripheral that moves the cursor in response to user input, such as a trackpad, mouse, trackball, or graphics tablet. A plain keyboard is not a pointing device.

    3. 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.

    4. Reset the System Management Controller.

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

    6. A swollen battery in a portable computer 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 without delay.

    7. Press down all four corners of the trackpad at once and release. If there's any effect, it's likely to be temporary, and the unit needs to be serviced or replaced.

    8. 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.

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

    10. If none of the above applies, or if you have another reason to think that 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.

    11. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store to have the machine and/or external trackpad tested.