kingbrhino

Q: iMac both bluetooth and USB mouse are glitching and jumping off screen

Currently running OSX 10.9.4

For the past few boots neither my bluetooth or USB mouse are behaving normally.  The mouse pointer will click and open applications and documents if I can hunt it down and precariously place it on the desired icon, however, it jumps erratically and often moves off of the screen.  I cant seem to fix it in my mouse system preference settings or with any disk utility.  Any suggestions?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Aug 19, 2014 9:49 AM

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Q: iMac both bluetooth and USB mouse are glitching and jumping off screen

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  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Aug 19, 2014 9:59 AM in response to kingbrhino
    Level 9 (58,956 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 19, 2014 9:59 AM in response to kingbrhino


    You may want to try doing both a SMC and PRAM resets. If you have not done these before click iMac SMC and PRAM reset and then post back with your results.

  • by Linc Davis,Helpful

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Aug 19, 2014 11:33 AM in response to kingbrhino
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Aug 19, 2014 11:33 AM in response to kingbrhino

    There are several possible causes for this issue. Please take each of the following steps that you haven't already tried until it's resolved. Some may not apply in your case.

    1. Follow the instructions in this support article, and also this one, if applicable. A damaged or defective AC adapter could be the cause, even if it's the right kind.

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

    3. 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, such as a trackpad, mouse, trackball, or graphics tablet. A plain keyboard is not a pointing device.

    4. Start up 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 restart as usual, stop here and post your results. Do the same if you can't start in safe mode. If there was no difference in safe mode, go on to the next step.

    5. Reset the System Management Controller.

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

    7. 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.

    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.

  • by kingbrhino,Solvedanswer

    kingbrhino kingbrhino Aug 19, 2014 2:02 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 19, 2014 2:02 PM in response to Linc Davis

    #9 fixed it! Though the display was powered.  Once I disconnected the external display mouse function went back to normal.

     

    Thanks!!