16jmcdermott

Q: When not touching the trackpad, the mouse is jumping all over the screen and opens new folders randomly. Bluetooth and Wifi are turned completely off. Help!

When not touching the trackpad, the mouse is jumping all over the screen and opens new folders randomly. Bluetooth and Wifi are turned completely off. Help!

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Sep 18, 2014 9:15 AM

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Q: When not touching the trackpad, the mouse is jumping all over the screen and opens new folders randomly. Bluetooth and Wifi are tu ... more

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  • by PATRICKMELE,

    PATRICKMELE PATRICKMELE Sep 18, 2014 9:38 AM in response to 16jmcdermott
    Level 3 (909 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 18, 2014 9:38 AM in response to 16jmcdermott

    Try and disable the Tap to click in System Preferences and see if it helps?Screen Shot 2014-09-18 at 12.37.45 PM.png

  • by 16jmcdermott,

    16jmcdermott 16jmcdermott Sep 18, 2014 9:40 AM in response to PATRICKMELE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 18, 2014 9:40 AM in response to PATRICKMELE

    No that's not it. The cursor just goes crazy.

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,Helpful

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Sep 18, 2014 9:44 AM in response to 16jmcdermott
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 18, 2014 9:44 AM in response to 16jmcdermott

    See -> http://www.thesafemac.com/how-to-remove-infected-files/.

     

    Good luck,

     

    Clinton

     

    MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011), OS Mavericks 10.9.5, 16GB Crucial RAM, Crucial M500 960GB SSD, 27” Apple Thunderbolt Display

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Sep 18, 2014 4:54 PM in response to 16jmcdermott
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Sep 18, 2014 4:54 PM in response to 16jmcdermott

    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.