my boss used to have this same prob on his Lat when he attached a ps/2 mouse; it never affected me-until now. I just had my 610 reimaged with xp w/sp1 and the synaptics touchpad drivers were not reinstalled (realized this when i tried to adjust my sensitivity settings and there was no tab). I just downloaded/installed the latest driver and will see if it fixes issue. Not too sure because my pointer started drifting again but did not go all the way to the left
Is your mouse a laser mouse? I have had many problems with users who use laser mouses. The mouses tend to wonder around on certain surfaces. If you do have a laser mouse you should try getting a pad made for a laser mouse.
If you don't have a laser mouse make sure your mouse insides have been cleaned as many particles such as dust get attached to the rollers inside.
Also try run Adaware. it can be downloaded for free off of the net. Suspect any programs you may have recently installed as well.
If by 'laser' mouse you mean 'optical' - then yes I do.
I have a Genius Netscroll + Eye - it's on a proper mouse mat. I've been using it for a good year without trouble.
The other two mice I tried were the normal 'rollerball' type and they didn't change anything.
Spybot Search and Destroy is in my opinion better than Adaware but it didn't find anything so it's not that.
I just downloaded the latest Synaptics drivers - mine were the version before - but they havn't cured it.
This is not a drifting problem - the thing can draw a circle, zig zag, shoot in any direction etc whenever it chooses to.
Only thing that's been put on the drive since before this started were a couple of critical patches for W2K via Windows Update and I can't think of any software that might be causing it.
Oh well maybe I'll have to do a system install if it continues for much longer - it's getting on my nerves.
Along those lines, since installing the latest synaptics drivers, i now have "control" over my devices. I went into control panel and disabled the mouse device hidden in the "G", "H", "B" keys. I also modified my sensitivity settings of my touchpad; i do not use an external device while on the road/at home and the lightest touch on the pad caused me typing grief...haven't had the drift since < >< >< >
I have the same problem and i think it is a hardware-problem. when my mouse pointer is running out of control and i press somewhere near the keyboard so i can change the direction of the crazy walk ... very strange ....
Your problem is that you have a bad palmrest assembly. If you get a new one through Dell you will pay around $80 (that is if you are out of wrnty). You can find one for around $25 @
h*tp://www.laptopsetc.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=130 (fix the url to get there).. I have been through tons of new ones.. Its a problem on alot of machines
This is very common with C600 and C610 laptops. SOMETIMES (not always), making sure the keyboard screws are tightened down will also fix the problem. In some cases, actually removing the keyboard, then re-installing fixed the issue. If that still doesn't work, then we resort to replacing the TouchPad/Palmrest. Sounds confusing, I know, but I've fixed at least 10 systems this way.
If the drivers are installed, go into the Mouse control panel (usually Start | Settings | Control Panel | Mouse for Win9x/2000 and Start | Control Panel | Input Devices | Mouse for WinXP).
There should be a PointStick tab. This is where you can enable/disable it. Touchpad drivers vary, so it may not be in the same tab, but the option should be there in one of them.
Very common problem on the C600 / C610. I support over 500 of this model for my company and have had this problem on a large number of them. Sometimes upgrading the bios and then downloading the latest drivers, uninstalling the old driver for the touchpad and then installing the new drivers that were just downloaded help. Most of the times it is just a bandaid, temporary fix. Disabling the point stick is a bandaid also, as the problem seems to be caused by the point stick having a mind of its own, whether you use it or not. A laptop keyboard replacement normally fixes it, but a keyboard replacement along with a palmrest replacement almost always resolves the problem for good. I've seen that the keyboard ribbon cable is almost always bent under the palmrest and routed to the keyboard connection on the system board. By applying slight pressure near the touchpad mouse, the cursor will move on its own. I have always removed the keyboard and routed the cable under the keyboard, instead of pinching it under the palmrest. As you can see, this problem is common, but can be caused by many factors. Good Luck!
Folks - since starting this thread my problem got worse and it was like there was an evil spirit in my machine playing with my cursor
As I still have over a years warranty left I let the local Dell agent take a look last week and the outcome was a new palmrest being put in - and bingo no trouble since.
So I now have a sane mahine again and if anyone else is still suffering I would suggest trying what I got for free.
Thanks for all the input - it has been a rag losing experience along the way but I hope anybody with similar trouble will be more the wiser after reading this thread.
fort1t
3 Posts
0
February 24th, 2004 02:00
my boss used to have this same prob on his Lat when he attached a ps/2 mouse; it never affected me-until now. I just had my 610 reimaged with xp w/sp1 and the synaptics touchpad drivers were not reinstalled (realized this when i tried to adjust my sensitivity settings and there was no tab). I just downloaded/installed the latest driver and will see if it fixes issue. Not too sure because my pointer started drifting again but did not go all the way to the left
blitztech
14 Posts
0
February 24th, 2004 02:00
Is your mouse a laser mouse? I have had many problems with users who use laser mouses. The mouses tend to wonder around on certain surfaces. If you do have a laser mouse you should try getting a pad made for a laser mouse.
If you don't have a laser mouse make sure your mouse insides have been cleaned as many particles such as dust get attached to the rollers inside.
Also try run Adaware. it can be downloaded for free off of the net. Suspect any programs you may have recently installed as well.
speedbird_001
5 Posts
0
February 24th, 2004 09:00
If by 'laser' mouse you mean 'optical' - then yes I do.
I have a Genius Netscroll + Eye - it's on a proper mouse mat. I've been using it for a good year without trouble.
The other two mice I tried were the normal 'rollerball' type and they didn't change anything.
Spybot Search and Destroy is in my opinion better than Adaware but it didn't find anything so it's not that.
I just downloaded the latest Synaptics drivers - mine were the version before - but they havn't cured it.
This is not a drifting problem - the thing can draw a circle, zig zag, shoot in any direction etc whenever it chooses to.
Only thing that's been put on the drive since before this started were a couple of critical patches for W2K via Windows Update and I can't think of any software that might be causing it.
Oh well maybe I'll have to do a system install if it continues for much longer - it's getting on my nerves.
Colin
secondlion
23 Posts
0
February 26th, 2004 23:00
fort1t
3 Posts
0
February 27th, 2004 02:00
Der_Regenmacher
2 Posts
0
March 1st, 2004 05:00
I have the same problem and i think it is a hardware-problem. when my mouse pointer is running out of control and i press somewhere near the keyboard so i can change the direction of the crazy walk ... very strange ....
hope someone can help
GraceTsunamii
5 Posts
0
March 8th, 2004 16:00
DrJen
6 Posts
0
March 8th, 2004 23:00
Der_Regenmacher
2 Posts
0
March 9th, 2004 04:00
I fixed my problems
I just disabled the mouse-STICK and had no further problems since a few days ....
Caz_2002
1 Message
0
March 9th, 2004 11:00
DrJen
6 Posts
0
March 9th, 2004 12:00
If the drivers are installed, go into the Mouse control panel (usually Start | Settings | Control Panel | Mouse for Win9x/2000 and Start | Control Panel | Input Devices | Mouse for WinXP).
There should be a PointStick tab. This is where you can enable/disable it. Touchpad drivers vary, so it may not be in the same tab, but the option should be there in one of them.
dale8fan
23 Posts
0
March 23rd, 2004 19:00
speedbird_001
5 Posts
0
March 23rd, 2004 21:00
Folks - since starting this thread my problem got worse and it was like there was an evil spirit in my machine playing with my cursor
As I still have over a years warranty left I let the local Dell agent take a look last week and the outcome was a new palmrest being put in - and bingo no trouble since.
So I now have a sane mahine again
and if anyone else is still suffering I would suggest trying what I got for free.
Thanks for all the input - it has been a rag losing experience along the way but I hope anybody with similar trouble will be more the wiser after reading this thread.
Colin