Mouse moves erratically, curser moves up or down several lines of text while typing.

I am the Certified WPD support tech for Arizona State University and its one to one program for both Tempe and Phoenix campus locations.
Back in February of this year a student brought me his Latitude D620 laptop explaining to me that the mouse curser was behaving erratically on the desktop and jumping lines of text in any text application. I verified the problem by using the computer myself and I got the same results.
I had experienced a very similar situation a few years back while answering a service call for another client but was never able to find a resolution to this problem.
The fact is that this problem in at least most cases is not a hardware problem but instead a software issue that is unique to each customer. The intent of this letter is to point out the best way I have found to fix the issue. What follows is the order that I would use to fix this problem if and when it comes about again. Please take note all the different variables that can play a role in creating this issue which is why it is so hard to find a solution to the problem. The fact is there are many different resolutions depending mainly on the hand movement of the user.

Problem: Mouse moves erratically across desktop against users hand movement and curser moves up or down several lines of text while typing in a word application using any of Dells portable laptop models. I have now seen it on a Latitude D620, D820, D600 and Inspiron 5100.

1) Diagnose which problem you are dealing with since there are several causes for this. The best way I found to do this is have the user as well as yourself use and external mouse and keyboard to duplicate the problem. If the problem still exist while doing this than go to Step 2. If the problem is no longer an issue while using the external mouse and keyboard than move to Step 3.
2)Check for Spy ware and prank software especially those designed to cause the mouse to do things on its own. If you find any of them remove them and try to see if problem is gone and retry step one.
From here forward just follow what Dell tech support has already documented.
Journal ID: 0717739BBD
Article ID: 277971
Date Published: 2/24/2005
Last Revised: 6/26/2007

Please note you may as I did have both spy ware problems as well as control panel issues. Also this document is just a guide to the solution and each customer will have different hand movements and typing habits so you will need to adjust the software to the customer just as I did. Just following this document in most cases will not necessarily solve the issue
3)Follow this guide which is posted on Dells web site.

Table of Contents
Determine which touchpad software is in the system.

Reinstall the mouse drivers.

Adjust touchpad sensitivity (Alps)

Disable the tapping function on the Alps touchpad.

Adjust the Synaptics touchpad sensitivity.

Disable tapping function (Synaptics)

Communicate with other Dell customers


Dell Solution Network: Knowledge Base Article



» Determine which touchpad software is in the system.

Adjustment of the touchpad sensitivity depends on which software application is installed in the system, Alps/Apoint or Synaptics.
1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and double-click Control Panel
2. Double-click the System icon to open the System Properties.
3. Click the Hardware tab.
4. Click the Device Manager button.
5. Double-click Mice and other pointing devices.
6. Determine which touchpad is listed under this category.
7. Close Device Manager.
8. Click OK to close System Properties.
9. Close Control Panel.


» Reinstall the mouse drivers.

To remove the mouse driver, perform the following steps:
1. Click the Start button and click Control Panel.

NOTE: For Windows 9x, Windows ME, or Windows 2000, you may have to click Start, highlight Settings, then click Control Panel.
2.
3. The Control Panel window appears.
4. Double-click the System icon.
5. If present, click the Hardware tab.
6. Click Device Manager.
7. Click the plus (+) sign next to the Mice and other pointing devices category.
8. Right-click the name of the driver you want to uninstall and then left-click Uninstall or Remove.
To download and reinstall the mouse driver, perform the following steps:
1. Browse to Support.Dell.Com.

NOTE: If your system shipped prior to Sept. 2, 2004 or otherwise shipped with the legacy Dell Resource CD media, browse to the Software Reinstall Guide instead.
2.
3. Click Drivers and Downloads under the Option 1: Most Popular Selections section.
The Drivers and Downloads page opens.
4. Input the Service Tag or Product Type and Product Model.
5. Click Go.
The Drivers and Downloads Search Criteria page opens.

NOTE: Click the appropriate Edit button and select the operating system and language you want using the drop-down menu if the default values are not correct.
6.
7. Scroll down the list of available drivers until is visible.
8. Click the that you want to select.

NOTE: You may have to specify a installation method or a specific operating system type.
9.
10. Click Download Now in the File Name section.
The File Download - Security Warning window appears.
11. Click Save.
Using the Save In: drop-down menu, select My Documents, then click Save.
12. Click Open when the download completes.
13. Click Continue.
The Select the folder where you want to unzip the files to window appears.
14. Click OK.
The Folder does not exist. Do you want to create it? window appears.
15. Click Yes.
The All files were successfully unzipped window appears.

NOTE: When the message appears asking to overwrite the folder, click the Yes to All button.
16.
17. Click OK and follow the onscreen instructions.

» Adjust touchpad sensitivity (Alps)

Touchpad performance is largely based upon human factors, which makes it difficult to quantify problems. Personal or environment factors such as skin type, temperature, and humidity can change the way touchpad performance is perceived.
People who use multiple touchpads from different vendors on a regular basis are more likely to notice subtle differences in performance.
Many adjustments are available for the Alps touchpad in the Mouse Properties, located in the Control Panel. These adjustments should be modified to meet each user’s specific needs
1. Click on the Start button, point to Settings, and double-click on Control Panel
2. Double-click on the Mouse icon to open the Mouse Properties.
3. Click on the Touch Pad tab.
4. Ensure the Tap off when typing box is checked.
5. Click on the Touch Sensitivity Button.
6. Adjust the sensitivity towards Low.
7. Click Apply.
8. Click Ok.
9. Click Ok.

Disable the tapping function on the Alps touchpad.

Many adjustments are available for the Alps touchpad in the Mouse Properties, located in the Control Panel. However, sometimes disabling the tapping function is the only way to resolve the issue.
1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and double-click Control Panel.
The Control Panel window opens.
2. Double-click the Mouse icon.
The Mouse Properties window appears.
3. Click the Touch Pad tab.
4. Click to uncheck the Tapping box.
5. Click Apply.
6. Click Ok.


» Adjust the Synaptics touchpad sensitivity.

Touchpad performance is largely based upon human factors, which makes it difficult to quantify problems. Personal or environment factors such as skin type, temperature, and humidity can change the way touchpad performance is perceived.
People who use multiple touchpads from different vendors on a regular basis are more likely to notice subtle differences in performance.
Many adjustments are available for the Synaptics touchpad in the Mouse Properties, located in the Control Panel. These adjustments should be modified to meet each user’s specific needs.
1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and double-click Control Panel.
The Control Panel window opens.
2. Double-click the Mouse icon.
The Mouse Properties window opens.
3. Click the Device Settings tab.
4. Click the Settings button.
5. Double-click Sensitivity.
6. Click Touch Sensitivity.
7. Adjust the sensitivity towards Heavy Touch.
8. Click Apply.
9. Click Ok.
10. Click Ok.


» Disable tapping function (Synaptics)

Many adjustments are available for the Synaptics touchpad in the Mouse Properties, located in the Control Panel. However, sometimes disabling tapping is the only way to resolve the issue.
1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and double-click Control Panel.
2. Double-click on the Mouse icon to open the Mouse Properties.
3. Click the Device Settings tab.
4. Click the Settings button.
5. Click Tapping.
6. Click to uncheck the Enable Tapping box.
7. Click Apply.
8. Click Ok.
9. Click Ok.

Final Notes:
Please keep in mind there is always a slight and I stress very slight chance this problem is caused due to a hardware problem. Save yourself some embarrassment and grief and take the above steps first before ordering any parts. WPD phone support will actually recommend that you do order parts but hopefully once the word gets around they will also be recommending these steps. I replaced just about every replaceable part on this D620. Then sent it to Houston for evaluation and they also replaced just about every FRP possible on the D620. The unit was finally replaced with a brand new D620 and the problem still existed. Unfortunately not many of the support personnel for WPD have knowledge of this support document and I found it by researching the web. I also found that this problem is documented all over the web and most claim it is a Dell problem and most still don’t know how to fix it. I honestly wrote this letter with one intent and that is to get the word out to those who support Dell and it’s customers so they can fix this issue in a timely manor and show this is a configuration issue that needs to be tailored to the customer and has nothing to do with the way their laptop was built.

Please feel free to send me any comments, questions or suggestions.