Point wanders

Question

My point cursor drifts sometimes slowly, sometimes fast either to the top right or bottom left on my inspiron 8000, windows 2000. I have reinstalled the synaptics touchpad driver and it hasn't corrected the problem. I can't find the way to turn off the pointer stick to see if that is the problem. I haven't updated the bios yet but wanted to see if there was anything else to do first. It is annoying and makes it unable to use at times. can anyone help?

GreyMack · Answer

I used to have this problem on my I8100/ME. I believe this problem was solved when I disabled the Pointing Stick under Mouse Properties. GM

grumpy3b · Answer

same issue with my i8500...I am wondering is I can just substitue a mouse pad from an i5000 as I never had probems with that system and I have an extra touchpad...but I really suspect the driver is not up to snuff for the screen settings...

Hugh Tamassia · Answer

I have had the same problem with my Inspiron 8000 for over a year now. Seems to happen most when I pick up the laptop or use it on a surface that is not perfectly flat - so I've begun to assume that its a hardware issue, not something I can regulate through software.

Several people have posted about this on Google - best recommendation is to turn off the stick pointer.

Can anyone point me to a version of the driver that lets me do this? I downloaded the most recent driver off of the Dell support site and my mouse stopped working completely.

philnjenn · Answer

I found a solution that works for me but won't be perfect for everyone. In the set-up section when the computer is booting up, I changed the mouse options. I set the option where it only uses a serial mouse. Now, I use a serial USB external mouse and haven't had any problems. Obviously, you are not able to use the touchpad or the point stick and some of you who travel will find it a pain to have to carry your mouse. But at least I can use my computer now and not chase a wandering cursor. By the way, most computer people I have talked to about it says that it is probably a bad touchpad and that through replacing, it could be solved. That was not an option for me as I will probably get a new computer next year and didn't want to fool with it.

mattadoc · Answer

Thanks for the tip.  I also use a USB mouse with my Inspiron 4000, and changing the boot set-up to 'Serial Mouse' has solved the problem so that my computer is functional again with the USB mouse alone.  I'm more than happy to sacrifice use of the touchpad and stick.  Thanks again.

patridge · Answer

Disabling the point stick fixed it for me, too. I believe they have replaced my track pad under warranty a couple times (at least once) and that never fixed the problem. Since it was affected by pressure around the track pad, I never thought for a moment it could be that worthless purple nub causing all the trouble. Too bad there isn't a way to disable the point stick in the BIOS so the computer is unaffected under any operating system (part of my troubleshooting process was to boot a live Linux CD and the Synaptics' drivers aren't real helpful then). It may not be worth the effort, but it looks like there might be an option of removing that evil (and useless) little stick.

ScottPed4100 · Answer

I had this problem for a year before I fiured it out on my 4100. The problem is the trackstick. I intially corrected the problem by disabling it using the touchpad software. I could see as the PC booted up and prior to the drivers loading my mouse wandering across the screen. Right after the touchpad driver loaded, I would see it stop. Unfortunately, after a few months, just moving my laptop would cause the mouse to move, freeze or disappear. I tried updating the bios, reloading the OS -- nothing worked. I was about to give up when I figured I would try buying a new keyboard assembly. Before I did that however, I removed the keyboard assembly. The cable that connects the keybpard to the motherboard splits into two: one that attaches to the keyboard, the other to the trackstick. I cut the cable leading to the trackstick. No more wandering mouse, but keyboard and touchpad still work. Obviously I wouldn't do this if my laptop was still under warranty or I wanted to spend the cash for a new keyboard assembly, but, my sanity has been restored.

patridge · Answer

After a nasty drop from a floor speaker when someone tripped over my power adaptor (thank god for Complete Care Warranties), my Inspiron 8100 came back with a new keyboard/pointstick. Apparently, as you suggested, that is the problem piece. If Dell could diagnose this correctly, they would save a fortune in replacement palmrest/trackpad and customer frustration when it comes back with a new trackpad and still has the same problem.

hinze · Answer

Have the same issue with an Inspirion 8600 -> by pressing the left side keyboard keys, the cursor moves down left, by pressing the right hand side ones the cursor moves up right.

The problem came up this morning after 9 months using my notebook -> was a challenge to log in, as I used a long PW and the cursor always moved...

The only thing what helps is TO SWITCH OFF this sticky pointing device or to call Dell for replacing possibly the kayboard, as it seems that the poniter has a contact problem...

By the way, I've never used the pointing device, was always working with an external mouse...

Will call Dell later, as I've to work for the moment.

patridge · Answer

For some reason, the pointer is part of the keyboard component. I ultimately had Dell replace the keyboard/pointer and everything seems to be working just fine now. Disabling the pointer only caused other problems for me. If you still have warranty coverage, that is the route I would take. I have read articles about people cutting the connections on the pointer internally (since removing it isn't really an option) but that would be last on my list of things to do.

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Point wanders

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