Drifting Mouse Analysis and FIX !!!

Mouse Drifting

The Problem -  mouse pointer drifts all over the place – usually diagonally.

BIOS Pointer Device Setting Options

There are 3 Pointer Device setting options in Setup (to get there, hit the F2 key during boot, then hit Alt-P three times to get to that screen):  

1. Serial Mouse – disables the Synaptics Touchpad/Pointer Stick altogether, and use a Serial Mouse instead. 
2. PS2 Mouse - – disables the Synaptics TP and Pointer Stick when a PS2 mouse is present, but revert to the Touchpad/Stick when  a PS2 mouse is NOT present.  If you do not use a PS2 mouse but have a wireless mouse instead, you can manually disable the TP or Stick while in Windows using Control Panel/Mouse, BUT it will be re-enable during reboot. 
3. Synaptics Touch Pad PS2 Mouse – can use both a PS2 mouse and the Touchpad/Pointer.  The computer has the ability to switch back and forth between the two, sensing which one you are using. 

NOTE1:  If you use a Wireless Mouse, then the system will NOT detect a PS2 Mouse !!!

NOTE2:  in BIOS you can disable BOTH the TP (TouchPad) and the Stick Pointer.  But if you use a Wireless mouse, then a PS2 mouse is not detected and in Windows, doing this manually, you can only disable ONE of them because the system "thinks" that the TP/Stick are the only options available for the user..

Workarounds that involve Disabling the TP/Stick Pointer

1)  Use Wireless Mouse only – use the “PS2 Mouse” BIOS setting for the Pointer Device.  The system will then disable the TP/Stick but ONLY if a PS2 mouse is present !!  In this case there is no PS2 mouse, so each time you reboot you will need to go into Control Panel/Mouse and manually disable the Pointer Stick (works on our Dell) or the TP – whichever works.  You cannot disable BOTH   So, you can fix it temporarily by disabling the pointer stick in Windows - but upon reboot it automatically re-enables itself and   the problem is back !!  So it can be fixed but it is a hassle.  

2)  Use PS2 Mouse only -  use the “PS2 Mouse” BIOS setting for the Pointer Device.  The system will then disable the TP/Stick because a PS2 mouse is present.  This works fine but you cannot use the wireless mouse.  If you need to use the Touchpad just reboot and remove the PS2 mouse.

3)  Use BOTH a PS2 Mouse and a Wireless Mouse - use the “PS2 Mouse” BIOS setting for the Pointer Device.  .  The system will then disable the TP/Stick because a PS2 mouse is present.  This works fine and you CAN use the wireless mouse.  However it is a bit messy because you have two mice connected – it is best to coil up the PS2 Mouse and set it behind the compter, out of sight. If you need to use the Touchpad just reboot and remove the both the PS2 mouse and the Wireless mouse.