Does anyone know how to cure a drifting cursor?

Question

My cursor will drift diagonally from bottom left to top right corner and stick in that corner. When I wave the mouse about a bit it will work properly for a very short while and then does it again - and again - and again.
I have tried a different mouse and the problem is the same, so presumably it is something in my computer.
A virus? Nothing shows up on a scan.
How can I solve this problem? It's driving me mad!

Answer 1

I've seen this happen with optical mice, with ball mice, with wired mice, and with wireless mice.

Optical mice need a smooth surface with a fair amount of some kind of grainy pattern. If the surface is not smooth, then everytime the mouse gets a raised on one side or the other, the optical "beam" goes where its not supposed to and the mouse will move erratically. Even if you use a mousepad, if the surface under the mousepad isn't smooth (maybe there's a pad of paper under a corner or something), the problem arises.

Ball mice are even more suseptible to an uneven surface. When the ball loses contact with the surface (even on the mousepad) slight movements of your hand, or a nearby vibration can make the ball turn.....and there goes the pointer.

Wireless mice are suseptible to wireless interference. Bluetooth mice will crosstalk with the wireless headsets, for example. Monitors give off a ton (technical term) of electromagnetic radiation that can interfere with all wireless devices, not just mice.

Wired mice are not suseptible to the same interferences that wireless mice are, but they come in ball and optical varieties which have the same problems as those above.


You indicated that you tried a different mouse and you experienced the same problem. There are a couple of possibilities here. 1) The replacement mouse used the same technology as the original mouse, so it was suseptible the same way. For example, you always use a bluetooth mouse, and you swapped it with another bluetooth mouse. 2) You swapped it with a different technology mouse. For example, you use a bluetooth mouse and you swapped it for a wired optical mouse.

In the case of # 1, you still aren't sure that the problem isn't the mouse. But most likely it isn't. In the case of # 2, the problem lies with the mouse drivers on your computer. If its a new mouse, try downloading and installing the manufacturers drivers instead of using Microsoft's one-size-fits-all drivers. If its a mouse that you've had and used for a while, you'll want to reinstall the mouse........
Right click on My Computer and select properties from the popup menu. Click on the Hardware tab, of the popup menu. Then click the Device manager button. Find the entry in the list (you may have to click the + at the top to open the list) that says: Mice and other Pointing Devices.
Click the + to the left to open the item.
Click on the device that displays. It may say something like "Microsoft PS/2 Mouse" or it may say something different. Right click on the entry and select UnInstall from the popup menu. Then reboot your computer. When Windows restarts, it should find the mouse and reinstall the device drivers.

Answer 2

If you are using an optical mouse, that can be caused by having an uneven surface (such as something with wood grain) or a surface with a multiple colored background such as a striped ot photo mouse pad. Try a single colored mouse pad and see if that helps.

If the mouse has a "ball", try opening the bottom and cleaning the ball and the two or three wheels or bars (varies by different designs) that the ball turns. "Gunk" on those can cause them to turn slightly, making the cusor "creep". Depending on the amount of wear on the wheels/bars, you might have to replace the mouse.

If it is a wireless mouse, trying replacing it with a wired mouse. Electrical interference will often cause cursor "creep" with wireless mice.

Finally, if it computer is a laptop with in build in "erase" mouse or touchpad, those can go bad over time, short out, and cause cursor "creep". Very very common. Repair two or three units a week for that issue. Usually requires the replacing of the keyboard and/or palm rest - which can be expensive. If you do not normally use the build in mouse, go into the Control Panel and the Mouse icon and disable them. Then use only the external mouse.

Answer 3

Are you using a wireless mouse?
I've encountered the same problem, but only with a wireless mouse.
I also used to get random typing appearing on screen with wireless keyboards.

It's caused by electro-magnetic pollution. Too much radio activity in the immediate vicinity, some of which is leaching into similar frequencies to those used by the wireless mouse.
Common causes can be WiFi, Bluetooth devices, mobile phones, and even putting the reciever too close to your PC speakers or other strong magnetic source.

Try switching to a wired mouse and the problem should go away.

Answer 4

I thought it was just me it was happening to. I have also changed the mouse and not much better. Have no idea how you re-set the software for the mouse - did not know there was any. I reached screaming point the other day just trying to sign off. Replies should be interesting.

Answer 5

It is probably due to an imperceptible movement of your mouse. Try changing your mousepad, and also pay attention to the length of the wire ... it might be too tight, pulling the mouse slightly.
An optical mouse may be better than a conventional ball mouse.

Answer 6

I have had this problem also and find it's always with optical mice and never has occured with the older ball mouse. I guess it's just down to the quality of your mouse.




http://pctechboard.com/forum.php

Answer 7

while you're making use of proprietary mouse drivers, uninstall them and reinstall them. while you're making use of XP drivers (merely immediately plugged in), then unplug your mouse, bypass to gadget supervisor, and uninstall the mouse driving force interior the gadget supervisor. Then plug your mouse back in. The drivers could deploy itself immediately.

Answer 8

UN install mouse driver then restart.

Answer 9

I don't think there is anything you can really do. I notice this happening from time to time on all computers I worked with.

Answer 10

If you can, try reinstalling your mouse's driver.