Laptop users -- if you have the "jumping cursor problem" -- fix here

jimbo45

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Hi all
This problem can often make typing a really hit and miss affair -- on some laptops the cursor will randomly jump to some obscure place --or even worse that whole page of text you just typed has vanished when you hit something like the Shift key.

I've found that this problem is nearly always caused by having the Touchpad and USB mouse both working together.

Download the latest generic synaptics driver -- 64 bit if you are on a 64 bit system and set it to pop up at boot allowing you to disable or keep it functioning.

Disabling the touchpad will nearly always cure the problem.

On a tiny laptop (netbook) the touchpad is pretty useless anyway --you can't help touching it while typing either.

If you've never had the problem you won't have a clue what I'm on about but if you HAVE had the problem it makes data entry of any kind almost impossible.

This isn't a specific W8 problem -- however I DID need to update to the latest 64 bit driver --manually as Windows update didn't install it --take the W7 x-64 version.

Download here
Drivers | Synaptics

Cheers
jimbo
 

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my jumping cursor-do I really need a driver?

Dear Jimbo,
I read your thread about jumping cursors, which really bug me and waste a lot of my time. I need to fix this problem, but if I'm not using a USB mouse but rather the touchpad mouse on my Windows 8 Samsung laptop, do I still need to download a generic synaptics driver? I don't want to disable the touchpad, if I'm using it for mousing. Do you suggest I use an external USB mouse? Help, I'm not a computer programmer, I'm a massage therapist!
 

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Hi 'heals...Go to mouse settings in control panel and look for & disable something called "tap-to-click'. That may be causing some of your jumping issues. This does not disable the touchpad itself but you will need to press a button to achieve a "click"
 

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Hi, Jimbo:

Thanks for this; I think I may need it on my Compaq laptop, although it has a touch pad "disabler". However it's hard to get it to work, as it isn't a button, but a depression that I must press. My HP 17" Pavilion Laptop has a clickable button that disables the touchpad, which works fine.

@Soundheals: I wouldn't get an actual USB connected mouse; I'd get a wireless mouse (it has a dongle that you plug into a USB port). I use a wireless Logitech mouse and keyboard for my desktop and a wireless mouse for my laptops.
 

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@Wynona The touchpad on my ASUS laptop is like that, there are no discernable buttons but you can press on the lower corners of the touch pad for right and left clicks. It actually flexes and presses a button underneath. It's wireless Logitech Trackballs for my desktop and laptop. I do use the touchpad, but if I know I'm going to using my laptop for any extended period I bring out the trackball. Wireless is the way to go especially if you can leave the dongle plugged in when you put your laptop in its carry bag. I can't, my screen is 17.3 inches and my laptop just barley slips in the carry bag I have. If I leave the dongle plugged in it snags on the side of the bag when I put my laptop in. A minor inconvenience.
 

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@Wynona The touchpad on my ASUS laptop is like that, there are no discernable buttons but you can press on the lower corners of the touch pad for right and left clicks. It actually flexes and presses a button underneath.

There are actual "clickable" buttons for the right and left click. The one that should disable the synaptics driver is the one that has the small depression that should disable the touchpad.

It's wireless Logitech Trackballs for my desktop and laptop. I do use the touchpad, but if I know I'm going to using my laptop for any extended period I bring out the trackball.

I never use the touchpad unless I'm forced into it! I bought my first wireless Microsoft Mouse right after I bought my first laptop and discovered how very inconvenient a touchpad is.

Wireless is the way to go especially if you can leave the dongle plugged in when you put your laptop in its carry bag. I can't, my screen is 17.3 inches and my laptop just barley slips in the carry bag I have. If I leave the dongle plugged in it snags on the side of the bag when I put my laptop in. A minor inconvenience.

Thankfully I have a large enough bag for the 17" HP laptop, and also, my dongle is "one tick less than 1/4 inch" so there's no problem with that; however, the 15.6" Compaq bag has to be unzipped on the sides and once Lappy's inside, it's zipped back up. I still use an old style MS wireless mouse with the dongle that fits into its "belly" so it's unplugged every time I put the Compaq away.

I'll probably be using the driver for my Compaq, since it's so hard to turn off its touchpad.
 

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  • OS
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    CPU
    AMD Elite Quad-Core A8-6500
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    Acer 23"
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    Mouse
    Logitech M510
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it's a Fn key to turn mine off. I tried using the auto disable when mouse detected but it was unreliable. It would turn off but not always turn back on again. I don't mind using my touchpad, I still prefer my trackball though. It's just easier to use.
 

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    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
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    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
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