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Weird leaping mouse problems?

Dave, I use a Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse with a computer running Windows XP Professional. Generally speaking, everything works just fine EXCEPT THAT from time to time my mouse pointer "leaps" to the bottom left corner of my monitor screen .. and invariably JUST as I am about to "click!!"

I've tried uninstalling and re-installing, but to no avail. Do you know how this little dilemma can be cured??

Dave's Answer:

First off, my general rules for dealing with mouse problems:

Your mouse drive may need updating or replacement if it got corrupted.
Your mouse to computer connections may be loose.
Or, your mouse itself may be dirty, so you need to clean it as per your manufacturer's instructions.

Now, let's get into some specifics.

The first thing I would look for with optical mice is any sort of obstruction under the optical sensor. Sometimes dust, lint, or similar impediments get stuck between the optical sensor and the surface your mouse sits on, causing unexpected behavior. My second guess would be a surface that isn't favorable for optical mice. Optical mice have problems on porous surfaces and surfaces like glass. Typically this causes more frequent and obvious problems though. To eliminate the surface you are using as the problem, try putting something like a blank piece of paper under the mouse and see if the problems continue.

If obstructions and the surface are eliminated as problems, Microsoft has a knowledge base article on erratic mouse pointer movement that may help. As you can see in this article, there is more to it than uninstalling and reinstalling the mouse driver. Microsoft Support on Mouse Problems

I have also seen reports of the new Gateway tablets doing this. These models vent hot air through the keyboard. If the lid is left closed when the tablet is docked, the touchpad heats up and causes the mouse to jump around. The only resolution have seen on this is just to leave screen up, though I'd be tempted to leave the unit on ice and see what happened!

As I've said, it's possible that something has corrupted your mouse driver. You can either 1) re-install the driver, or 2) roll back the driver. Either one of these may help. To roll back your driver in Windows XP, go to Start --> Settings --> Control Panel --> Mouse. Click on the "hardware" tab. Select the appropriate pointing device, and click "properties." Click the driver tab, then select "roll back driver."

Under the "hardware" tab, there may be more than one mouse. If this is the case, select the one that is not used, follow the settings above, and then select "uninstall." Or, you can go into Control Panel --> System --> Hardware --> Device Manager, and remove the device under "Mice and other pointing devices." Note: if you are on a laptop with a touchpad that you never use, don't remove the touchpad anyway.

Another possibility is that the driver has a corrupted "jump to" setting. This is called different things by different manufacturers, but is a setting where it moves to the default button when a window pops up. It could be moving to the corner instead of moving to the button. This is also suggested because you note that it is often "when you are about to click." Find this setting under mouse properties (as above) and disable it.General rules of mouse problems:

Hope that all helps you debut your problems!

Thanks to Jeff, Chris Buechler and Tommy Martin for their assistance.

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Comments

Just FYI, A few of the sites I've worked at recently have "software deployment and auditing software" that periodically "snapshots" the screen to "capture what you're looking at". An unfortunate side effect of this screen cap process is that it moves your mouse pointer to one corner of the screen for each snapshot.

The one I'm most painfully familiar with is called "Altiris". That application does it about once per hour. I've been on a site managed by Zenworks (Novell) and it seemed to do the same thing, but not as often. If I can talk the Admins into getting Local Admin rights to the box, I can disable the Altiris client, and the movement stops... If you can't get Local Admin, you're kind of stuck with the moving cursor... :P

Posted by: Steve Parker at May 2, 2005 2:47 PM

The moving mouse happens on MOST machines with USB laser mice, it is a known bug. None of the other info above will help your situation if this is the hardware you are using.

Posted by: anony-mouse at September 16, 2005 7:41 PM

all of a sudden my mouse stops working while iam using the compurter. i see the cursor but the mouse does'not move the cursor whtat do i do? why did it stop working. And when i gone to CONTROL PANEL...>MOUSE...>HARDWARE...>PROPERTIES... the properties button is not selected...even the troble shooting is not working

Posted by: manoz at October 22, 2005 5:07 PM

I have a weird and serious problem with my mouse... When I start my computer the mouse cursor appears on the screen just as it is supposed to. But when I try to move my mouse, the cursor does not move. However the "ghost" of the mouse moves and I can click and use all the buttons as normal. Only the cursor stays still like it's nailed to my desktop.. I have tried an optical USB mouse and a PS2 mouse with a ball, without luck. Using a mouse without knowing where it moves, is pretty difficult. If anyone can help me, please, email me!

Thank you.

Posted by: Anssi Ikonen at November 30, 2005 6:25 PM

I got the same problem like manoz and Anssi Ikonen, the two persons that posted above.
My mouse also stops moving after some random time, sometimes even when i justed started Windows XP.
I never had this problem before but i'am dealing with it for a month already, i can't find a solution. Maybe it's a virus but when i scan my pc with my antivirus there is nothing found, also no spy or adaware is found. I dont like to reinstall my windows, and loose all my software/data. I hope there is another solution.
I would appreciate any help, thank you very much.
Please contact me by mail.

Posted by: Frank Johnson at February 10, 2006 10:57 AM

Hi I have the same problem as Anssi and Frank could you please help me and send me an solution for that problem I tried everything I can I would really appreciate it thank you very much

Posted by: chalid at March 9, 2006 11:24 AM

Hi Dave
I had the same problem, turns out the mouse pad was too reflective, bought a $0.99 mouse pad that was grainy on the top, worked perfectly.
also tried it on the arm of my sofa and it worked really well...

Posted by: Pat at April 22, 2006 9:44 PM

I have the same issue. It started about a week ago. Some days it works, and others it doesn't. This is with an optical mouse corded. Now I've switched out to a wireless, and it stoped for 1 day. Now it is back, and nothing is happening. I know it isn't the mouse pad for me, because the wireless reciever doesn't pickup on the mouse either. So no matter which I have in, corded or non, it does the same. I pressthe connect button on the reciever, and then the mouse. They are supposed to connect, but the reciever doesn't recognise the mouse at all.

What are my options????

Posted by: nick at June 2, 2006 1:15 AM

Hi,

I have a touchpad mouse and anytime i am typing it moves me from a line to another in the paragraph. even when i am typing in ms outlook it move itself and send the message when i am typing and i didn't put the finger on the touchpad. it is making me crazy and i would really appreciate if you can give me an idea about how to fix it up.
Best regards,

--Ivan.

Posted by: Ivan at June 14, 2006 5:31 AM

Hi
I have the same mouse problem. Suddenly my mouse stop working. EVen it is not shown in divice manager and in control panel>mouse>hardware nothing is there. It is not even working in safe mode. WHat should I do? I think I hav some spywares, got on scan.

Posted by: Charanjit at June 21, 2006 1:55 AM

I have found with the "ghost" mouse problem mentioned above (pointer graphic stuck, but pointer position/clicks are normal) that turning down the windows graphic acceleration setting helps (you will notice the setting description says that mouse acceleration is disabled on the lower settings). Then I turn it back up on the next restart (until it happens again). This happened only when using a PS2 mouse, USB ones never did this to me!

Posted by: Neil at November 14, 2006 9:43 PM

I have an optical mouse hardware to my pc with windows xp installed. the right click is not working. it is new and hardly 2 yrs since purchased.
kindly suggest for this problem

Posted by: Rashmi at November 16, 2006 3:02 AM

I cant believe how easy this fix was !!! I have been cursing my sticky (rollerball USB connected)mouse for months and the following solved my problem in a few minutes !!

1. Click the start button in the lower left of your screen.
2. select "Restart" from the menu but do not click it yet.
3. unplug your mouse.
4. hit the enter key to restart your computer.
5. Let it start up completely...hit return if prompts appear.
6. plug in your mouse again... now it doesnt work at all ... thats good !!
7. Restart you computer by pushing and holding the on/off button on the computer tower.
8. Restart as usual and the sticky mouse problem should be gone...

When the device was unplugged its driver was automatically uninstalled at startup... when plugged in again the drivers are automatically reinstalled at startup.... Problem solved for me anyway !!

Posted by: Keenan at November 24, 2006 6:32 AM

I have an issue with my pc/mouse. It jumps to the corner of the screen when I move it, it tries to close windows programs and log me off, I thought it was a virus and in the end Did the drastic thing and formattedd my pc completely and reinstalled mindows xp.

THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS! So I have no idea what to do now!!

Posted by: Vodka at December 3, 2006 2:36 PM

Hi!
My mouse on screen seems to be not working, as when i move the mouse it doesnt move on screen, the mouse is not broken as i have tried several new ones, however, it doesnt seem to be working. do you have any ideas about why it might be reacting like this? i recently dowloaded itunes, but it was of the apple site so this shouldnt affect it. Please help asap as i need my computer for work!
Thank-you!

Posted by: Bambi at January 25, 2007 7:50 AM

Vodka, the problem might not be as complicated I had the same problem and as it turns out the mouse was sensing the wood grain on the desk, so i put a piece of paper under it and it works fine. wierd

Posted by: jeff at February 18, 2007 7:37 AM

Hey, my mouse problem is that the computer always highlights a folder/window when I hover the pointer over it. Meaning if I have two folders active side by side, and am working on one folder but slide the pointer over the other without clicking, that second folder becomes the active. This is very frustrating. I tried messing with the mouse configuration but to no avail. I have a WinXP Pro with a dell optical mouse with scroll middle button. It has to be a software issue since I tried using differing usb mouses with same problem. Any suggestions? Thanks

Posted by: Isaac at February 23, 2007 3:37 PM

Hi,
I installed vista transformation pack on xp.since then , when I double click in explorer, search window comes up instead of openning the folder.
kindly suggest for this problem

Posted by: rajeev at February 28, 2007 12:00 PM

I have a Microsoft Optical 2.0 Mouse.

The problem is that it scrolls in the opposite direction on the screen that you are moving on the pad. When I move it up on the pad the cursor moves down on the screen...it's like having to pat your head and rub your tummy..not fun. Can you help?

Posted by: peter at March 23, 2007 10:33 AM

I had a jumping mouse and was ready to replace it. Then AOL quit working so I uninstalled and reinstalled AOL. Mouse got well. At least it is a no cost "possible" fix.

Posted by: Scott Nelson at May 12, 2007 3:55 PM

hai in My system windows xp was loaded

when i try to move my mouse , my mouse pointer

not follow the my mouse movement ,it is comming

after some time to requred position.

please help me, what is the solution for this

one.

Posted by: venu at July 13, 2007 6:03 AM

help needed: arrow pointer has hour glass along with it cannot get just arrow pointer, what can I do to correct this?

sig

Posted by: sig at August 8, 2007 9:26 PM

Thank you.

Posted by: Antonio at August 19, 2007 8:09 AM

Hi everyone!

Wel, I'm having quite a weird problem.

My system features:

Operating system: winxp version 2002 servicepack 2

Processor: Intel pentium 3, 801 mhz

Memery: 128mb ram

MY MOUSE OPENS PROGRAMS AND CLOSE OTHERS "ON ITS OWN".

This problem happens after I have reinstall Winxp S.P 2. Note that previously, I have zero my HDD, partitioned it and format it. (I have reinstall Win Xp for a fresh start)

So, it is not a virus, not a trojan.

It is not related to memory coz I before I never got this problem. This problem started after I install winxp after formatting my harddisk. Now, though I have zero my HDD, The problem remains.

I'm having ANOTHER problem. My PC don't shut down COMPLETELY. Though it told me that "now you can turn off your computer safely", My harddisk do not shut down and the GREEN light don't switch off.

My God, Could someone help me. SURELY, IT IS NOT A VIRUS OR A TROJAN .. I think that it has something to do with drivers, windows configuration, etc

Note, winxp has itself installed my mouse by itself!!

Posted by: Ryanxxl at September 15, 2007 3:49 AM

I have a logitech optical ps/2 mouse. I struggling with a strange problem . . . the mouse scrolls very automatically & violently from top to bottom and also horizontally in all applications. I was using the mouse without any problem for last 8 months .. without any paper below it or mouse pad. I also tried re-installing the Win Xp Pro OS suspecting it as virus attack... but same problem persists. Norton antivirus 2005 could detect any virus either. Can any body help me with this?? Do i need to replace it???

Posted by: shiva at October 21, 2007 9:44 AM

I have this same problem. I lose control of my mouse and can't do anything with it. I end up using my key board skills to navigate my computer. Have scaned computer with various virus spyware malware programs with no help. Someone please help I don't want to have to reformat the whole thing.

Posted by: Ravenloe at November 3, 2007 9:05 PM

Hey guys
There is definately something wrong in the MS kitchen. I never had the mouse jumping around problem until Vista. Now I have the problem and 5 people I know have the same problem exactly. Jumping around while typing. I have also noticed it jumps out of games and you lose control of the games. HINT: maybe some of the darn MS security crap anyway it is certainly a problem not with the mouse hardware but with the OS. Hello MS!
I may roll back to an earlier version before MS started mandating how I can use my system.

Posted by: Greg at November 20, 2007 5:06 AM

My mouse is not work when i open my computer and my mouse is not work but i can not understand this problem.

please help me

Posted by: Kaibaua at December 12, 2007 2:11 PM

Hey, I was searching around for an answer to my problem about my leaping mouse, and I thought nobody else would have an answer, but your site, Dave was the very first one that came up in my results! Thank you so very much for helping me solve my problem!

Posted by: SNLocked at January 1, 2008 12:44 PM

I have a dell laptop and I also use an optical mouse attached thru USB port.My mouse is either falling down or falling up , it does;nt stay in the center. It has become very difficult to work this way.

Posted by: AM at January 14, 2008 11:57 PM

Go to Control Panel \ Mouse \ Pointer Options and uncheck the box under that says, "Hide Pointer While Typing." It seems to have worked for me! I love simple and easy solutions.

Posted by: steve at January 26, 2008 3:14 PM

my gembird mouse (though evry mouse i tried) dont move a window directly to the desired spot but scrolls it slowly from one point to another as soon as i click it to replace. How to solve it?

Posted by: johnkingsize at February 13, 2008 2:24 AM

Dell Inspiron/2200 Laptop, windows XP
I've had this problem for about a year. Works yes
and no. Obviously curser, when nonoperational will
run off the window. Will lose current window or e-mail.Curser also will jump to different parts of
the letter and create mispelled words.Also had
numbers appear after letters.When typing in password double dots appear at times. Alot of fun.
Replaced keyboard. . Was re-configured.Was
re-set. Nothing worked.My patience is almost
exhausted.Drivers also worked on. I would certainly appreciate your in-put before I dispose
of this machine.
hank thank you. last try...............

Posted by: hank at February 18, 2008 9:24 AM

I saw my problem in these posts but no answer, so I'm hoping you can help: everything working fine when all of a sudden, up and down are reversed like the other poster mentioned...when I move down it moves up, when I move up on the mousepad, cursor moves down - completely opposite to what I expect. However, side to side movements are correct. This is making me crazy. Did numerous checks for virus, spyware, the works...nothing! Tried uninstalling and reinstalling driver - unplugging mouse, etc.

Posted by: MicZ at March 16, 2008 9:57 AM

PS - Forgot to mention, running XP Pro sp2, no recent updates etc etc...MS Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer 2.0

Posted by: MicZ at March 16, 2008 9:59 AM

my mouse wont stop moving

Posted by: taylor at April 25, 2008 6:02 PM

Hey i want to comment a problem that it's been annoying me in the past month. i have a dell computer with a wireless mouse(also dell) and the mouse stopped working for some reason is hard to explain but the cursor was going back to the same point on the screen when i tried to move it or making small movements by itself. the first time i deleted the drivers and when plugged it back it worked again but during the week it happened over and over again, restarting the computer or turning it off didn't help at all, i tried to change mouse(corded, another brand) but i still had the same problem. finally i decided to format the computer and that's how i fixed it(the OS was XP pro) BUT NOW this problem followed me to my house .... my home computer(vista ultimate x64) started doing that. my first thought is that is a virus or some problems with an update on windows, but i have no idea what to do ... as i said i tried everything. deleting drivers, updating them changing mouse, running anti virus.
this is really pissing me off. sometimes the mouse starts working after a little while but sometimes it takes hours, and deleting the drivers doesn't help anymore.
i would really appreciate some help

Posted by: Carlos at May 5, 2008 8:07 PM

Hi my computers mouse gets stuck and doesnt work.I need to restart my computer to get it work but then half an hour laterhe does it again

pentium 3 ram 256 996 MHz

Posted by: Hello at July 27, 2008 12:23 PM

Hi my computers mouse gets stuck and doesnt work.I need to restart my computer to get it work but then half an hour laterhe does it again

pentium 3 ram 256 996 MHz

Posted by: Hello at July 27, 2008 12:29 PM

Very educative site. I will always contribute and share nowledge.

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