Why does my Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse leap around in Windows XP?

I've had the same issue with my hardwired mouse (optical though). I have it sitting on a regular mousepad. Interesting thing is I was messing around with MS' text to speech recognition software the other day and really didn't notice any issues before that. I'm about to uninstall that software and we'll see out it goes.

You might also have the slight problem I encounter when mine is jumping around. If you have pets, then pet hair can get stuck in the region near the optical sensor and gets interpreted as movement. Flip the mouse over and look, taking tweezers to remove any debris.

Would the computer happen to be a Dell computer.
I encountered the same problem on a Dell.
Found by changing the mouse pad it corrected the problem. The Dell mouse pad was particularly bad.

I have also had my Logitech wired laser mouse bounce all over the XP screen. The only thing I have for text2speech is ReadPlease (free). I have since started carrying that mouse in my pocket to work for use with a company MAC OS X and am using my OEM E-Machine ball mouse and the problem is gone. HMMMMMMM.

Switching to a solid color mouse pad cured this for me.

Like Dave, I have the same problem with my Wireless Microsoft Mouse I mean it really bothers me while I´m playing pc games; I´m really thinking about buying a cordes mouse

My dell optical mouse jumps into weird diagonal directions too. I removed the mouse pad, and still...

I had the same problem of jumping "pointers" not only that but the pointer can drift on its own. I solved this by saving my old computer stuff. I reconnected my track ball and am very happy. Some day when all the track balls are extinct then maybe the opticals will work right. Of course on that day a new mouse type will come out.

I have a Microsoft wireless optical mouse with a Dell laptop. I have been having the problem with the cursor jumping around. I changed batteries, mouse pad, hit button on wireless receiver and hit the reconnect button on bottom of mouse. I was still having problems. However, after reading about the issue with speech recognition I disabled it and have not had any mouse cursor issues for the last 2 days. Thanks Leo for the tip!

Please have you any ideas why my wireless mouse batteries are continually being considered in need of replacement when they are only days old?
I am presently using durarsole batteries(supposedly the best)
also why do I have problems with the left click?
sometimes works perfect, and others it needs maybe four/ five attempts........thanks, Bob

I'm having trouble with my left-click too. sometimes just click and click and click. very frustrating. any tips?

I am using a MS Intellimouse 2.0 and i have this problem where webpages are scrolling up and down erratically as if I am using the mouse to scroll.

This pages scroll up and down VERY fast and I canno
t stop it usibg the mouse.

The problem is the mouse pad
Try with out it and you'll see

I'm an IT Technician and I have had this problem with numerous Microsoft optical (wired) mice. My solution is to try a different brand!!! I've never seen the problem on other brands.

I had the same problem with the (wired)mouse curser jumping aroundon its own.I am using a wireless keypad with it. I noticed that the light signal for the Keypad signal recieving unit shows aktivity every time the mouse jumps around on its own even if I do not use it or the wired mouse. So this unit must be recieving some interference signals and translates it to mouse signals to make the cursor jump around. I changed the position of the Keypadrecievig unit which solved the problem

I am reviewing this thread to troubleshoot an entire lab of dell optiplex gx-280's that exhibit the same symptom. After reading through I verified this was in fact being caused by mouse pads. I thought I had previously ruled this out as a possibility. Just another reminder to double check all troubleshooting routes before ruling them out.

I have a DELL latitude D600 and have been using a Logitech Wireless optical mouse for over 1yr with no issues up until NOW. The mouse cursor moves diagonally up ad right on it's own. I switched to a Microsoft optical mouse and it did the same thing. I then removed my wireless mouse altogether and used the touchpad only - guess what - same problem. I am not using any speech recognition software. The cursor appears to move with every typed keystroke, or just tapping on the keyboard. Seems more like the touchpad is flakey. Ideas?

I have a Dell Inspiron 600m and have had the same problems with the mouse jumping around, randomly scrolling in the middle of typing a sentence or word. It is very frustrating. I bought a new wireless keyboard and mous, but seem to have the same problem. No mousepad. No voice software. I makes me nuts!

I have seen similar symptoms on many mice of all shapes, sizes, and brands. The most common solution is actually the mousepad, especially the holographic Dell mousepads which deflect the light from the laser. The next most common cause of cursor 'jumping and floating' is having a USB mouse plugged in to a PS/2 port via one of those PS/2 USB converters. I am not sure why that would affect anything, but my second troubleshooting step for this problem has been plugging the mouse into USB and the problem typically disappears.

I have never actually ran into a problem with the speech recognition interfering with the mouse.

For laptops displaying similar issues due to the touchpad, 9 times out of 10 a persons thumbs are floating above this touchpad when they are typing. My Sony Vaio laptop picks up motion up to 3" away from the touchpad. I always had trouble with moving the cursor and clicking due to this when I was typing. I ended up disabling the touchpad and switching to a mobile mouse.

Hope this was some help.

I Have a MS Wireless optical 2.0, when a scroll up with the wheel in web browser any web browser it has the effect of clicking back button,

To fix if not using a KVM switch box I must unplug my pc and drain the remaining power out of it by holding the power button for a 3 to 5 seconds. Then I just plug my PC again and boot it up. This seems to fix it for a while. I think it has something to do with the electricity because every time this happens my UPS reports on bad electricity.

Hope this helps some people fix their problems,

The problem is your mousepad. Either it has repetitive patterns or is just of a plain color over a large area. If you put a sheet of newspaper with just text over your mousepad, you will see the problem go away. Optical mouse works best on lines or figures which are non-repetitive.

I had the same prob...scrolling up causing a browser back action.

I have a MS wireless mouse/keyboard which is hooked up to a KVM. The mouse is working fine on 2 machines, one is XP and one is 2K. When I setup my new box - I had crazy IE and FireFox issues with the mouse. I plugged the mouse directly to the new machine via USB, the OS loaded the proper drivers (even though I had them previously setup via the control panel). I put the mouse back into the KVM and all is good.

Thought I'd share...thanks all.

Just wanted to add my two cents to this discussion. I currently use a Microsoft Wired Optical mouse on a Dell Inspiron laptop with Linux OS. I have been experiencing strange cursor movements for some time. Recently I discovered the source of the problem -- my cell phone! I routinely charge my cell phone on my desk in close proximity to the mouse. Whenever I receive a call, or whenever the phone is "pinged" by the cell phone company, the mouse jumps all over the screen. Solution ---- move the phone away from the mouse!

I have the answer for everyone who has been having problems with the mouse jumping around.
Go to Home Depot and buy a home improvement hammer. Be careful when making this adjustment and do not lay it on a glass surface. Even a wooden surface will have some damage as soon as you are finished BEATING THE CRAP out of the mouse. It doesn't really fix the problem unless you needed to buy a different kind and it will prevent you from digging it out of your old computer parts box thinking it's a good one... Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for all the tips... believe me when I say I will try them all until this problem is fixed... By the way I turned my mouse pad over and it seems to have corrected the problem... The problem now is it's so sticky I have to hold it with one hand and hold the mouse with the other so I think I'll but a new mouse pad first.

Hey I have two questions...One my mouse cursor on my Dell Latitude Laptop will move on it's own. I can be typing one word and it will move to a previous word I have already typed. What's wrong? Second, if I am online as a web page change I hear clicking noise. Can you help me?

Hey, I'm not the only one!! I have a wired Logitech Optical mouse with a rather aged HP Omnibook laptop. As my cursor merrily floats (or sometimes zooms) to the lower left corner of my screen I have learned to time my icon-clicking according to the speed of the float - I'd be a mean duck-hunter at this point. I just tried the newspaper on mousepad solution - to no avail. The mouse is plugged into USB. I am using a secondary keyboard. So it looks like the hammer solution for me. I have also just switched mouse pads with my husband so we'll see if he exhibits any cursing at the cursor symptoms.

If your computer has a touch pad mouse thing and you are using an optical mouse make sure touch pad is disabled

We found the problem!!! My wife's cursor has been jumping for weeks. Very off and on behavior. But she's not on a laptop. She's got a wireless Microsoft combination keyboard and mouse. Worked for six months without a hitch. Then the jumping began. Every time she'd call me, it quit. And I mean every time. It took much too long for me to realize the problem. I had put her old wireless mouse on my computer a few weeks before, also Microsoft. It was simply that my mouse was running her cursor. Our desks are a long ways apart, so it only happened sometimes, and for some reason her mouse never bothered my cursor. But I switched back to my old wired mouse... and voila! no problem.

I have a Hewlett-Packard Pavilion 8300 series notebook (dv8327cl to be exact - airbags included). I primarily use the touchpad and have it set up just how I like it. Tap to click, double-tap to double-click, vertical scrolling zones, etc... I used to hate touchpads, but this one is big enough for my chubby fingers and has speed bumps on the right to let you know you're in the right place for scrolling vertically. I have had the mouse jumping problem from day one. HP says they don't know what causes it. Frankly, I don't think God even knows what causes it. However, I believe Bill Gates does, and he's not talking.

Anyway, I needed a new keyboard & mouse for my desktop PC, so I bought the MS Wireless KB/M combo (KB=Comfort Keyboard 1.0A & M=Optical 2.0 -- very happy with it, btw). On a whim, I thought I'd try it on my notebook to see if that might solve the mystery of the jumping mouse. I disabled the touchpad, but the same thing happened. Drives me loony. I might also mention that it only happens when I attempt to click on something, not at random or while I'm typing... EXCEPT... I USED to have a problem with the cursor moving to another spot while typing. But no more! Read on, oh mouse-moving-while-typing-afflicted ones!

Ummm... this might be a good time to grab a cup of coffee... I tend to be chatty.

I'll bet my firstborn on this one (if you're using a touchpad or using a mouse having forgotten to disable the touchpad). And don't worry, Tiffany won't mind if I put her out there as a wager. She's 25 and scrappy. She'll most likely kick your arse and escape. But she'll say she's sorry, first. I raised polite children.

Sorry... back to business.

Does your cursor usually jump only a few lines up or a few words away? OR does the active window seemingly disappear for no reason and another open window appear in its place (as if you've pressed ALT-TAB on the keyboard)? If this describes your scenario, it's time for a palm check.

The next time this happens, STOP... lift your hands from the keyboard without touching ANYTHING. Now, check to see where your mouse pointer is resting on the page or screen. If the typing position changed, your pointer will be in the "text select" shape (uppy-downy line) and resting right over the spot where the errant typing began. If the window changed, you'll probably see the generic pointer shape (depending on the screen to which it jumped -- if it's another typing screen, then it will still be in the text select shape). If you can't locate it, move your finger over your touchpad (or jostle the mouse) ever-so-slightly to help you see it. Most likely, it's the last place you clicked on the page or hovering outside the window in which you were typing. If the latter is the case, dollars to doughnuts that if you press ALT-TAB your previous window will reappear. It's harder to make it switch screens with your palm, but it CAN happen.

If you have a specific driver or program for the touchpad, e.g., Synaptics, you should see an icon in the systray. Right-click on it (or left, depending on the program) and go to the properties or setup. If you don't see an icon in the systray, open the mouse properties in control panel... there should be an extra tab related to your touchpad device. Somewhere in there, you SHOULD see something about palm sensitivity. If it's not there, check in your programs. (If you STILL can't find it, well, go buy yourself a tall one and reminisce about the days of DOS). Moving on. Tweak the settings on it until you no longer have the problem, so long as you're happy with the sensitivity while using the touchpad for mouse movement.

The moral of this story? Don't let me near a forum. I talk WAY too much. And next time, take my advice when I say "this might be a good time to grab a cup of coffee." Or in my case, a shot of Patron.

Hi!
Geepers, I'm frustraited. I have read everyone's suggestions and it is none of these.
I've got a toshiba satellite Pro 6100 and I've been having this problem for some time. (months) After trying several options like new mice - no mice - etc I tried replacing the keyboard. Which sounds strange I know - but I heard that I may have had a faulty nipple on the keyboard. To no avail. However, now it is so bad that I am only able to open explorer and surf this page by using key strokes. Now I'm tabbing like crazy trying to find a solution and I'm also trying to run every virus software known to man!!!!
I seriously need some help. :[
m.

I have a similar problem. I had a wireless (optical) mouse and all was fine, then suddenly is started jumping around and fighting with me. It seems like to head to the task bar at the bottom when I'm trying to go upwards on the screen. Or just generally in the opposite direction that I'd like from time to time. I'm on a laptop and the touch pad works fine. I replaced the batteries.. same problem. Then I broke out the old wired mouse and still the same problem. I checked all my mouse settings and everything looks good. Any tips out there? This is very frustrating! (P.s. I have a toshiba satellie Pro also....)

try this
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321122

Thank you,once again your knowledge and humor, provided me the answer.

do you know where the wireless radio enable button is for the dell d600, or dell wlan utility to enable

I have a logitech and I saw the same problem with the microsoft one. I guess if your mousepad is very very shiny (i might be wrong... but that's the kind of mousepads that give me problems) you'll be seeing your pointer jumping around like crazy and often just before you click! [i was about to press post and it happened again]

After a long stretch of research, it seems to be caused by the Text-To-Speech (MS) software. (another suggestion (**goddamnit! so**) (**es**) touched on the wireless card)

You'll see what I learned by Googling text-to-speech cursor jump

Hope th (damnation! there she go es again! I still haven't unins)talled yet, I'm downloading the SOftware (it loves to jump to the above sections: ** Once I have the software, I'll uninst and report back. This is a well documented clue, however, I wonder about A)WinUps and B)ActiveX Ups...

(argh! I'll report back - m.e.

i also had this problem....had....i fixed it
evidently when you have alot of dust it can get into the optical sensor under the circuit board inside the mouse....so i took the mouse apart ,removed the the circuit board,blew profusly into the sensorput it back together
no more mouse cursor jumping and its stayed on.
i should mention i have a microsoft usb optical wheel mouse.
i was having the problem in both the usb port and when adapted to go in the ps2 port

Erratic cursor movement on one of my machines was caused by having a second USB mouse plugged in. The wired USB mouse was completely stationary at the time.

When are you people gonna learn and face the facts?

All Microsoft mice suck! Microsoft mice will always cause the cursor to jump to the corner of the screen! This only happens with Microsoft mice and not with other brands. You better thank God for Microsoft not having a mouse monopoly! We would all be lost if it did! Just imagine yourself paying monopoly prices for such craptacular mice as these!

Cheers!

PS: go buy a non-MS branded mouse now!

Windows XP / Dell computer / Music programs Sonar 7 and ProTools, The wired mouse spontaneously writes notes in the piano roll view as I'm moving the cursor accross the field. I should have to left click to write a note in that field. I've changed the mouse, mouse pad, the type of cheese. It happens in unrelated recording software.

I adjusted the keypad sensitivity when the cursor was bounding around. It had been set at light and I moved it closer to heavy.

Hi, I have had a scan through these wireless and wired mouse cursor issues for which I have recently experienced at an office where I do tech support. The office was changed around with new desks and computer positions etc. Two of the systems in the office have Logitech wireless keyboard mouse set ups but are not the same models. Over the past year one of the wireless mice was chewing through batteries too much and was causing great inconvenience so my client plugged in a USB mouse to use instead. Now with the new office configuration and computer positions the system with the USB mouse but wireless keyboard has the cursor jumping about at random and as it turned out this morning when they rang me about the issue it occurred to me that there may be a signal takeover by the other wireless mouse and sure enough the other system took control of the system with the USB mouse wireless keyboard configuration. It would appear that because the wireless mouse was no longer communicating with this system it was open to receiving a mouse signal from the other computer. LOL
At least I believe this is the problem in this particular scenario. Anyway I thought I would post this information just in case others have a similar situation where two wireless stations are interfering with one another.
Cheers,
Marsh.

The concept of wireless mouse is much like a webcam. It takes like 30~60 pics a second to see which direction the pictures are moving in, and it will move the mouse cursor according to that.

This means, that if the pictures are moving in the wrong direction, then the mouse moves in weird directions.

Sometimes, the surface of the mouse pad or table will reflect the light from the mouse and create a white glare off the surface, and all the pictures the mouse takes turns completely white, and this confuses the mouse.

Sometimes the mouse has a thin film of plastic to protect the camera surface, but sometimes this surface creates a refraction when you change the mouse angle on the surface of the mousepad or table (ie. you lift up the mouse and place it back on the table at an angle)

So generally, a non-glossy mouse pad surface is the best, and buy a decent mouse that is designed to be able to take these problems into account