Spyware, viruses, & security forum: Mouse moves on its own

Post 3 of 37

Hi ianstewart

by roddy32 - March 16, 2005 6:08 AM PST

In Reply to: Mouse moves on its own by ianstewart

A few questions. You said "I've tried everything". What is "everything"? Is it an optical mouse or a trackball mouse? Is it wireless? You said "Seems to happen when I use the keyboard". Is it a combo unit where the keyboard and mouse came together? I doubt if it is malware causing this but you said you did a virus scan. Did you also to adware and spyware scans? Have you tried another mouse? Also, please follow the forum tip that was right above the box the you put your subject in.

Tip: If you are asking for help to troubleshoot a computer-related problem, please be sure to include all the necessary information (ie: operating system, model number, hardware, software, etc) that will help others identify your problem for a speedy resolution.

Post 4 of 37

Hi

by ianstewart - March 16, 2005 7:47 AM PST

In Reply to: Hi ianstewart by roddy32

Its a trackball. Its a new dell inspiron laptop with a touch pad. If I remove my usb mouse and use the touch pad, its still the same. Its XP. I run McAfee virusscan. Downloaded the latest definitions - no result. Ran Spyware - no result. Checked all running processes - all were legit (running in C:\ Windows\sys32 etc. Uninstalled an IBM Via Voice voice recognition programme (the only stuff I've installed in the last month). I did get a warning from my virus scan 2 weeks ago about a Trojan when I was on the web. I ignored this (Clicked "continue what I was doing" in the McAfee warning box) - thinking McAfee would protect me. Don't know if this the problem or not.
Also I connect to the internet over wireless broadband.
I read the document you refer to and tried the suggestions - no result bar 9 cookies which I removed.

Post 5 of 37

Not sure what you

by roddy32 - March 16, 2005 7:56 AM PST

In Reply to: Hi by ianstewart

mean by "Ran Spyware - no result". That still doesn't tell us exactly what you scanned with besides McAfee which doesn't remove very much in the way of spyware or adware and only a few trojans. I still do not think that it is a malware problem except for the fact you you mentioned the trojan from a couple of weeks ago. What I would do is download these programs, check them for updates and scan with them and see if any on them find anything. They are all free except for the trojan removers but you can get a 30 trial with them.

Spybot S&D (download, check for updates, read the tutorial and scan often, it also does some blocking)
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html

Ad-Aware SE (a scanner, download, check for updates, read the directions and scan.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

cwshredder (stand alone unit)(another small scanner for certain things, ALL other windows should be closed)
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html

Download anti-trojan (any of the following)

The Cleaner Pro 30 days trial - http://www.moosoft.com

TrojanHunter - http://www.misec.net/ (trial)

Also do an online scan at one or all of these.
Housecall (using IE with Active-X)
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

Housecall (all browsers using java)
http://uk.trendmicro-europe.com/enterprise/products/housecall_launch.php

PandaActivescan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

Post 6 of 37

Try disabling the touchpad

by a__l__a__n - March 16, 2005 8:23 AM PST

In Reply to: Hi by ianstewart

Touchpads on Dell laptops are notorious for this problem. A slight vibration caused by the disk drive causes the touchpad to move the mouse. See if you can disable the touchpad (From right mouse button menu on the My Computer icon, Manage, device manager) or from the Mouse icon in the control panel.

Post 7 of 37

Thanks for the suggestion.

by ianstewart - March 16, 2005 8:44 AM PST

In Reply to: Try disabling the touchpad by a__l__a__n

I tried this alredy with no result. Keep the ideas coming. Currently scanning with Housecall from Trend Micro. Will keep you posted...

Post 8 of 37

..

by art-666 - March 18, 2005 4:06 AM PST

In Reply to: Thanks for the suggestion. by ianstewart

I had this problem and it was bright sun light,
it some times stoped the mouse moving up/down, right/left or moved the mouse.

Post 9 of 37

Mouse Cursor Creep

by uncapher - March 18, 2005 5:18 AM PST

In Reply to: .. by art-666

Try Googling for more info. I had this problem about a year ago and it turned out to be a mouse setting in (I believe) the Control Panel. I changed the setting, and the problem went away never to return. Sorry, but that's all I remember about it.

Post 10 of 37

have you try to remove all the drivers?

by Melati Hitam - January 18, 2006 11:22 PM PST

In Reply to: Hi by ianstewart

and let windows reinstall it?

Then you may reinstall your mouse driver if necessary.

Other possibilty, even the USB cable/port can be the problem...

But please be aware that MANY wireless devices (mouse in this matter) are known to move by itself, and can get interference from any other things around it.

Beside the Mouse Pad also a factor (shiny and colorfull pad is the worst for optical mouse)

Post 11 of 37

Ian Srewart

by tomron - February 6, 2006 5:07 AM PST

In Reply to: Hi by ianstewart

Try this

In windows xp go into start menu, then into control panel then click on appearance and themes, then move your mouse over to mouse pointers click on it , uncheck "enhance pointer precision, and click apply, that will stop the mouse from acting crazy, this will work with dell mouse pointers and most.

Tom

Post 12 of 37

This worked for me!

by cabowabo - February 6, 2006 6:21 AM PST

In Reply to: Ian Srewart by tomron

Thanks Ian for this suggestion as it worked for me. I have a Dell XPS (first generation) almost 3 years old running XP Pro and a wired optical Dell (Logitech) mouse which came with the system.

I unchecked the box for enhanced pointer precision and no more "moving on its own" mouse!

Post 13 of 37

(NT) (NT) Your welcome,but you can call me Tom

by tomron - February 6, 2006 11:07 AM PST

In Reply to: This worked for me! by cabowabo

Post 14 of 37

Mouse moving to top right or bottom left corner

by ben2025 - December 30, 2008 2:17 PM PST

In Reply to: (NT) (NT) Your welcome,but you can call me Tom by tomron

Tom Ian, what ever you name is thanks so much. I had:
replaced the mouse.
useded different mouse pads, no mouse pad.
used touch pad.
rolled back the driver.
rebooted.
I was ready to pull my hair out.
Thanks again!

Post 15 of 37

Mouse creep

by dbrast - June 16, 2009 11:42 PM PDT

In Reply to: Ian Srewart by tomron

Thanks for the advice, Tom. I just implemented it. Based on what you said and what the feedback was, I'm confident it will work.

Post 16 of 37

windows 7

by antv311 - June 10, 2010 12:48 PM PDT

In Reply to: Mouse creep by dbrast

This also works for windows 7 the only thing i would add is to remind everyone to restart the computer after, applying this solution.

Post 17 of 37

Many Thanks for the wonderful solution

by TPRenu - August 28, 2010 2:21 AM PDT

In Reply to: Ian Srewart by tomron

The cursor in my Dell laptop Inspiron kept on moving automatically.
Somehow with great difficulty I managed to uncheck "Enhance pointer precision".
It worked out fabulous.
Saved a great deal of my time and money.I wantedto express my gratitude.
Thanks a million.
Renu

Post 18 of 37

Insanely easy cure for Trackball wandering cursor

by lodave - December 21, 2009 2:05 AM PST

In Reply to: Hi by ianstewart

Logitech Cordless Optical TrackMan
Early today the cursor got a mind of its own, wandering across, up, down, diagonally, at random. "Malware!" I think. After hours of efforts to find the cause and cure, running scans, even using ERDNT to restore system to yesterday, nothing worked. After reading this thread, esp. the part about mousepad colors, an inspiration (this takes a logic leap: check the trackball itself [DOH!]. Popped it out and found a tiny thin piece of Kleenex covering most of the laser window! Blew it out, then cleaned the window carefully, and voila! The cursor is back to normal!
This is just to remind everyone how easy it is to overlook the most obvious things. Do the simplest fix first. Don't overlook routine cleanliness.

Post 19 of 37

Mouse moves on its own

by 440577 - February 6, 2006 12:54 AM PST

In Reply to: Hi ianstewart by roddy32

I had this problem and it was resolved by changing the mouse and reinstalling S/W

Post 20 of 37

RE: Mouse moves on its own

by Berfert - March 18, 2005 5:50 AM PST

In Reply to: Mouse moves on its own by ianstewart

in control panel open the mouse app look for "enhance pointer precision" and turn it off. This fixed mine and I didnt even have to buy a new mouse.

Post 21 of 37

bump - great easy fix, thanks!

by Techette - February 2, 2006 8:02 AM PST

In Reply to: RE: Mouse moves on its own by Berfert

The unchecking "enhanced precision" worked for me...thanks, Berfert!

Post 22 of 37

Same Problem Fixed For Now

by akareload - March 18, 2005 7:31 AM PST

In Reply to: Mouse moves on its own by ianstewart

I am also running A Dell Inspiron and for several weeks the Logitech Wireless USB 2.0 TrackBall Mouse and Keyboard worked well. The Wireless connect point was connected to the Dell via a USB Hub.
Then without warning, the cursor started moving on its own or not releasing an icon if changing between icons. My Touchpad also stopped working. When shutting down I would get a message stating SOMETHING could not close because it was still in use, although nothing I knew of was active. I did everything that has been suggested with no luck. Dell suggested I RUN MSCONFIG STARTUP and disable everything and reboot. This brought back my touchpad use. I then enabled things that I needed or knew were not a conflict. While this was informative it did not pinpoint the problem. When I reinstalled the USB Hub with the wireless access point attached the problem reappeared.
Isolating the mouse problem, I went back to the Wired Keyboard via USB hub and the Wiresless mouse and so far so good. The Wired Keyboard and Wireless access point are now in seperate ports on the USB hub.
It seemed to be a conflict between the two wireless devices and the touchpad.

Post 23 of 37

Sometimes the answer is even simpler....

by JoAnneMac - March 18, 2005 7:43 AM PST

In Reply to: Same Problem Fixed For Now by akareload

I have found that with the optical mice, the choice of a mouse pad (or not) can create a similar problem. Depending on the color shading of the mouse pad, the mouse "jumps" to different areas on the desktop. Simply changing the mouse pad, can fix.

I realize that this is the not the answer to the original writers question, since they had a track ball... but I thought I'd mention it before someone ends up spending hours with msconfig.

Post 24 of 37

It does not sound like

by roddy32 - June 15, 2005 4:29 AM PDT

In Reply to: Similar problem by jazzkramer

any kind of virus issue to me. If you search CNET, you'll find hundreds of threads about mouse problems but more so in the Computer Help forum and the XP forum than in here. Personally I have never used a TouchPad so I would not have a clue as to how to help you.

Post 26 of 37

(NT) (NT) most likely, yours is hardware problem.

by Melati Hitam - January 18, 2006 11:10 PM PST

In Reply to: Similar problem by jazzkramer

Post 27 of 37

Suggest Run Spybot ! Fix 57 Folders of BackWeb in....

by tobeach - January 18, 2006 9:46 PM PST

In Reply to: Same Problem Fixed For Now by akareload

Logitecs files. Runnng in background to call home. Hub could also play a part.

Post 28 of 37

Do you fix this problem in the end?

by avmad - December 18, 2005 10:52 AM PST

In Reply to: Mouse moves on its own by ianstewart

I seem to have an identical issue

Thx

Julian

Post 29 of 37

Longtech

by Maisie663 - December 19, 2005 8:27 AM PST

In Reply to: Do you fix this problem in the end? by avmad

I have used Longtech Mouse for several years and they seem to do that, I have not considered it a problem, have tried the Dell that came with computor,it did not do it. Not concered about it--got this far--going farther. Good Luck