Laptop mouse/touchpad with a mind of its own..

Russ · 20-09-2011, 15:43

If I leave my laptop on overnight, it seems to have a life of its own - files get opened, documents get printed etc.

I'm pretty sure it's something to do with the mouse. I use a wireless one and I did start to think it might be interference from something but the same thing happens when I remove the receiver, so it's like the touchpad has a life of its own too.

Seems like the only workaround is to connect a wired mouse in to a USB port but still, I'd rather deal with the problem than mask it if anyone has any suggestions?

pabscars · 20-09-2011, 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

If I leave my laptop on overnight, it seems to have a life of its own - files get opened, documents get printed etc.

I'm pretty sure it's something to do with the mouse. I use a wireless one and I did start to think it might be interference from something but the same thing happens when I remove the receiver, so it's like the touchpad has a life of its own too.

Seems like the only workaround is to connect a wired mouse in to a USB port but still, I'd rather deal with the problem than mask it if anyone has any suggestions?

Do you have any pets Russ, or a Geeky Ghost

thenry · 20-09-2011, 16:01

when you use the pad does it move somewhere you don't want it to or not move at all? if so when it happens lightly yet forcefully hit each side of where the pad is, i had issues with my pad and had to hit the right side, shoddy wiring/connector.

Russ · 20-09-2011, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenry

when you use the pad does it move somewhere you don't want it to or not move at all? if so when it happens lightly yet forcefully hit each side of where the pad is, i had issues with my pad and had to hit the right side, shoddy wiring/connector.

Kind of. Sometimes if I'm typing a long paragraph or something, part of my hand or finger may lightly brush the touchpad and suddenly whatever I type from that point continues wherever the cursor is but I don't think that's exactly what you meant. It never not moves though.

thenry · 20-09-2011, 16:15

has your pad got a program installed on your laptop? you might need to configure it. if not update the drivers and configure it via the program installed.

candy1567 · 20-09-2011, 17:48

@Russ

Its not an acer laptop is it lol

am sayin nothing but had loads of probs with my acer, so much so i gave up and got a toshiba and give the acer to my daughter.

she is now using the laptop with an external mouse

juliex

Russ · 20-09-2011, 17:51

It is an Acer

In fairness it isn't a massive problem as I use my external mouse, more a minor irritation.

DocDutch · 20-09-2011, 18:44

Tried reinstalling the drivers yet or even uninstalled them and let windows install them after a reboot

---------- Post added at 18:44 ---------- Previous post was at 18:43 ----------

Another thing try to give the mouse pad a clean as well

Mick Fisher · 20-09-2011, 18:46

I have an acer.

I use a usb mouse as the touchpad is so awful.

pabscars · 20-09-2011, 23:14

Isnt there any adjustment for how sensitive the touchpad is ?. I have the wife's little acer aspire and the touchpad is unbelievably sensitive. Just wondering if it's getting more sensitive the warmer it gets (as things expand etc) and that's why it's doing stuff while your getting your beauty sleep Russ.

Or can you not just disable the pad (using the shortcut "Fn and F7") when it's not being used just to see if it is the cause, just a thought

qasdfdsaq · 20-09-2011, 23:39

Acer have (afaik) always used Synaptics pads and yes, you can adjust the sensitivity or turn it off completely.

Russ · 21-09-2011, 09:49

It isn't anything to do with how sensitive the touchpad is. I updated the drivers yesterday and left the laptop on overnight and again options had changed and files were opened. I could turn the touchpad off but that's just masking the problem.

pabscars · 21-09-2011, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

It isn't anything to do with how sensitive the touchpad is. I updated the drivers yesterday and left the laptop on overnight and again options had changed and files were opened. I could turn the touchpad off but that's just masking the problem.

How strange, If you had to hazard a guess, what would you say could cause such a phenominon.

Does it ever play up whilst your in front of it.

Russ · 21-09-2011, 11:09

It never happens when I'm using the laptop, and seemingly never during the day when I leave it.

All I'm aware of is when I leave the laptop on overnight to download something, in the morning multiple files/windows will be open (as if someone pressed the left mouse button about 20 times even though the cursor was left nowhere near that file) and once, one of the documents on my desktop printed out by itself.

If I had to hazard a guess, it's as if someone else is controlling the mouse (I have mainly pensioners and late-middle-aged people living around here, it's unlikely to be a rogue neighbour) but not 'intelligently' - I'd have thought they'd go after my bank details or something. When I was using a wireless mouse and it was left plugged in, I did think it may have been interference from something but this is happening when I take the receiver out. Even if I lock the keyboard, in the morning the 'Ease of Access' icon on the bottom left has been played with, as the options you get when you use it are open.

Again, disabling the pad would stop it or plugging a cabled mouse in but I want to deal with the problem, not mask it.

pabscars · 21-09-2011, 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

It never happens when I'm using the laptop, and seemingly never during the day when I leave it.

All I'm aware of is when I leave the laptop on overnight to download something, in the morning multiple files/windows will be open (as if someone pressed the left mouse button about 20 times even though the cursor was left nowhere near that file) and once, one of the documents on my desktop printed out by itself.

If I had to hazard a guess, it's as if someone else is controlling the mouse (I have mainly pensioners and late-middle-aged people living around here, it's unlikely to be a rogue neighbour) but not 'intelligently' - I'd have thought they'd go after my bank details or something. When I was using a wireless mouse and it was left plugged in, I did think it may have been interference from something but this is happening when I take the receiver out. Even if I lock the keyboard, in the morning the 'Ease of Access' icon on the bottom left has been played with, as the options you get when you use it are open.

Again, disabling the pad would stop it or plugging a cabled mouse in but I want to deal with the problem, not mask it.

I think I'd be tempted to set up a hidden camera, web cam or something if poss because it sounds suspisiously like someone is messing with your kit, rather than your kit messing with you.

Can't really offer any more advice I'm afraid, but it would be interesting to find out.

The reason I initially asked if you had any pets Russ, was on the off chance a cat was falling asleep on your laptop due it being nice and warm.

A bit of long shot I know.