T41p Mouse/Pointer Problem related to Mini-Dock?

[cgs]

It has taken me a long time to get my T41p configured and working the way I want, but a new problem has cropped up suddenly which I cannot de-bug:

When not travelling, the T41p is docked in a Mini-Dock to which is attached various peripherals, primarily USB Maxtor, Blackberry, iPAQ, Treo and a Microsoft Wireless Desktop Elite Keyboard/Mouse etc. When I first installed the Microsoft Wirelss Desktop, I found I could not install the Mirosoft Intellipoint Mouse Driver otherwise it messed up the Trackpoint and UltraNav which would not work when I undocked. Both are disabled when docked (set to AUTO in the ThinkPad Configuration utility). I got around this by using the full Keyboard Intellipoint navigation function in addition to the basic mouse function when docked. And when undocked, the Trackpoint and UltraNav came to life.

With no obvious explanation, now when I undock the T41 - and regardless of whether I restart the m/c or not - both the Trackpoint and the UltraNav TouchPad deliver an agonisingly slow and stuttering cursor, and (how is this related??) the screen seems to refresh like molasses. Whne the cursor is passed over an icon, the icon disappears and re-appears after 1-2 seconds. If I re-dock the T41p, all is fine again, speed and function-wise.

I have tried re-installing the ThinkPad UltraNav and Trackpoint drivers but this does not seem to help. So now I have a machine which is fine when in the Mini-Dock, and slower than a tortoise when in travel mode.

A much less serious problem is that if the T41p is made to hibernate or shutdown, the USB devices connected through the Mini-Dock and usually not recognised on restart, and the m/c has to be un-docked and re-docked while running to jump-start the USB connections.

Has anyone had similar problems or can anyone suggest something else to try? Would be very grateful....

[chchchigga]

I've got a similar problem with a port replicator II. The system will occassionally cut out the mouse and the usb hard drive i have connected and i'm forced to use the trackpoint until i undock and redock again. anyone have any insights on this yet?

[chchchigga]

Bump for still seeing this issue. Does NO ONE else experience this problem?

[davidspalding]

I've been using IntelliPoint 5.4 with a wired Comfort mouse 3000 (undocked, docked), Notebook wireless laser Mouse 6000 (undocked, docked), and even an old Optical Wireless Mouse (undocked, docked). Haven't encountered the symptoms you describe. All USB, by the way, I never tried my older Wireless Scroll Mouse (PS/2).

Maybe make sure your Ultranav drivers are up to date, and that you're not using an older version of IntelliPoint?

[chchchigga]

Drivers are all up to date. The problem I am having is with the PS/2 on the port replicator so you may not encounter the same symptoms with a USB mouse.

[davidspalding]

PS/2 is not 100% plug 'n play, even on docking stations (speaking generically). I suspect that if you switch to USB, your problems will go away.

On all laptops that I've had, the internal pointing device was PS/2. Once upon a time, the Logitech mouse/trackball drivers would use both devices, and even indicate which was being "moved." But I don't think Windows does that. So if you put a PS/2 mouse on a thinkpad, I'd EXPECT the Trackpoint/Touchpad to stop working. Or vice-y verse-y.

Your USB HD is another issue. I'd post a new thread on it.