Thinkpads Forum

Very often I use MS Paint to edit screenshots on my ThinkPad X61. I only use the TrackPoint to control the mouse cursor. Sometimes it is very difficult to change the canvas size because cursor jumps a few pixels when I try to move the cursor (arrow tip) on one of the handles canvas. This is very irritating

My OS is WinXP x64 but the same problem I noticed earlier on WinXP x86. I tried to change various settings in the control panel, but it did not help.

tpx61 wrote:Sometimes it is very difficult to change the canvas size because cursor jumps a few pixels when I try to move the cursor (arrow tip) on one of the handles canvas. This is very irritating

Is this the known issue of "trackpoint drift", where the trackpoint continues moving on its own, and stops after a couple of seconds? Or is it more of a sudden, instantaneous jump?

tpx61 wrote:My OS is WinXP x64

Good God, why?

dr_st wrote:Is this the known issue of "trackpoint drift", where the trackpoint continues moving on its own, and stops after a couple of seconds?

No, the problem is different. It only happens when I try to move the cursor on the handle of the canvas in MS Paint.

(That's what you're asking is a known issue with the Wifi signal)

tpx61 wrote:My OS is WinXP x64

dr_st wrote:Good God, why?

Good God, why not? I use it eg. because of hardware DEP support

If you need absolute, single-pixel resolution of the canvas size, then use Image/Attributes and define the pixel size there.

rkawakami wrote:If you need absolute, single-pixel resolution of the canvas size, then use Image/Attributes and define the pixel size there.

Yes, I know it can be that way but the problem does not occur in another PC with PS/2 mouse.

tpx61 wrote:No, the problem is different. It only happens when I try to move the cursor on the handle of the canvas in MS Paint.

Really strange. I have not encountered anything like this, and could not reproduce it just now, on this T42 I'm writing from. But I will see later if I can reproduce it on my T60/X61.

tpx61 wrote: Good God, why not? I use it eg. because of hardware DEP support

You know, I actually have no idea why not. I just pondered on it a bit, and came to an interesting realization. For years, XP64 has been considered a "[censored] child" of Microsoft, with various compatibility/stability issues, etc. But most of the bad press probably comes from people who have not used it themselves, and only heard from someone else about "how bad XP64 is".

Certainly, it is not the only example. As a long-term user of Windows Vista, I know, for instance, the incredible difference between the perception of Vista in the general public (terrible piece of crap) and how Vista actually is (a very good, mature OS, in some ways more stable than Win7). It is totally believable that the bad impression folks have of XP64 is also not justified. I decided therefore that I do not want to be one of the folks that badmouths something based on hear-say. So from this point on, you won't hear anything bad from me about XP64!

Just to be clear, have you tried the "sensitivity", "speed" AND "enhance pointer position" options in Control Panel/Mouse? You said "various settings" but I think these are the only three which would cause a large jump in pointer position with a small movement. And while you're there, do you have a Trackpoint tab in Mouse Properties and what is the driver version (Device Manager/Mice and other pointing devices)?

The hardware solution would be to replace the keyboard and see if that makes any difference (your existing trackpoint might be a little unstable).

rkawakami wrote:Just to be clear, have you tried the "sensitivity", "speed" AND "enhance pointer position" options in Control Panel/Mouse? You said "various settings" but I think these are the only three which would cause a large jump in pointer position with a small movement. And while you're there, do you have a Trackpoint tab in Mouse Properties and what is the driver version (Device Manager/Mice and other pointing devices)?

The hardware solution would be to replace the keyboard and see if that makes any difference (your existing trackpoint might be a little unstable).

I do not think it was a hardware problem. TrackPoint work very good in OS WinXP x64 and x86 - this is only in MS Paint problem. When you change the size of any window in the system does not have such problems - only while resize canvas in MS Paint.

I have TrackPoint tab in mouse properties and sensitivity options - as in the screenshot are suitable for me.


Steps to reproduce the problem:

• Power ON ThinkPad X61 and boot WinXP x64 or x86
• Open MS Paint and try change canvas size

I found a permanent solution to the problem

The problem is that by default set to "Full" hardware acceleration in the video card settings on the "Troubleshoot" tab. Just reduce the setting by one step and there is no problem
Even Microsoft itself recommends that you set in case of problems with the cursor:


P.S. I suggest you also change the default Application Background color in the system settings that handles the canvas in MS Paint were clearly visible: