Thinkpads Forum

My thinkpad trackpoint is having lots of trouble. About 25% of the time, the trackpoing becomes "heavy" and I can't really move around the screen in an effective manner. I let go of the trackpoint and the cursor kind of "drifts" in a certain direction for about half a second and then stops. Then I can use it again with some normalcy. Obviously, this is a very annoying problem. Anybody know how it can be remedied?

Also, not having middle click functionality is very annoying. It's hugely useful in firefox and many other programs. I'm shocked that there is no easy way to change the function of the middle scroll button to give it middle click functionality. Does anybody know how to do this? Is there some sort of program that can 'remap' the mouse buttons in the same way that there are programs out there that remap keyboard buttons?

Broohaha wrote:My thinkpad trackpoint is having lots of trouble. About 25% of the time, the trackpoing becomes "heavy" and I can't really move around the screen in an effective manner. I let go of the trackpoint and the cursor kind of "drifts" in a certain direction for about half a second and then stops. Then I can use it again with some normalcy. Obviously, this is a very annoying problem. Anybody know how it can be remedied?

This has happened with varying frequency with every TrackPoint (and imitation pointing stick) I have used -- the pointer drifts, until the driver detects the drifting and autocorrects.

When you say "25% of the time", do you mean that 25% of the time, it's drifting -- so you let it go, and it starts again in a few seconds? Or it happens once 25% of the times you use your X60? Or it happens on 25% of the days? Or something else?

tomh009 wrote:

Broohaha wrote:My thinkpad trackpoint is having lots of trouble. About 25% of the time, the trackpoing becomes "heavy" and I can't really move around the screen in an effective manner. I let go of the trackpoint and the cursor kind of "drifts" in a certain direction for about half a second and then stops. Then I can use it again with some normalcy. Obviously, this is a very annoying problem. Anybody know how it can be remedied?

This has happened with varying frequency with every TrackPoint (and imitation pointing stick) I have used -- the pointer drifts, until the driver detects the drifting and autocorrects.

When you say "25% of the time", do you mean that 25% of the time, it's drifting -- so you let it go, and it starts again in a few seconds? Or it happens once 25% of the times you use your X60? Or it happens on 25% of the days? Or something else?

I mean that about 25% of the time that I am using my trackpoint at all, it drifts. I just went to the thinkpad support site and downloaded a new driver for the trackpoint... thus far it seems to maybe have worked a little bit and maybe it wont be a problem as frequently, but... kind of disappointing. i thought thinkpads were fantastic machines that didnt have dinky problems like these.

After you use the TrackPoint, the pointer may drift on the screen for a short time. This drift can occur when a slight, steady pressure is applied to the TrackPointing Stick. This symptom is not a hardware problem. If the pointer stops after a short time, no service action is necessary.

The trick is not to keep your finger resting on the TrackPoint.

GomJabbar wrote:

After you use the TrackPoint, the pointer may drift on the screen for a short time. This drift can occur when a slight, steady pressure is applied to the TrackPointing Stick. This symptom is not a hardware problem. If the pointer stops after a short time, no service action is necessary.

The trick is not to keep your finger resting on the TrackPoint.

EXACTLY! If you take your finger off the trackpoint when you are NOT using it, this problem goes away.

If you do a clean install without the IBM drivers the middle click will work as expected. When you install the trackpoint driver, perhaps it's the accessibility feature, it changes to the way it works with IBM.

proaudioguy wrote:

GomJabbar wrote: The trick is not to keep your finger resting on the TrackPoint.

EXACTLY! If you take your finger off the trackpoint when you are NOT using it, this problem goes away.

If you do a clean install without the IBM drivers the middle click will work as expected. When you install the trackpoint driver, perhaps it's the accessibility feature, it changes to the way it works with IBM.

when you say "work as expected" do you mean that if i middle click a link in firefox that it will open in a new tab, for instance?

If it keeps acting up you might try and get Lenovo to send you a replacement keyboard (which I believe contains the buttons for the trackpoint as well). Don't send your machine in, just tell them that you can replace it on your own (and you can! )

Broohaha wrote:when you say "work as expected" do you mean that if i middle click a link in firefox that it will open in a new tab, for instance?

I am one of about 2 people in the world that doesn't use Firefox.

However in Opera I notice the following. If I open the UltraNav Wizard and choose to modify the center button from Scrolling to Neither, then I can click on the center button and it opens a new tab.

Look for the UltraNav Wizard in Start > All Programs > ThinkVantage. If you do not have the UltraNav Wizard installed, you can download it below.
UltraNav Wizard for Windows 2000/XP - ThinkPad R40, R50, R50p, R51, R52, R60, T30, T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p, T43, T43p, T60, T60p, Z60m, Z60t, Z61m, Z61p, Z61t

Broohaha wrote:when you say "work as expected" do you mean that if i middle click a link in firefox that it will open in a new tab, for instance?

No, that's not what a normal middle click does in my experience. My Microsoft mouse acts exactly like the middle button on the thinkpad when clicked. It becomes a 4way arrow on the screen and when you move the mouse or trackpoint the screen scrolls in that direction. I think any other type of action is something that must be programmed via your mouse driver. It's not the default for Windows.

If you figure out a way to get it to open in a new TAB, please by all means let us know. Perhaps it's an ADD ON.


The middle click button doubles as a scroll wheel too.
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouse ... px?pid=008

Mod edit: reduced excessive quoting.

I figured it out, who needs scrolling. here are my settings to get firefox to open a new tab and enable the "page grab" feature that is kind of like adobe acrobat's pdf feature:

under the choose scrolling or magnifying feature pick: neither

i have lost some ability to scroll in microsoft explorer and foxit pdf reader, but internet explorer and firefox work much better. Maybe I'll reprogram another button to switch between the two mouse profiles (scrolling and neither)

Your a genius. I never noticed the NIETHER choice. It works exactly as it does without the driver installed. I also like being able to scroll left and right.

Broohaha wrote:My thinkpad trackpoint is having lots of trouble. About 25% of the time, the trackpoing becomes "heavy" and I can't really move around the screen in an effective manner. I let go of the trackpoint and the cursor kind of "drifts" in a certain direction for about half a second and then stops. Then I can use it again with some normalcy. Obviously, this is a very annoying problem. Anybody know how it can be remedied?

I'm having the same problem with my T61s. It's really annoying! If I don't let my finger rest on the trackpoint the problem goes away but I like to let it rest there. If you sent it in for repair could you tell me if the problem persists?

Thanks.

politicorific wrote:I figured it out, who needs scrolling. here are my settings to get firefox to open a new tab and enable the "page grab" feature that is kind of like adobe acrobat's pdf feature:

under the choose scrolling or magnifying feature pick: neither

i have lost some ability to scroll in microsoft explorer and foxit pdf reader, but internet explorer and firefox work much better. Maybe I'll reprogram another button to switch between the two mouse profiles (scrolling and neither)

wow!!! thanks so much!

ctrler wrote:If I don't let my finger rest on the trackpoint the problem goes away but I like to let it rest there. If you sent it in for repair could you tell me if the problem persists?

It's a pressure-sensitive device. If you rest your finger there, you're putting pressure on it. It's working as designed.

i dont even rest my finger there all that much. 90% of the time, the drifting problem occurs as i'm actively scrolling to another spot on my desktop. suddenly the mouse becomes "heavy" and i basically cant use it anymore (it will scroll at a snail's pace because i want it to go left while it wants to go right)... at that point i lift my hand off the trackpoint and it suddenly flies off about two inches in a direction opposite from the one i was originally moving. very frustrating to say the least. i'll probably call IBM tomorrow.

Broohaha wrote:i dont even rest my finger there all that much. 90% of the time, the drifting problem occurs as i'm actively scrolling to another spot on my desktop. suddenly the mouse becomes "heavy" and i basically cant use it anymore (it will scroll at a snail's pace because i want it to go left while it wants to go right)... at that point i lift my hand off the trackpoint and it suddenly flies off about two inches in a direction opposite from the one i was originally moving. very frustrating to say the least. i'll probably call IBM tomorrow.

Sorry to break it to you but they do consider that 'normal behaviour'. They even have a page on their site somewhere describing the symptoms and explaining that basically there's 'nothing to see here'.

It sucks, but man it does it 100% less than on any dell I've used. At least the trackpoint drift stops about a second after you get off the trackpoint. On Dells, it'll continue until the pointer hits the edge of the screen, then keep going for a long time. Also, during this time period the touchpad is completely inoperable so you just have to wait it out. It can take 10-15 seconds!