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T420 Cursor Problem

T400/T410/T420 and T500/T510/T520 Series
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seagiant
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:13 am
Location: Orlando, FL

T420 Cursor Problem

#1 Post by seagiant » Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:21 am

Hi,
Running Ubuntu on my Think Pad and having really bad cursor problems lately.

Even reloaded OS and still have cursor jumping around and clicking by it's self on things.

Any ideas, hard to type this even!

shawross
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Location: Perth Australia

Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#2 Post by shawross » Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:15 pm

Are you using a mouse or the track-point?
Active --- Love the X series
X301 W 7/Mint | X201 540M L Mint | X220 2520 W7/Mint

Nostalgia
X61 T7500 / T41 T42 T43 / A31

Rogue daily driver - Samsung RV511 15.6 " Screen - W 7

MikalE
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Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#3 Post by MikalE » Mon Oct 11, 2021 8:40 pm

The cursor on my T500 drifts. I've tried several fixes including hardware replacements and software fixes. It's usable, but still drifts.
A31p P-IV 2Ghz, 2MB, 2653-R6U
T500 T9600 2055-BE9
T510 i5 4384-DV7
T510 i7 4349-A64
T520 i7QM 4242-4UU Highly Modified
T16 i7 1260P 21BV000SUS

seagiant
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:13 am
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#4 Post by seagiant » Mon Oct 11, 2021 9:48 pm

Hi,
Thanks, I'm using the Mouse, don't really like the track point.

I have 2 T420's, and just got the other one up and running so I can type without pulling my hair out.

I thought when I reinstalled Ubuntu, it would fix the problem but, didn't.

I'm going to upgrade the hard drive and see what that does.

I like having 2 working computers, so if one goes down...

I have another to get info to fix it!

Have been using, T 420's for 6 years or more, and the only problem I've had was a noisy fan which I replaced myself.

These Laptops are built like tanks and easy to work on!

seagiant
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:13 am
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#5 Post by seagiant » Tue Oct 12, 2021 9:58 am

Hi,
Well I did improve the situation a little by removing the battery and power plug then holding the Power Button down for 30 sec.

This helped stabalize the cursor after rebooting but did not cure it.

Still trying to figure out if this is a software or hardware problem?????????????

This T420 has been used HARD everyday for years so have got my money out of it, see as I bought refurbed for $150!

I'm going to throw a 1TB HHD Drive in it and see what that does.

Maybe the old OEM drive is starting to fade?

Admittedly I'm no Computer Geek and why I am here, but seems no one has delt with this before?

RealBlackStuff
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Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#6 Post by RealBlackStuff » Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:38 am

If you use the trackpoint, you may have a bad/worn keyboard.
If you use the trackpad, maybe replace that, or even the whole palmrest??
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
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seagiant
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:13 am
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#7 Post by seagiant » Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:47 am

Hi,
Thank you!

That should be cheap enough, to replace the Palm Rest!

shawross
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Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#8 Post by shawross » Tue Oct 12, 2021 6:47 pm

seagiant wrote:Thanks, I'm using the Mouse, don't really like the track point.
Before you spend money replacing the palmrest maybe it might be worth testing with a another quality mouse. I have seen cheap mouses do similar things.
Active --- Love the X series
X301 W 7/Mint | X201 540M L Mint | X220 2520 W7/Mint

Nostalgia
X61 T7500 / T41 T42 T43 / A31

Rogue daily driver - Samsung RV511 15.6 " Screen - W 7

seagiant
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:13 am
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#9 Post by seagiant » Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:08 pm

Hi,
Well, I'm using the track pad, but an external mouse would be an idea...

To see if it cures the problem???

Sweater Fish Deluxe
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Joined: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:22 pm
Location: Ukiah, California

Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#10 Post by Sweater Fish Deluxe » Tue Oct 12, 2021 9:01 pm

If gunk gets under one or both trackpad buttons that causes them to register presses constantly that can make the entire trackpad malfunction and lead to exactly the behavior you described. I've seen it happen on two different T420s. I'd try taking it apart and cleaning the button contacts before replacing the whole thing.

You can test if this is the problem by just disabling the buttons under the trackpad in software. That should make the rest of the trackpad start behaving normally if the buttons are the issue.

seagiant
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:13 am
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#11 Post by seagiant » Tue Oct 12, 2021 9:05 pm

Hi,
Thanks, I'll do that, I have replaced a fan before, so have been that deep into one, anyway!!!

seagiant
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:13 am
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#12 Post by seagiant » Wed Oct 13, 2021 3:25 pm

Hi,
Well I have it apart and have brushed and blown out everything but...

See no way to get under anything to clean it?

The sensors are glued and taped to the touch pad, so even scared to spray any Contact Cleaner in there.

Don't want to, "melt", anything, but has less dust than it did.

Sweater Fish Deluxe
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Joined: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:22 pm
Location: Ukiah, California

Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#13 Post by Sweater Fish Deluxe » Wed Oct 13, 2021 3:41 pm

The two buttons below the touchpad are on a separate PCB that can be removed and disassembled. They're just rubber dome contacts and it's easy for things to get under them.

Like I said, you can test if this is your problem before doing the disassembly by disabling the buttons in software and seeing if that makes the trackpad function normally.

seagiant
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:13 am
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#14 Post by seagiant » Thu Oct 14, 2021 11:19 am

Hi,
Thank you very much, i guess you have more knowledge than me.

Everything I saw was glued AND taped and I did not want to destroy anything not having info on the right way you might do it.

I cleaned what I could and put everything back together and it is now better and usable but not fixed.

I will get another palm rest/touch pad and try that.

Thanks again!!!

seagiant
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:13 am
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#15 Post by seagiant » Thu Oct 14, 2021 4:00 pm

Hi,
Well I bought a cheap USB Mouse and used that with the T420 and it ran perfect, soooooooooo....

I assume that tells me I have a TouchPad Hardware problem???

seagiant
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:13 am
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: T420 Cursor Problem

#16 Post by seagiant » Tue Oct 19, 2021 7:19 pm

Hi,
Well, I lucked out, I bought a used T420 missing the hard drive, dvd drive and Wi Fi Card, for $30 shipped...

Just to get the palm rest with a god touch pad.

However, when I saw the laptop I was pleasently surprised as it was VERY clean and had a nice long OEM power cord and a big 9 battery case.

Decided to keep the new laptop and scavange parts off the beat up on I was going to fix, so...

Moved everything I needed and the laptop, booted right up using Ubuntu 20.04!

No more cursor problems anyway!!! :D

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