Pointer Movement Erratic in Response to Trackpoint pressure

[mzarum]

My pointer is going bonkers! It started to drift wildly and has become very sensitive when touching the trackpoint button, the pointer flies rapidly from one side of the display to the other with hardly any pressure to the trackpoint button.

Note:

By "pointer" I mean the cursor icon on the display intended point to objects on the display

By "Button" I mean the red trackpoint button on the keyboad.


Here are the symptoms:

1) yesterday was working fine ( pointer response as a function of trackpoint finger pressure)


2) today the pointer movers erratically


3) The vertical direction seems okay with respect to direction and pressure


4) The left to right direction is reversed: Trackpoint button to left and pointer zooms to the right AND Trackpoint button to the right and pointer zooms to the left.


5) By zooming, I mean the slightest pressure causes the pointer to dart quickly from one side to the other on the display.


6) With no trackpoint button pressure the pointer sometimes
stands still and sometimes drifts more than a usual


7) I have set the trackpoint sensitivity in the middle of the range, where I have always kept it when it worked fine.


8 ) The pointer's response to regular mouse inputs works fine when a regular mouse is connected and used through the mouse connector in the back.

Is this likely a problem with:

a) Hardware: Trackpoint button on the keyboard
b) Software: Mouse / Trackpoint Settings
c) Software: Driver corrupted (although regular mouse works okay)
d) Malware: Something has taken over pointer control
e) Other

Has anyone experienced this and found a solution?

Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Thanks

Michael
Located@rcn.com

[mzarum]

It's been one month since I first posted this problem, 117 have viewed my post, and not one response. So I decided to spend some time on troubleshooting it today.

I upgraded the:
1) Mouse and Trackpoint drivers
2) Trackpoint accessability drivers
3) Reset the properties and settings
4) Installed a brand new keyboard

Both the Trackpoint mouse and regular mouse are working again, no more drift, no more having the pointer / cursor stuck on the side of the display. Its all working again.

While I took a broad approach to update as many items that could have been the cause of the malfunction as possible, I think the problem was in the keyboard, specifically the small circuit board directly under Trackpoint button or the mechanical part of the Trackpoint button itself, possibly from excess heat. I do think that mini-board was fried from heat, as when cool or the system was first booted, it was usually working okay, then after a while the problem would start again. Now fixed!!!

I'm also adding the following information as it may help others understand this issue better.

08/30/2008 Mouse and Trackpoint Driver Updates
1.0) Updated Trackpoint Driver
1.1) Trackpoint Driver from V3.52 to V3.55
1.2) TP Driver executable is package 78g405ww.exe
2.0) Update Trackpoint Accessability Driver
2.1) Accessability Driver from V? to V1.11
2.2) TP Accessability executable is 1rg807ww.exe

Reset Mouse and Trackpoint Utility Settings
Trackpoint Stick Firm / Light SET TOUCH = MIDDLE
Press to Select Function: Disable
Scrolling or Magnifying Functions SELECT = NEITHER

CONTROL METHODS
Press Center Button then use Trackpoint: DESELECT
Use External Mouse: DESELECT
Use Track Point: SELECT (This should allow a PS2 compatible mouse and the Trackpoint to be used simultaneously)

ThinkPad Configuration Settings
TrackPoint ENABLED

R/R Keyboard
FRU 02K5455
PN 02K5427
INSTALL INST. MIGR's 4K7H9L and 46010


Mouse / Trackpoint Troubleshooting additional notes:

Problem: The cursor drifts when the computer is turned on or after it resumes normal operation.


The cursor might drift when you are not using the TrackPoint during normal operation. This is a normal characteristic of the TrackPoint and is not a defect. Cursor drifting might occur for several seconds under the following conditions:

When the computer is turned on.
When the computer resumes normal operation.
When the TrackPoint is pressed for a long time.
When the temperature changes.

Problem: The cursor does not work for a while after the settings in the TrackPoint Properties window have been changed.

This is a normal characteristic of the cursor. Wait several seconds until the cursor returns to the normal state.


Problem: The mouse or pointing device does not work.

Make sure that the pointing-device cable is enabled in the ThinkPad Configuration Program.

Make sure that the mouse or pointing-device cable is securely connected to the computer.

Try using the TrackPoint. If the TrackPoint works, the error might be due to the mouse.


Note: If your mouse is incompatible with the IBM PS/2 mouse, disable the TrackPoint, using the ThinkPad Configuration Program.


Problem: The mouse buttons do not work.

Change the mouse driver to Standard PS/2 Port Mouse, and then reinstall PS/2 TrackPoint. Refer to the Software Selection CD for installing the driver.


Problem: The scrolling or magnifying glass function does not work. See the General tab page in Mouse Properties, and make sure that the PS/2 TrackPoint driver is installed.


Hope this post helps.

Mike

[daventure]

I experienced similar problem but of a different source.

Problem: After using Auslogics Registry Cleaner (1.5.12.165) through "Start quick registry scan" and after system reboot, the Trackpoint (the pointing device on a Thinkpad laptop) went into left-right reverse. That is, when pointing left, the cursor shifted right; when pointing right, the cursor shifted left.

Solution: Updated the pointer driver for the device "ThinkPad UltraNav Pointing Device" through regular "Update Driver" for the hardware. Selected "Yes" in "Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for software". The driver was updated from 2005/9/15 7.5.17.18 to 2010/4/22 15.0.18.0. The reverse problem is corrected after reboot.

Old Driver:
Synaptics
2005/9/15
7.5.17.18

New Driver
Synaptics
2010/4/22
15.0.18.0