just got my new imac and love it. Something annoying has just started happening. The cursor will suddenly jump across the screen. Why would it do this - it's becoming annoying
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novice computer user (mouse jumping around)
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It's more than likely a Leopard bug.
Until 10.5.2 comes out (or whatever release will fix it) go to:
System Preferences:
Keyboard & Mouse:
click the "Mouse" tab and in the top left corner, you'll see a "tracking speed" slider. Adjust it. It's only a temporary solution, but you might notice less random skipping. It's worked out with my USB mouse (though I have a mbp).
Until 10.5.2 comes out (or whatever release will fix it) go to:
System Preferences:
Keyboard & Mouse:
click the "Mouse" tab and in the top left corner, you'll see a "tracking speed" slider. Adjust it. It's only a temporary solution, but you might notice less random skipping. It's worked out with my USB mouse (though I have a mbp).
Hmmmm
I'm not sure what's going on. It tends to jump to the bottom or top of the screen and then tracks across without me even touching the mouse. It's just jumped to the right then the left. Anyone else having this problem? Could it be a virus/malware from the internet? If so is it recommended to get antivirus/spyware/malware software. I must admit that I thought Apple's were fairly protected from this.
I'm not sure what's going on. It tends to jump to the bottom or top of the screen and then tracks across without me even touching the mouse. It's just jumped to the right then the left. Anyone else having this problem? Could it be a virus/malware from the internet? If so is it recommended to get antivirus/spyware/malware software. I must admit that I thought Apple's were fairly protected from this.
I'm not sure what's going on. It tends to jump to the bottom or top of the screen and then tracks across without me even touching the mouse. It's just jumped to the right then the left. Anyone else having this problem? Could it be a virus/malware from the internet? If so is it recommended to get antivirus/spyware/malware software. I must admit that I thought Apple's were fairly protected from this.
LOL
It isn't a virus; CALM DOWN.
This has been happening with Leopard. There are a few bugs that are still leftover, but they'll soon be resolved. Wait another two or three weeks until .2 comes out, and I'm sure most of them will be hammered out.
mine does this all the time. its the surface that its on, the laser wont read it 100% all the time and will jump.
lol its not a virus.
try a different mouse pad, or different surface, or something.
lol its not a virus.
try a different mouse pad, or different surface, or something.
Thank you CalBoy
Thanks for the advice. I have reduced the sensitivity of the tracking - I will see if that helps. Sorry if I sounded paranoid, but having just made the jump from PC's and the nightmare of constant anti virus checks you tend to think the worst. Mac's are new experience and taking a little getting used to, but I think I'm going to like it...
Actually just playing with the mouse now - already it makes for a better experience. Cheers....
Thanks for the advice. I have reduced the sensitivity of the tracking - I will see if that helps. Sorry if I sounded paranoid, but having just made the jump from PC's and the nightmare of constant anti virus checks you tend to think the worst. Mac's are new experience and taking a little getting used to, but I think I'm going to like it...
Actually just playing with the mouse now - already it makes for a better experience. Cheers....
It's the mouse, not the OS, the same mouse connected to an MS Win machine will exhibit the same behavior. Try using the mouse on a different surface, preferably completely unreflective, like a cloth mouse pad. If this is the same mouse connected to the same computer but the problem just started occurring, it's probably just the deterioration of the mouse or an increase in the shininess of the surface you move the mouse over.
Feeling like a nugget
Thank you for your prompt replies. Sure enough, all of your tips have removed the problem (so far). Still as my old Gran used to say "It's a poor day when you don't learn something new".
Thank you
Thank you for your prompt replies. Sure enough, all of your tips have removed the problem (so far). Still as my old Gran used to say "It's a poor day when you don't learn something new".
Thank you
You would think so, but it is indeed a Leopard bug. I've tried a few mice, and they all exhibit this behavior. The crawling, the random skipping, etc. Plus, it all started AFTER I upgrade my mbp to Leopard.
I've been using a Logitech MX Revolution in 10.4.10, 10.5, and 10.5.1 and have experienced no such problem like this. The first few days I was using the Mighty Mouse on the other hand I did experience this problem in 10.4.10, leading me to believe it's a mouse problem not OS.
Yeah.
I had the same problem with my Mouse on my new iMac and was CONVINCED
it had to a software problem. I was using the WoW Burning Crusade mousepad
for the Collectors Edition and I was SURE that mouse + mousepad had to be better that just using it on the surface of my desk.
It would periodicaly just "jump" everywhere and was getting to be very annoying.
One I lost the mousepad and just used my desk surface, a dark matte woodgrain, all my problems disappeared. So I would give using a couple of different surfaces a shot before you did anything radical.
Just a thought.
WRC
I had the same problem with my Mouse on my new iMac and was CONVINCED
it had to a software problem. I was using the WoW Burning Crusade mousepad
for the Collectors Edition and I was SURE that mouse + mousepad had to be better that just using it on the surface of my desk.
It would periodicaly just "jump" everywhere and was getting to be very annoying.
One I lost the mousepad and just used my desk surface, a dark matte woodgrain, all my problems disappeared. So I would give using a couple of different surfaces a shot before you did anything radical.
Just a thought.
WRC
Though there is always a chance that in your particular case it could be a software bug, I agree with the others who have said that it is an issue with your mousing surface.
When I got my iMac a few months ago, I discovered that the mighty mouse did not function at all on the surface I had been using with my previous mouse, and had to try out a couple of different mouse pads before it stopped skipping to the corners at random times. The mouse did this in XP under bootcamp too, so it wasn't just an issue with OS X.
When I got my iMac a few months ago, I discovered that the mighty mouse did not function at all on the surface I had been using with my previous mouse, and had to try out a couple of different mouse pads before it stopped skipping to the corners at random times. The mouse did this in XP under bootcamp too, so it wasn't just an issue with OS X.
Another vote for trying a new surface/mousepad. I've encountered the jumping cursor problem with every Apple mouse I've had since switching nearly five years ago. I finally discovered that dark matte surfaces negate the problem. In fact, I switched to an ultra-cheap, plain black mousepad from Wal-Mart a few months ago and haven't had a single cursor glitch since.
I'm having the same mouse pointer jumping problems on a 24-inch 3.06GHz iMac Intel. I've tried:
Replacing the mighty mouse w/ a new one.
Using a Dell optical mouse and mouse pad that worked fine in Windows XP on a Dell computer and same surface.
Using 3 different surfaces
Using different USB ports
But I'm still having the mouse pointer jumping problems in OSX and WindowsXP/Bootcamp.
I guess I'll try using a different surface or mouse pad. I guess the software is more sensitive towards surfaces than a Dell PC. I hope Apple will fix this. It's pretty annoying.
I know I had similar issues and it was recommended that I put the mouse on a white piece of paper. Worked like a champ and now I have something to write on at all times.
Mouse Jumping Around Problem Fixed!!!
PROBLEM FIXED!!!
FIXED
FIXED
I FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS THEIR MOUSE JUMPING AROUND. ITS NO VIRUS, NO BUG.. ITS THE MIGHTY MOUSE!
I REPLACED MINE WITH A WIRELESS MOUSE, COST ME $90.00. JOB DONE.
NO JUMPING AND MINE IS SET TO THE REALLY FAST TRACKING SPEED AND NO PROB.
IM RUNNING 3.06 24" WITH 4GIG AND 1TB HD AND ITS PERFECT. NO JUMPS, NO RUNNING OFF THE PAGE.
ENJOY EVERYONE.
PROBLEM FIXED!!!
FIXED
FIXED
I FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS THEIR MOUSE JUMPING AROUND. ITS NO VIRUS, NO BUG.. ITS THE MIGHTY MOUSE!
I REPLACED MINE WITH A WIRELESS MOUSE, COST ME $90.00. JOB DONE.
NO JUMPING AND MINE IS SET TO THE REALLY FAST TRACKING SPEED AND NO PROB.
IM RUNNING 3.06 24" WITH 4GIG AND 1TB HD AND ITS PERFECT. NO JUMPS, NO RUNNING OFF THE PAGE.
ENJOY EVERYONE.
PROBLEM FIXED!!!
FIXED
FIXED
I FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS THEIR MOUSE JUMPING AROUND. ITS NO VIRUS, NO BUG.. ITS THE MIGHTY MOUSE!
I REPLACED MINE WITH A WIRELESS MOUSE, COST ME $90.00. JOB DONE.
NO JUMPING AND MINE IS SET TO THE REALLY FAST TRACKING SPEED AND NO PROB.
IM RUNNING 3.06 24" WITH 4GIG AND 1TB HD AND ITS PERFECT. NO JUMPS, NO RUNNING OFF THE PAGE.
ENJOY EVERYONE.
1. Nice job with the all caps workaround... Ugh.
2. Six month old thread.
3. Were you using your mouse on a glossy or white surface? If so, changing surfaces could have saved you $90.