Back in the days I had time to be a Windows MVP, there were a lot of
questions I knew how to answer, but this wasn't one of them. Let's see if
anybody can help me out.
We have a Vista machine running Vista Ultimate. It is a Toshiba Tecra.
Within a few minutes of booting up, even in safe mode, the mouse pointer
drifts to one side, usually the right, and stays there. If you leave the
machine alone for a while, the issue goes away, but the moment a user starts
doing anything, the mouse becomes unusable in this way. I have tried exiting
all applications, and meticulously exiting every service whose function I
know is not a core Windows function, without avail. Windows Defender has not
found an issue. Any suggestions?

Tried disabling the onboard mouse/trackpad/whatever?

"Bob Delaney" <bobdelaney@msn.com> wrote in message
news:603084C0-1F2F-4BD0-9899-84C3A1C3EB6B@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Back in the days I had time to be a Windows MVP, there were a lot of
> questions I knew how to answer, but this wasn't one of them. Let's see if
> anybody can help me out.
> We have a Vista machine running Vista Ultimate. It is a Toshiba Tecra.
> Within a few minutes of booting up, even in safe mode, the mouse pointer
> drifts to one side, usually the right, and stays there. If you leave the
> machine alone for a while, the issue goes away, but the moment a user
> starts doing anything, the mouse becomes unusable in this way. I have
> tried exiting all applications, and meticulously exiting every service
> whose function I know is not a core Windows function, without avail.
> Windows Defender has not found an issue. Any suggestions?[/color]

Hi, Bob.

(Long time no see.)

Sit up straight! I've never had a laptop, but maybe your lap is just tilted
to the right a little. :^}

More seriously, I suppose you've already checked out the settings for mouse
sensitivity in Control Panel. Since each mouse is different, I won't try to
outline the steps for your hardware. Are you using the mouse that came with
the computer, or did you add it on? Could it be a driver issue?

Sorry I don't have any solid advice, but I couldn't miss a chance to say Hi.
;<)

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
[email]rc@grandecom.net[/email]
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100

"Bob Delaney" <bobdelaney@msn.com> wrote in message
news:603084C0-1F2F-4BD0-9899-84C3A1C3EB6B@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Back in the days I had time to be a Windows MVP, there were a lot of
> questions I knew how to answer, but this wasn't one of them. Let's see if
> anybody can help me out.
> We have a Vista machine running Vista Ultimate. It is a Toshiba Tecra.
> Within a few minutes of booting up, even in safe mode, the mouse pointer
> drifts to one side, usually the right, and stays there. If you leave the
> machine alone for a while, the issue goes away, but the moment a user
> starts doing anything, the mouse becomes unusable in this way. I have
> tried exiting all applications, and meticulously exiting every service
> whose function I know is not a core Windows function, without avail.
> Windows Defender has not found an issue. Any suggestions?[/color]

That would be the simplest solution to try, assuming you have an external
mouse to use instead. I hate trackpads, so I bought a laptop for the first
time this year and the first thing I did with it was plug in a trackball and
set it to disable the trackpad whenever an external mouse is detected.

I prefer the trackball but I also have a wireless USB laser mouse which
works great. In the old days a "wireless" mouse was just a mouse with a
laser which had to point directly at a laser reader which was a real pain.
Now you can point the mouse anywhere from anywhere in the room and it works.
Of course I didn't buy my mouse for the mouse (since I prefer the
trackball). It came with the wireless USB keyboard I bought since the
laptop doesn't have a full keyboard with numpad, and I use the numpad for
gaming. The external keyboard is also nice if you want to sit the laptop on
a table and sit the keyboard on your lap (or a desk keyboard tray).

If your mouse pointer drifts with an external mouse attached and the
trackpad disabled, you've got one screwy laptop (or maybe you need your lazy
eye checked).

"Richard G. Harper" <rgharper@email.com> wrote in message
news:%238uPe57EKHA.5780@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> Tried disabling the onboard mouse/trackpad/whatever?
>
> "Bob Delaney" <bobdelaney@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:603084C0-1F2F-4BD0-9899-84C3A1C3EB6B@microsoft.com...[color=green]
>> Back in the days I had time to be a Windows MVP, there were a lot of
>> questions I knew how to answer, but this wasn't one of them. Let's see if
>> anybody can help me out.
>> We have a Vista machine running Vista Ultimate. It is a Toshiba Tecra.
>> Within a few minutes of booting up, even in safe mode, the mouse pointer
>> drifts to one side, usually the right, and stays there. If you leave the
>> machine alone for a while, the issue goes away, but the moment a user
>> starts doing anything, the mouse becomes unusable in this way. I have
>> tried exiting all applications, and meticulously exiting every service
>> whose function I know is not a core Windows function, without avail.
>> Windows Defender has not found an issue. Any suggestions?[/color]
>[/color]

On Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:32:13 -0400, Bob Delaney wrote:
[color=blue]
> Any suggestions?[/color]

I remember behavior like this in the old days when I occasionally used
Windows 98. as I recall, it was due to contention with the interrupts.

I am not using Vista so I am not in a good position to troubleshoot but I
would suggest deinstalling the driver and reinstalling it. whether my
theory applies or not, this might be a good measure.

Felmon

Gordon's Psychiatrist wrote:[color=blue]
> felmon wrote:[color=green]
>> On Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:32:13 -0400, Bob Delaney wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>> Any suggestions?[/color]
>>
>> I remember behavior like this in the old days when I occasionally used
>> Windows 98. as I recall, it was due to contention with the interrupts.
>>
>> I am not using Vista so I am not in a good position to troubleshoot
>> but I would suggest deinstalling the driver and reinstalling it.
>> whether my theory applies or not, this might be a good measure.
>>
>> Felmon
>>[/color]
>
> You are not using Vista and you are in the Vista group?[/color]

Not a requirement. Having a computer and Internet access is the only
requirement.

Are you friends[color=blue]
> with Alias?[/color]

What is your solution to the OP's problem, hot shot?

Alias[color=blue]
>[/color]

Gordon's Psychiatrist wrote:[color=blue]
> Alias wrote:[color=green]
>> Gordon's Psychiatrist wrote:[color=darkred]
>>> felmon wrote:
>>>> On Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:32:13 -0400, Bob Delaney wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Any suggestions?
>>>>
>>>> I remember behavior like this in the old days when I occasionally
>>>> used Windows 98. as I recall, it was due to contention with the
>>>> interrupts.
>>>>
>>>> I am not using Vista so I am not in a good position to troubleshoot
>>>> but I would suggest deinstalling the driver and reinstalling it.
>>>> whether my theory applies or not, this might be a good measure.
>>>>
>>>> Felmon
>>>>
>>>
>>> You are not using Vista and you are in the Vista group?[/color]
>>
>> Not a requirement. Having a computer and Internet access is the only
>> requirement.
>>
>> Are you friends[color=darkred]
>>> with Alias?[/color]
>>
>> What is your solution to the OP's problem, hot shot?
>>
>> Alias[color=darkred]
>>>[/color][/color]
>
> Gotta be the same as yours!! Oops.
>
>[/color]

My solution, of course, would be to nuke Vista and install Ubuntu.

Alias

Gordon's Psychiatrist wrote:[color=blue]
> Alias wrote:[color=green]
>> Gordon's Psychiatrist wrote:[color=darkred]
>>> Alias wrote:
>>>> Gordon's Psychiatrist wrote:
>>>>> felmon wrote:
>>>>>> On Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:32:13 -0400, Bob Delaney wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Any suggestions?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I remember behavior like this in the old days when I occasionally
>>>>>> used Windows 98. as I recall, it was due to contention with the
>>>>>> interrupts.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I am not using Vista so I am not in a good position to
>>>>>> troubleshoot but I would suggest deinstalling the driver and
>>>>>> reinstalling it. whether my theory applies or not, this might be a
>>>>>> good measure.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Felmon
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> You are not using Vista and you are in the Vista group?
>>>>
>>>> Not a requirement. Having a computer and Internet access is the only
>>>> requirement.
>>>>
>>>> Are you friends
>>>>> with Alias?
>>>>
>>>> What is your solution to the OP's problem, hot shot?
>>>>
>>>> Alias
>>>>>
>>>
>>> Gotta be the same as yours!! Oops.
>>>
>>>[/color]
>>
>> My solution, of course, would be to nuke Vista and install Ubuntu.
>>
>> Alias[/color]
>
> That isn't a solution you idiot. If you install that INFERIOR Ubuntu
> then his Windows based programs won't work. What a 'TARD you are.
>[/color]

You're the one who said your solution would be same as mine. Har, har, har!

Alias

"Bob Delaney" <bobdelaney@msn.com> wrote in message
news:603084C0-1F2F-4BD0-9899-84C3A1C3EB6B@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Back in the days I had time to be a Windows MVP, there were a lot of
> questions I knew how to answer, but this wasn't one of them. Let's
> see if anybody can help me out.
> We have a Vista machine running Vista Ultimate. It is a Toshiba
> Tecra. Within a few minutes of booting up, even in safe mode, the
> mouse pointer drifts to one side, usually the right, and stays
> there. If you leave the machine alone for a while, the issue goes
> away, but the moment a user starts doing anything, the mouse becomes
> unusable in this way. I have tried exiting all applications, and
> meticulously exiting every service whose function I know is not a
> core Windows function, without avail. Windows Defender has not found
> an issue. Any suggestions?[/color]

If yours is a laser mouse this wouldn't apply, but since you didn't
specify any details: Back in the old days, any irregular pointer
movement meant it probably was time to get out the Exacto and gently
scrape the two interior metal rollers where the mouse ball would
deposit gunk and lint at the contact point. Roller ball mice and even
those big roller track balls will build up gunk and/or lint that has
to be cleaned off.

Second, try fresh batteries if it's a wireless. I've had erratic
pointer action on a wireless laser mouse go away after putting in a
fresh set. No rhyme or reason to it, I had run out of things to check
and it was one of those "What have I got to lose?" steps that just
happened to work.

Setting aside the tangential theories on something this machine won't be
running, my newsgroup friends have suggested replacing the drivers and asked
whether buildup on the mouse might be an issue.
I have de-installed the drivers, with no joy.
The external mouse works fine on all other machines. However, this
machine has a touchpad as well. There are no moving parts to clean. I have
first de-activated, then uninstalled one, then the other, then both mouse
drivers. The suggestions were what I had thought of, and I have been
rummaging through both the Knowledge Base, and the Win XP books I have for
something that describes this. The virus scan also reports a clean bill of
health.
Bob
"Bob Delaney" <bobdelaney@msn.com> wrote in message
news:603084C0-1F2F-4BD0-9899-84C3A1C3EB6B@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Back in the days I had time to be a Windows MVP, there were a lot of
> questions I knew how to answer, but this wasn't one of them. Let's see if
> anybody can help me out.
> We have a Vista machine running Vista Ultimate. It is a Toshiba Tecra.
> Within a few minutes of booting up, even in safe mode, the mouse pointer
> drifts to one side, usually the right, and stays there. If you leave the
> machine alone for a while, the issue goes away, but the moment a user
> starts doing anything, the mouse becomes unusable in this way. I have
> tried exiting all applications, and meticulously exiting every service
> whose function I know is not a core Windows function, without avail.
> Windows Defender has not found an issue. Any suggestions?[/color]

On Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:22:33 +0200, Alias wrote:
[color=blue]
> Gordon's Psychiatrist wrote:[color=green]
>> felmon wrote:[color=darkred]
>>> On Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:32:13 -0400, Bob Delaney wrote:
>>>
>>>> Any suggestions?
>>>
>>> I remember behavior like this in the old days when I occasionally used
>>> Windows 98. as I recall, it was due to contention with the interrupts.
>>>
>>> I am not using Vista so I am not in a good position to troubleshoot
>>> but I would suggest deinstalling the driver and reinstalling it.
>>> whether my theory applies or not, this might be a good measure.
>>>
>>> Felmon
>>>
>>>[/color]
>> You are not using Vista and you are in the Vista group?[/color]
>
> Not a requirement. Having a computer and Internet access is the only
> requirement.
>
> Are you friends[color=green]
>> with Alias?[/color][/color]

interesting. I had killfiled this fellow so didn't know of his 'reply'.
it is a bizarre mentality that says you cannot offer help unless you
swear allegiance to an operating system.
[color=blue]
> What is your solution to the OP's problem, hot shot?[/color]

the OP's problem is mysterious. I suspect hardware.

Felmon

On Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:07:32 -0400, Bob Delaney wrote:
[color=blue]
> I have de-installed the drivers, with no joy. The external mouse works
> fine on all other machines.[/color]

I admit I am shooting in the dark but... did you try a _different_ mouse
on the problematic machine? I know, I know: doesn't make that much sense
but maybe try it.

I am slowly wondering if there isn't a hardware problem in your machine,
electrical contact gone bad or something.

sorry if I missed this but what kind of mouse is it?

again, tapping in the dark but sometimes it helps.

Felmon

It is the built-in touchpad on a Toshiba Tecra. I plugged in a
known-to-be-good Microsoft notebook mouse, but have since unplugged it and
uninstalled it. Every now and then, a "tapping-in-the-dark" idea works out,
you know. Thank for following up.
Bob
"felmon" <nemo@nowhere.INVALID> wrote in message
news:kNudnYZTbfYLIuTXnZ2dnUVZ_gX_fwAA@giganews.com...[color=blue]
> On Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:07:32 -0400, Bob Delaney wrote:
>[color=green]
>> I have de-installed the drivers, with no joy. The external mouse works
>> fine on all other machines.[/color]
>
> I admit I am shooting in the dark but... did you try a _different_ mouse
> on the problematic machine? I know, I know: doesn't make that much sense
> but maybe try it.
>
> I am slowly wondering if there isn't a hardware problem in your machine,
> electrical contact gone bad or something.
>
> sorry if I missed this but what kind of mouse is it?
>
> again, tapping in the dark but sometimes it helps.
>
> Felmon[/color]

On Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:50:11 -0400, Bob Delaney wrote:
[color=blue]
> It is the built-in touchpad on a Toshiba Tecra. I plugged in a
> known-to-be-good Microsoft notebook mouse, but have since unplugged it
> and uninstalled it. Every now and then, a "tapping-in-the-dark" idea
> works out, you know. Thank for following up. Bob[/color]

again, forgive if you have mentioned this, but are there any settings in
the BIOS that relate to the pointing device?

did a little modest googling and there seems to be some unsettled dust
about touchpad and mouse problems yet haven't stumbled on anything
clearly relevant to your problem.

Felmon