Why does the mouse pointer jump around the screen?

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I just got a new desk with a pull out keyboard drawer that doesn't allow enough room to use my regular mouse pad. I started using only the laminated top of the keyboard tray as a pad. Without my regular mouse pad, the mouse (wired, optical) began acting very strange - jumping around erratically - became almost useless. Drove me crazy! I knew I needed a mouse pad, but there was not enough room no matter what style I found. After reading the comments here, I got the idea to fold up a piece of plain white paper (sized to fit the small space available on the keyboard tray), and voila! the mouse immediately went right back to its old dependable self. I now believe it was "reading" the fake wood grain in my new laminated desk. Many thanks to the person who mentioned a blank piece of white paper!

I also have the same problem. I am using a genius mouse. It keeps on moving from one place to another when win xp boots up. It also opens up applications that I don't need. Sometimes it tiles up windows that are open. It also restores windows n its own. What do I do to get rid of this problem?

My new microsoft optical mouse suddenly jumps to cornors for 3-4 seconds on xp sp2 & then behaves normally.Have tried using different mouse pad but problem persists.I have e6550 processor and DGGfb motherboard.Please help me

Welp, I've now spent the evening researching this problem. It seems that it is very common and not specific to my "Generic Logitech Laser Mouse w/ PS/2 cord." It is USB but came with the PS/2 port plug already in so I don't have to take up my preciousss USBs. Anywho. I've been playing the Online MMO, Lord of the Rings Online. This features an ability to walk by pressing the right then left mouse buttons and ability to steer and scroll wheel the camera as well. However my mouse has started (for a month if not longer.) to do this jumping and causing my character to go into a 3000 degree spinning fit until I release my mouse buttons. (Really freaky when your character is trying to avoid falling off a cliff by just a few meters. phew) It's also affecting The SIMS2 and my Internet Explorer web browsing.

Upon my research, I've come across many posts about jumping mouse cursors, who have updated cordless mice drivers, who have uninstalled and reinstalled drivers, visited Microsoft's website for drivers, bought completely new mice, changed some of the different settings in Control Panel, changed their USB mouse into a PS/2, and some folks even moved their Wacom tablets or wireless keyboards farther away to avoid odd interferences, changing to a more solid colored mouse pad non-glossy and just so many multiple ideas. And none of them seem to have come back saying that their mouse has stopped jumping, in fact one person kept coming back and still has the demon-possessed jumping mouse. (There was even some joking to call a priest, OY!)

Personally I've adjusted my mouse settings in control panel, and it's okay for now, but I am only typing and not gaming at the moment. I've gone through a few mousepads, and this problem was occuring before I got this new freebie glossy-ish one. It's glossy though and I'm thinking a solid colored (felt?) mat would also improve performance if not help eliminate my mouse problem. My cords are always getting tangled onto of my desk (mouse, headset, keyboard, speakers) and I was not sure if maybe something snapped or broke in my mouse's cord. No point to my post other than to say I'm glad I'm not alone with this curiousity and find it very annoying.

try using a single colored mouse pad, preferebly red or black. Irregular colors and contrasts tend to confuse the tracking sensors in some optical mice. I've reviewed the circtuitry and components in numerous mice that are reported to have this problem, and from my experience is a red mouse pad eliminates the problems.

I have the same problem, my mouse moves up to the corners of the screen quickly, which closes programs sometimes. I am using a mouse pad that has a jelly inside that is circular and is the world with ships floating around inside lol. No wonder my optical mouse does what it does. Lets hope using something solid sorts it out!!!

There is more to this than the surface the Optical mouse is sat on. At work both my machine and My colleagues mouse pointer will erratiaclly jump to another place. My mouse is optical, he still is using a conventional mouse with roller ball.

While some peoples problems seem to be fixed by these simple solutions it would seem my problem is much more complicated. My problem occurs when I move the mouse. For example, I move my mouse from left to right and it randomly jumps to the bottom or the top or the corner....you get the picture. I've tried everything i can think of... mouse pads, drivers, cleaning, and every sugestion mentioned here and I've even updated my bios. It would seeem that microsoft would have the solution to this problem but they aren't giving the answers for free.

I am having the same problem with a floating mouse but mine is on my Dell laptop not desktop. I use a touchpad not an auxilary mouse and no mousepad. Any suggestions?

I've had this problem too - my optical mouse is on a solid, consistent mousepad, but I'm wondering if other interference - such as my cellphone (very close to my mouse) is doing something. The cell actually makes other nearby speakers make weird noises at various times. I'm moving the cell away from the mouse to see if that helps, but I just wish I could prove what it is causing the "demon possessed" jumping mouse!

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