Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
Fortunately for most cases, there is a simple solution to why your mouse pointer would jump around the screen.
My infrared Microsoft Intellimouse is being erratic. Doesn't follow the direction of the hand movement and lags behind sometimes not moving. I have checked all settings and drivers as much as I know how.
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Erratic mouse movement is a pain. You move one way, and the mouse jumps around the screen - often to some other random location.
In most cases the solution to a jumping mouse pointer is actually pretty simple.
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Optical mice are great - I love 'em. No more dirty mouse balls (and the jokes that go with them). Over time I've converted all of my mice to optical, both wired or wireless.
But what I've found with optical mice is that they are surprisingly sensitive to the surface they're on. On a bad surface they'll often behave exactly as you describe. They seem to not only stop responding, but occasionally misread movement and dart off in completely unexpected directions ... like a mouse scurrying for cover.
The best surfaces for the mouse would be something with a slight texture, and a constant surface. Make sure there's no high contrast text or images as well.
After not using mouse pads for a long time, I've found that they're typically the best solution and very helpful in keeping my optical mice behaving.
Article C2296 - March 2, 2005
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
What if you have a matching set? keyboard and mouse. I have the new MS set 3000, and they are both jumping around. Some sort of interference?
Posted by: Eric at April 28, 2011 10:39 AMI just unplugged the usb cable that was beside the mouse connection and the mouse still jumps around and hide and then shows up when I move it. :)
Posted by: tom at May 2, 2011 6:14 PMCheck the rubber pads on the bottom of the mouse that lift it above the surface. They tend to fall off and cause the optical mouse not to be at a 90 degree angle to the surface. I solved my problem by sticking several stacked post-it notes to the bottom of my mouse (6 sheets thick did the trick). It works fine now.
Posted by: Ken Chimarusti at May 23, 2011 8:26 AMI have a similar problem, but I tried my mouse on a different computer and it behaved fine. I also tried a different mouse on my computer and it did the same jumpy movement. I also found that it happens every so often. One minute it is fine, and the next, all jumpy. I also find that the text when I type is delayed the same time the mouse gets jumpy. Can anyone help me with this problem. Thanks
Posted by: Ryan Howe at June 2, 2011 11:57 PMI have the right mouse pad and a good mouse [Logitech], but the cursor won't do what I want it to do. HELP!!
Posted by: Vi at August 21, 2011 10:19 AM