Mouse pointer on Dell laptop moves on its own
Problem is in TRACK STICK, not touchpad per se.
In Dell Latitude E6400, the following fix was found. Problem was very bad, cursor pulled off to side even in the system bios. We still have no fix for that part. Once windows starts, use keyboard navigations. There is in the Control Panel a Mouse item, choose that, wander through settings until you get to the thing where you can disable the track STICK.
In this system, we sometimes could get a USB mouse to work, so we could use the machine, but that required a BIOS setting that disabled the touchpad while USB mouse was installed. You may try that in order to start windows and then change your mouse settings. However, once you disable that stupid track stick, then you can turn on touchpad.
Also, in Win 7 mouse settings, I found an option to use software to turn off touchpad while mouse is installed. That helps quite a bit, inserting the use mouse brings up a warning.
I got no satisfaction from dell on this. THey did replace the touchpad in the end of the warranty period, but trouble with drift began after that, and their answer was "too late for you". Too bad. Will buy Mac or Sony or other hardware next time.
You said this is a Dell laptop?
If your laptop has a touchpad, could you please disable the touchpad on the laptop and let us know your if the problem continues?
To disable the touchpad, follow these steps:
- Go to Windows Control Panel, and then click Mouse.
- In the Mouse Properties window, click the Device Select tab to disable the touch pad and track stick.
- Click the Touch Pad tab to adjust touch pad and track stick settings.
- Click OK to save the settings and close the window.
Source is: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/latd820/en/ug/keyboard.htm#wp1050951
Another guide that might help others do this for other types of dell laptops (although the software might have changed since then..) is http://www.killertechtips.com/2009/04/30/disable-touchpad-dell
I had a similar problem with a Dell Inspiron e1505. I had a replacement charger for the laptop, but apparently it caused some interference and is on its way to a recycler.
As soon as I unplugged the charger and the laptop ran off of battery power, insto presto, no more crazy or unresponsive track pad. Weird huh? Try this first.