Cursor problem

[Ed_L]

This is kind of strange, but not really a major problem, just annoying. Every so often, my cursor decides to smoothly move a few inches on my screen, without me moving the mouse. Has anyone else had this happen? Any ideas why it might happen? I suspect it's a software problem instead of a hardware problem, and it's beginning to get on my nerves. Could the fact that I have a tablet and a mouse hooked up have anything to do with it?

Ed

[Jakaleena]

I had a similar problem not too awfully long ago. I had the problem intermittently at first, and then it became more and more persistent. At first, I could fix it by just cleaning out the ball compartment, but finally even that didn't work... My poor little mousie had finally died and I had to get a new one.

Besides the problem you described, my cursor also took to not moving at all no matter how I moved the mouse and then suddenly jumping all over the screen like a drunk cricket...

[Ed_L]

Did the cursor move without you moving the mouse? This is a new one on me. Never heard of it before this happened.

Ed

[Jakaleena]

Yep, it did, but not awfully far. Just enough to confound whatever I was trying to work on.

[Ed_L]

OK thanks. Now I know what to expect.

Ed

[Mike Needham]

Not that I suppose you havent tried, but if it is a ball mouse, have you tried removing the ball cleaning it and the contacts?

As you say, it does sound like a software conflict though, or similiar. If your mouse does die a death I cant recommend Microsofts range of optical mice enough.

(afterthought: check that you have no IRQ errors or conflicts)

[chris h]

I'd cerainly agree on using optical mice they are a vast improvement. I did however borrow a cordless optical Microsoft Explorer model and that is one to be avoided for retouching, I'm back using a corded optical version.

[BigAl]

After reading about Sanda's problem on the "Firewall test" thread, one would have to ask the question: are you sure you're not being hacked?

[jerry]

Ed

At work I had this happen to me occasionally.. I finally noticed that the mouse wire was restricted by the keyboard and would occasionally spring a little thus pushing the mouse a tiny bit when my hand was off of it. Drove me nuts till I noticed that..

Jerry

[Ed_L]

Thanks for listing some other possibilities. I didn't clean my mouse until Jak posted her experiences. It wasn't very dirty though. It might happen only once or twice a day, but I haven't noticed it since I cleaned the mouse. (fingers crossed)

Ed

[Scott Rudy]

cursor problems

The last time I had a problem like that I had an optical touch pad. When I would turn down the the lights in my computer room to work on something the cursor would come to life and do what ever it felt like moving all over on its own. I found that the optical touch pad only worked correctly in low to no shadow situations.

The first time I had the problem, I was using a cordless mouse and the batteries were getting low and the cursor did the same thing.

Now I find that I have another cursor problem in PhotoShop, when working within certian colors and shades the cursor disapears altogether blending into the photo or image that I'm working on.

Is there away to change the color or contrast of the cursor?

[Ed_L]

I don't think so, although I'm not one who knows Photoshop well. Having that ability is something I've been wanting to see for quite a while. It's a real pain to work that way.

Ed