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Drifting cursor
Phil.J - 12/12/11 at 08:23 AM

For ages the cursor on my computer has occaisionally drifted, initially it was from top to bottom of the screen.
For some weeks now it has been drifting from right to left of the screen at about 15mm per second. It respnds to the mouse but is constantly trying to drift left. When I try and click on an object on the screen it can take about ten clicks before it responds because of the drifting, and things like small tick boxes are often impossible. It happens with both my conventional mouse and my cordless mouse.
Some help for a computer numpty would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[Edited on 12/12/11 by Phil.J]

flibble - 12/12/11 at 08:52 AM

Laptop or Desktop pc, and which operating system?
Might help us get closer (i know some dell laptops have this problem)

IanBrace - 12/12/11 at 08:56 AM

I have an optical mouse that does it when the sun shines on my desk!

loggyboy - 12/12/11 at 09:05 AM

Is it a laptop? IF so then it could be the track pad on the 'nipple' thats causing it. Disable both/either of those and that should solve it.

If a deskstop and your using a PS2 connection (little round one) then get a USB mouse and plug that in to the USB port and try it.

[Edited on 12/12/11 by loggyboy]

luke - 12/12/11 at 09:29 AM

Do you use a mouse mat? I remember we used to have this in college and it was due to the print on a certain area of the mouse mat.

Phil.J - 12/12/11 at 09:37 AM

Its a 'Tiny' desktop pc running windows XP. The cordless mouse is plugged into a USB port, and the corded mouse into a round socklet on the back of the machine.
I can disconnect the mouse from the PC and the cursor still drifts by itself until it hits the left side of the screen.

v8kid - 12/12/11 at 10:50 AM

Low battery in cordless mouse sending spurious signals

Cheers!

MikeRJ - 12/12/11 at 11:11 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Phil.J
Its a 'Tiny' desktop pc running windows XP. The cordless mouse is plugged into a USB port, and the corded mouse into a round socklet on the back of the machine.
I can disconnect the mouse from the PC and the cursor still drifts by itself until it hits the left side of the screen.


Even if you disconnect both mice?

r1_pete - 12/12/11 at 04:59 PM

As above, if its an optical mouse on multi coloured mat this can happen, try the mouse on a sheet of white paper.

At work I wrap my mouse mat in an A4 white envelope.

Pete - Kit Car Zone - 14/12/11 at 09:34 PM

Yep use a plain mouse mat (or piece of paper) and try changing batteries. That's worked for me in the past.

Might be worth trying someone elses mouse as well to see if the mouse has seen better days.