I installed SP2 the other day...bit late I know, but I had been waiting 'til I reinstalled...anyway, my mouse pointer has started to drift on its own when I stop moving the mouse. It does do it all the time, but often enough to be a pain. It drifts up mainly, but sometimes to the left.

I had put the problem down to my wireless optical mouse I got at christmas, but having got a replacement yesterday, I find it is still doing it. A quick search on the net shows a few people having this problem and it appears to be related to SP2...though I don't really see how.

Anyone had it, or any ideas how to stop it?

Cheers

Ventmore

The only time I've seen this (XP SP2 or otherwise) was on laptop trackpoints and trackpads. It particularly used to happen on IBM Thinkpads I used to support. I eventually found out it was a hardware issue and that the pointer was re-calibrating itself. This especially used to happen if the user had their finger on the trackpoint/pad and wasn't using it, i.e. there was pressure on it but you weren't moving the pointer.

This sounds a separate issue but I'd be interested to see if it happens when you rest your hand over the mouse? Or does the pointer move totally of its own accord? What optical mouse is it? Particularly in the case of Logitech ones, I've found that downloading the lastest driver cured some hesitation and lag problems that were occuring.

Let us know how you get on.

Steve

Thanks for the reply Steve...it happens whether I have my hand on the mouse or not. It is a creative desktop 6000 mouse/keyboard setup, and on checking there wesite, there are no drivers for it at all.

One thing to note...which is why I thought it was down to the hardware...is that the LED dims after about 5 secs of no use...as all optical mice do...but when the pointer drifts, it keeps the LED on full until 5 secs after it stops drifting.

I have tried different surfaces, and repositioning the receiver but to no avail. I have been using it for a month with no probs, so when they started last week, I thought maybe the sensor had gone on the blink. Now the replacement is doing the same, I can only trace it back to the only other change in the system...SP2. Searching for the problem in conjunction with wireless equipment turns up nothing, but searching for it with SP2, brings up a few hits......some using wired, some wireless, some trackballs. The only common denominator seems to be SP2. Gonna plug my old mouse back in for a bit and see if it still does it.

Cheers

Ventmore

I've got a cheapo microsoft optical mouse, and this happens as well. At home on xp (then sp1, now sp2) and on win2k at work (I have the same mouse there).

Occasionally the pointer will start moving on its own. Giving the mouse a slap soon stops it

I've seen this quite a lot, and my suggestion would be the surface you're using. Above all, don't use anything that's at all reflective/shiny. So the surface of your desk is generally a no-no. If possible get a fabric mousepad with a decent pattern on it, the textured surface should help. I sincerely doubt it's SP2 which is for the most part just a collection of security changes and hotfixes. Good luck!

I've seen this quite a lot, and my suggestion would be the surface you're using. Above all, don't use anything that's at all reflective/shiny. So the surface of your desk is generally a no-no. If possible get a fabric mousepad with a decent pattern on it, the textured surface should help. I sincerely doubt it's SP2 which is for the most part just a collection of security changes and hotfixes. Good luck!

I am using a fabric pad at the mo...it's the same pad I've used with my last 2 optical mice without issue.

I also doubt it's SP2, but that's all I can lock it down to. I have uninstalled the software that came with the mouse, but it hasn't helped. After trying my old wired mouse, the problem goes away. I think I may get it replaced for a different brand and try that.

Cheers

Ventmore

Its a "feature" of xpsp2... that microsoft dont know about. It happens to me in work but didnt on sp1 - same mouse and pad. Happens at home too. Even happens when you lift the mouse and the optics switch off.

Everyone i know who has sp2 has it happen to them too - Ive updated mouse drivers, usb drivers etc etc. Gave up and decided live with it

Dave

Its a "feature" of xpsp2... that microsoft dont know about. It happens to me in work but didnt on sp1 - same mouse and pad. Happens at home too. Even happens when you lift the mouse and the optics switch off.

Everyone i know who has sp2 has it happen to them too - Ive updated mouse drivers' date=' usb drivers etc etc. Gave up and decided live with it

Dave[/quote']

Just had another google, and there may apparently be an answer...have a quick look here.

http://www.techimo.com/forum/t117112.html

Download is here:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Windows-XP-SP2-RTM.shtml

Does anyone know what the difference is between the SP2 download from microsofts site, and the RTM 2180 download...is this the network installer that was available before the consumer one?

Cheers

Ventmore

Network installer is the same. I would NEVER download any service packs from anywhere else but the official MS site, unless I put it there myself.

All too easy to make a few tweaks

Disregard my above post...it turns out I am running the version that they suggest...I did wonder how there could be a few versions...the search therefore continues......might need to get a different brand after all. I don't want to go wired again after experiencing the freedom of wireless

@WW VRS

Good point about the tweaks......am just out of options at the mo

Cheers

Ventmore

I'm using a Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 2.0A with XP Pro and SP2. No problems with drifting.

I use the MX700 from logitech. Never had any trouble

How is this thing connected (the receiver bit) - is it via USB or via a PS2 connector. If it is PS2, is it via a USB/PS2 converter?

I use the MX700 from logitech. Never had any trouble

How is this thing connected (the receiver bit) - is it via USB or via a PS2 connector. If it is PS2' date=' is it via a USB/PS2 converter?[/quote']

It's a std. USB plug.

Cheers

Ventmore

Happens on mine, Packard bell cheapo mouse (USB) and Dell standard issue (USB)

Answers around the intertron seem to be disable cursor precision

Happens on mine' date=' Packard bell cheapo mouse (USB) and Dell standard issue (USB)

Answers around the intertron seem to be disable cursor precision[/quote']

Cheers David...I tried that, but it doesn't do any good. Some people are suggesting a virus which can cause it, but I have never heard of one...also, until last week, I was running Norton, and now have Nod32, so I doubt this is the case.

I'll probably try a different brand of wireless...shame, as I quite liked the creative one.

Cheers

Ventmore

Happens on mine' date=' Packard bell cheapo mouse (USB) and Dell standard issue (USB)

Answers around the intertron seem to be disable cursor precision[/quote']

I decided to try turning off cursor precision again, and believe it or not, it now appears to be working. Last time I turned it off, I also had the Creative desktop software installed...and the problem was definitely still there. I unistalled the software this afternoon, and noticed that even though the problem was still there, the mouse did seem to be tracking more smoothly. Now, with curso precision turned off, and the software uninstalled, everything appears to be fine......will keep you all posted though.

Cheers David for inspiring me to try it one more time , and thanks all for the input.

Happens on my home pc with a cordelss optical mouse (Labtec). I am running XP SP2, but strangely it only happens in my wifes user acount.

Happens on my home pc with a cordelss optical mouse (Labtec). I am running XP SP2, but strangely it only happens in my wifes user acount.

As David said, try turning off the option for "Enhance pointer precision", as that now seems to have worked for mine...your profiles may have different options selected in mouse properties.

Who has the admin account, and who's profile did you install the mouse software through? I ask, as, on my travels over the last few days, I have come across people with SP2 who have a mouse that functions perfectly in one account, and completely disappears in the others......it seems that they are only working in the account they installed them under.

Cheers

Ventmore

Some USB chipsets are cr*p but most of the recent ones work fine

The enhanced mode thing causes a more frequent polling which some equipment doesn't like very much.

Intellisense drivers can also cause grief, always get the latest released stable versions if you have trouble. Same will be true if you get Logitech, older drivers are rubbish usually.

Hopefully you can sort it without having to buy a new mouse, esp. as you're happy with it for the rest.

I never bothered installing the software that came with the cordless mouse and keyboard as it seemed to function perfectly with out (including the special keys on the keyboard for DVD play back etc. Also it is not a USB cordless mouse, the transmitter reciever plugs into the PS/2 mouse and keyboard sockets.

Oh and both accounts are full accounts as when I set my wifes to limited, she can not print for some reason (has been like this for every PC that I have tried to set up limited accounts on????????).