where's my cursor going?!

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around the
place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but also
e.g. in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and
afterwards ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my
story, in stead of at the end. This is very treacherous...

The usual culprit in things like this is a mouse. Try a different one,
or unplug the one you have and see if the cursor still bounces around.

Ed

Fokke Nauta

2017-06-09 20:02:09 UTC

Post by Ed Cryer

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around
the place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but also
e.g. in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and
afterwards ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my
story, in stead of at the end. This is very treacherous...

The usual culprit in things like this is a mouse. Try a different one,
or unplug the one you have and see if the cursor still bounces around.
Ed

+1

Fokke

Rene Lamontagne

2017-06-10 18:02:03 UTC

Post by Ed Cryer

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around
the place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but also
e.g. in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and
afterwards ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my
story, in stead of at the end. This is very treacherous...

The usual culprit in things like this is a mouse. Try a different one,
or unplug the one you have and see if the cursor still bounces around.
Ed

Shadow

2017-06-09 12:33:09 UTC

On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:13:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around the
place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but also e.g.
in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and afterwards
ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my story, in stead
of at the end. This is very treacherous...

Either a faulty keyboard/mouse or a corrupt driver.
Try uninstalling the mouse driver (WinKey+PauseBreak --- >
hardware ---> devices) and rebooting for starters.
If that does not work, try plugging in another keyboard.
[]'s

--
Don't be evil - Google 2004
We have a new policy - Google 2012

Linea Recta

2017-06-09 12:56:22 UTC

Post by Shadow
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:13:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around the
place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but also e.g.
in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and afterwards
ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my story, in stead
of at the end. This is very treacherous...

Perhaps I should have mentioned this happens on a laptop.

--
|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

Andrew Rossmann

2017-06-09 13:43:59 UTC

In article <ohe5n2$gep$***@dont-email.me>, ***@bleep.invalid
says...

Post by Shadow
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:13:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around the
place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but also e.g.
in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and afterwards
ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my story, in stead
of at the end. This is very treacherous...

Perhaps I should have mentioned this happens on a laptop.

Are you bumping the trackpad, or is there some setting for the trackpad
to adjust sensitivity when typing is detected?

--
If there is a no_junk in my address, please REMOVE it before replying!
All junk mail senders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the
law!!
http://home.comcast.net/~andyross

mick

2017-06-09 14:33:09 UTC

Post by Shadow
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:13:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around the
place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but also e.g.
in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and afterwards
ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my story, in stead
of at the end. This is very treacherous...

Perhaps I should have mentioned this happens on a laptop.

.....and I bet it is one of those newer ones with the touchpad offset
more to the left. It is a common problem.
You are catching the touchpad as you type.
Put a thick piece of card over it temporarily to test the outcome.

Adjust the touchpad sensitivity
https://www.howtogeek.com/223404/how-to-stop-accidental-trackpad-clicks-in-windows-10-and-other-mouse-enhancements/

--
mick

Linea Recta

2017-06-09 15:27:46 UTC

Post by Shadow
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:13:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around the
place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but also e.g.
in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and afterwards
ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my story, in stead
of at the end. This is very treacherous...

Perhaps I should have mentioned this happens on a laptop.

.....and I bet it is one of those newer ones with the touchpad offset more
to the left. It is a common problem.
You are catching the touchpad as you type.
Put a thick piece of card over it temporarily to test the outcome.
Adjust the touchpad sensitivity
https://www.howtogeek.com/223404/how-to-stop-accidental-trackpad-clicks-in-windows-10-and-other-mouse-enhancements/
--
mick

I think you might be right. I now disabled the touch pad.
BTW with "the moving cursor" I meant the flashing I (whatever it is called)
in the text program. Not the one directly moving with the mouse actions.

--
|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

Gene Wirchenko

2017-06-09 16:48:47 UTC

On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 17:27:46 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Shadow
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:13:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around the
place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but also e.g.
in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and afterwards
ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my story, in stead
of at the end. This is very treacherous...

Either a faulty keyboard/mouse or a corrupt driver.

On a desktop mouse, I have had optical mice reset on me. The
mouse pointer moves to the middle of the screen in my experience. When
a ball mouse has trouble, it just does not move. I prefer this
failure mode.

Post by Shadow
Try uninstalling the mouse driver (WinKey+PauseBreak --- >
hardware ---> devices) and rebooting for starters.
If that does not work, try plugging in another keyboard.

Perhaps I should have mentioned this happens on a laptop.

.....and I bet it is one of those newer ones with the touchpad offset more
to the left. It is a common problem.
You are catching the touchpad as you type.
Put a thick piece of card over it temporarily to test the outcome.
Adjust the touchpad sensitivity
https://www.howtogeek.com/223404/how-to-stop-accidental-trackpad-clicks-in-windows-10-and-other-mouse-enhancements/

The flashing I is called a cursor. Sometimes, the mouse pointer
will appear that way, sometimes as an arrow.

Catching the touchpad as you type is possible. There is also:

Do you have very dry hands? I do, and sometimes, I have caused a
click on my laptop's touchpad when my finger is not touching the
touchpad (but is about 1/16" away).

I have my laptop configured to disable the touchpad when a
regular mouse is connected. What I wish I could do, but it does not
have a setting for this, is disable the touchpad's clicking. (I would
rather use only the buttons for this.)

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

Linea Recta

2017-06-09 17:35:41 UTC

Post by Gene Wirchenko
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 17:27:46 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Shadow
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:13:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around the
place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but also e.g.
in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and afterwards
ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my story, in stead
of at the end. This is very treacherous...

Either a faulty keyboard/mouse or a corrupt driver.

Post by Shadow
Try uninstalling the mouse driver (WinKey+PauseBreak --- >
hardware ---> devices) and rebooting for starters.
If that does not work, try plugging in another keyboard.

Perhaps I should have mentioned this happens on a laptop.

.....and I bet it is one of those newer ones with the touchpad offset more
to the left. It is a common problem.
You are catching the touchpad as you type.
Put a thick piece of card over it temporarily to test the outcome.
Adjust the touchpad sensitivity
https://www.howtogeek.com/223404/how-to-stop-accidental-trackpad-clicks-in-windows-10-and-other-mouse-enhancements/

The flashing I is called a cursor. Sometimes, the mouse pointer
will appear that way, sometimes as an arrow.
Do you have very dry hands? I do, and sometimes, I have caused a
click on my laptop's touchpad when my finger is not touching the
touchpad (but is about 1/16" away).
I have my laptop configured to disable the touchpad when a
regular mouse is connected. What I wish I could do, but it does not
have a setting for this, is disable the touchpad's clicking. (I would
rather use only the buttons for this.)
Sincerely,
Gene Wirchenko

Have a look at Configuration - Mouse - tab "Buttons" - list "other pointing
devices". Choose your touch pad. Go to tab "device settings" and you find a
button to disable/enable the chosen touch pad device.

I use optical wired mice for all my computers. I didn't know that mice with
balls where even still sold... Anyway, I would'nt want to use one of those
:-(

--
|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

tesla sTinker

2017-06-11 23:47:41 UTC

its easier for lazy people that will not pick up their hands to use the
on screen keyboard.
why type? Use the mouse.

Post by Gene Wirchenko
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 17:27:46 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Shadow
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:13:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around the
place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but
also
e.g.
in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and afterwards
ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my story, in stead
of at the end. This is very treacherous...

Either a faulty keyboard/mouse or a corrupt driver.

Post by Shadow
Try uninstalling the mouse driver (WinKey+PauseBreak --- >
hardware ---> devices) and rebooting for starters.
If that does not work, try plugging in another keyboard.

Perhaps I should have mentioned this happens on a laptop.

.....and I bet it is one of those newer ones with the touchpad offset more
to the left. It is a common problem.
You are catching the touchpad as you type.
Put a thick piece of card over it temporarily to test the outcome.
Adjust the touchpad sensitivity
https://www.howtogeek.com/223404/how-to-stop-accidental-trackpad-clicks-in-windows-10-and-other-mouse-enhancements/

Have a look at Configuration - Mouse - tab "Buttons" - list "other
pointing devices". Choose your touch pad. Go to tab "device settings"
and you find a button to disable/enable the chosen touch pad device.
I use optical wired mice for all my computers. I didn't know that mice
with balls where even still sold... Anyway, I would'nt want to use one
of those :-(

Gene Wirchenko

2017-06-12 23:45:09 UTC

On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 19:35:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"
<***@bleep.invalid> wrote:

[snip]

Post by Linea Recta
Have a look at Configuration - Mouse - tab "Buttons" - list "other pointing
devices". Choose your touch pad. Go to tab "device settings" and you find a
button to disable/enable the chosen touch pad device.

Oh, I can disable the touchpad if there is another mouse, and I
have that set. I meant that I want to disable the tapping on the
touchpad causing a click with the touchpad otherwise working.

Post by Linea Recta
I use optical wired mice for all my computers. I didn't know that mice with
balls where even still sold... Anyway, I would'nt want to use one of those
:-(

I do not know that they are still sold either. Mine is rather
old. If I could buy another, I would.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2017-06-13 18:53:10 UTC

Post by Gene Wirchenko
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 19:35:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"
[snip]

Oh, I can disable the touchpad if there is another mouse, and I
have that set. I meant that I want to disable the tapping on the
touchpad causing a click with the touchpad otherwise working.

[]
I think this is the second time I've written this in two days -
certainly less than a week:

Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, Mouse.

If you only have five tabs - Buttons, Pointers, Pointer Options, Wheel,
and Hardware - you haven't got a touchpad driver, so are using the
default mouse driver (where tapping defaults to on). Get the touchpad
driver ideally from your manufacturer, failing that the default one from
Symantec (which I've never known not to work). Once that's installed
properly, you should have a sixth tab under Mouse: Device Settings.

Within that tab, there's a button, Settings... . This opens another
window, with many options; while there are variations depending on
version, Tapping - which does have a master setting, and may have
subsettings as well - but this is the one you want.

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Quantum particles: the dreams that stuff is made of - David Moser

Gene Wirchenko

2017-06-14 17:17:38 UTC

On Tue, 13 Jun 2017 19:53:10 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"

Post by Gene Wirchenko
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 19:35:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"
[snip]

Oh, I can disable the touchpad if there is another mouse, and I
have that set. I meant that I want to disable the tapping on the
touchpad causing a click with the touchpad otherwise working.

[]
I think this is the second time I've written this in two days -
Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, Mouse.
If you only have five tabs - Buttons, Pointers, Pointer Options, Wheel,
and Hardware - you haven't got a touchpad driver, so are using the
default mouse driver (where tapping defaults to on). Get the touchpad
driver ideally from your manufacturer, failing that the default one from
Symantec (which I've never known not to work). Once that's installed
properly, you should have a sixth tab under Mouse: Device Settings.

Apparently, I do have a touchpad driver. It is identified as
"Elan Smart-Pad" version "ETDWare PS/2-X64 10.6 10.8_WHQL".

It has five tabs Buttons, Pointers, Pointer Options, Hardware,
and ELAN. The last tab has "Disable when external USB pointing device
plug in" [their broken English]. There is nothing else to covering
tapping.

I suppose I will have to look up that Symantec driver.

Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Within that tab, there's a button, Settings... . This opens another
window, with many options; while there are variations depending on
version, Tapping - which does have a master setting, and may have
subsettings as well - but this is the one you want.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2017-06-14 19:54:50 UTC

Post by Gene Wirchenko
On Tue, 13 Jun 2017 19:53:10 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"

Post by Gene Wirchenko
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 19:35:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"
[snip]

Oh, I can disable the touchpad if there is another mouse, and I
have that set. I meant that I want to disable the tapping on the
touchpad causing a click with the touchpad otherwise working.

Apparently, I do have a touchpad driver. It is identified as
"Elan Smart-Pad" version "ETDWare PS/2-X64 10.6 10.8_WHQL".
It has five tabs Buttons, Pointers, Pointer Options, Hardware,
and ELAN. The last tab has "Disable when external USB pointing device
plug in" [their broken English]. There is nothing else to covering
tapping.
I suppose I will have to look up that Symantec driver.

[]
Ah. First time I've ever encountered another touchpad manufacturer. I
hope the Symantec driver _does_ work for you - make
backups/images/restore points/whatever first! (If it doesn't, might be
worth removing the Elan driver and trying again.)

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Know what happens when you don't pay your exorcist?
You get repossessed!
- Randle Brashear, 2015-8-9

Paul

2017-06-14 21:22:27 UTC

Post by Gene Wirchenko
On Tue, 13 Jun 2017 19:53:10 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"

Post by Gene Wirchenko
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 19:35:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"
[snip]

Oh, I can disable the touchpad if there is another mouse, and I
have that set. I meant that I want to disable the tapping on the
touchpad causing a click with the touchpad otherwise working.

Apparently, I do have a touchpad driver. It is identified as
"Elan Smart-Pad" version "ETDWare PS/2-X64 10.6 10.8_WHQL".
It has five tabs Buttons, Pointers, Pointer Options, Hardware,
and ELAN. The last tab has "Disable when external USB pointing device
plug in" [their broken English]. There is nothing else to covering
tapping.
I suppose I will have to look up that Symantec driver.

Synaptic != Symantec (buyer and crusher of programs, such as the PowerQuest acquisition or Ghost)

Touchpads start out as HID devices when first powered up.

The various brands of devices can use Filter Drivers
to implement virtual controls. The filter driver
analyzes coordinates in x:y space, and the time
sequence, to extract gestures or virtual button
clicks or taps.

It was never clear to me, how these filter drivers
"bind" to a particular device. There was a driver pushed
out in Windows Update once, which disabled things like
keyboards, because the filter driver was applying itself
to every HID it could find. So while on some drivers, you
can see in the INF it's making an effort to sort them
out, not all these filter drivers are written with
equal skill. And the INF can admit to searching for
a number of different "busses". For example, a laptop SuperI/O
with two PS/2 ports, could have keyboard on one port, and
Touchpad on the other, and the filter driver just grabs
the second PS/2. I don't think PS/2 has quite as strong
a Plug and Play identification system as say USB would.
On USB, you have VID/PID and Class, which gives better
opportunity for selecting something to bind to.

You should be able to look at the INF file, and
decide whether the driver writer had some clues or not.
Or whether the driver you haven't installed yet,
looks to be a little too greedy.

If you're working on a system where the driver was
installed for you, there might not be much to go by.
The INF folder contains the INF files of installed
drivers. The filenames are converted to "OEM23.INF"
format, to prevent naming collisions, but this
also hampers user attempts to find the touchpad
filter driver. You can try doing a content search
of all the OEMxx.INF files, looking for Synaptic
or touchpad or Elan or the like, to narrow down which
OEMxx.INF file, corresponds to the current operational
filter driver for the touchpad.

Paul

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2017-06-14 22:15:43 UTC

Post by Paul

Post by Gene Wirchenko
On Tue, 13 Jun 2017 19:53:10 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"

Post by Gene Wirchenko
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 19:35:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"
[snip]

Post by Linea Recta
Have a look at Configuration - Mouse - tab "Buttons" - list
"other pointing
devices". Choose your touch pad. Go to tab "device settings" and you find a
button to disable/enable the chosen touch pad device.

Oh, I can disable the touchpad if there is another mouse, and I
have that set. I meant that I want to disable the tapping on the
touchpad causing a click with the touchpad otherwise working.

[]
I think this is the second time I've written this in two days -

Except I got a name wrong this time (-:!

Post by Paul

Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, Mouse.
If you only have five tabs - Buttons, Pointers, Pointer Options, Wheel,
and Hardware - you haven't got a touchpad driver, so are using the
default mouse driver (where tapping defaults to on). Get the touchpad
driver ideally from your manufacturer, failing that the default one from
Symantec (which I've never known not to work). Once that's installed
properly, you should have a sixth tab under Mouse: Device Settings.

Apparently, I do have a touchpad driver. It is identified as
"Elan Smart-Pad" version "ETDWare PS/2-X64 10.6 10.8_WHQL".
It has five tabs Buttons, Pointers, Pointer Options, Hardware,
and ELAN. The last tab has "Disable when external USB pointing device
plug in" [their broken English]. There is nothing else to covering
tapping.
I suppose I will have to look up that Symantec driver.

Synaptic != Symantec (buyer and crusher of programs, such as the
PowerQuest acquisition or Ghost)

OOPS! Yes, I meant Synaptic.
[]

Post by Paul
You should be able to look at the INF file, and
decide whether the driver writer had some clues or not.
Or whether the driver you haven't installed yet,
looks to be a little too greedy.

[]
IM (limited) E, the default driver from the SYNAPTIC (!) website is
well-behaved.

It seems to be on http://www.synaptics.com/resources - and is 118.1 MB
now! That's edition 17.0.19, apparently. The one I have,
"11.1.3.2 28Aug08", was only 6,386 KB when I downloaded it 2014-12-5!
Ah, seems I may have got that from
http://www.samsung-driver.com/download-samsung/touchpad-driver-ver.-11.1.3.2-win-vista-multi-language-11.82-mb-for-np-x460-f-7489.html
(http://bit.ly/2sByMGr for short), which may be specific to my machine
(which happens to be XP). Hang on, let me look at my 7 machine ... Hm,
although that shows as "Synaptics TouchPad V6.2" (lower number than the
XP machine which shows V7.2 in the same place), it also appears to be
"Synaptics Pointing Device - v17.0.19 17Oct13", which matches what's on
the Synaptics website. I can't find - hang on, yes I can - 120,887 KB,
downloaded 2014-10-9, so looks like I did.

Seems like a big download just to get a tapping tickbox, but I think
it'll work! (You _could_ try the one from the Samsung site above, which
says it's only 11.82 MB; says it's for Vista, but - assuming it's the
one I've got, and the version number matches - it's working for me under
XP, and might for you under 7.)

Looking at the 118MB download, which is a .zip file: there are (under a
WinWDF folder) x64 and x86 folders, so I guess that accounts for at
least half the size.

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

If you believe in telekinesis, raise my right hand

Char Jackson

2017-06-18 13:38:44 UTC

Post by Gene Wirchenko
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 19:35:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"

I didn't know that mice with balls where even still sold... Anyway,
I would'nt want to use one of those
:-(

I do not know that they are still sold either. Mine is rather
old. If I could buy another, I would.

What would you do with it? They make awful computer mice, so I assume it
would be a conversation piece?

--
Char Jackson

Shadow

2017-06-09 17:47:37 UTC

Post by Gene Wirchenko
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 17:27:46 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Shadow
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:13:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around the
place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but also e.g.
in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and afterwards
ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my story, in stead
of at the end. This is very treacherous...

Either a faulty keyboard/mouse or a corrupt driver.

Post by Shadow
Try uninstalling the mouse driver (WinKey+PauseBreak --- >
hardware ---> devices) and rebooting for starters.
If that does not work, try plugging in another keyboard.

Perhaps I should have mentioned this happens on a laptop.

.....and I bet it is one of those newer ones with the touchpad offset more
to the left. It is a common problem.
You are catching the touchpad as you type.
Put a thick piece of card over it temporarily to test the outcome.
Adjust the touchpad sensitivity
https://www.howtogeek.com/223404/how-to-stop-accidental-trackpad-clicks-in-windows-10-and-other-mouse-enhancements/

I suppose it depends on your touchpad. I've always been able
to disable clicking through control panel.
[]'s

--
Don't be evil - Google 2004
We have a new policy - Google 2012

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2017-06-10 13:09:27 UTC

Post by Gene Wirchenko
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 17:27:46 +0200, "Linea Recta"

[]
[]

Post by Shadow
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:13:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around the

[]

Post by Linea Recta
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and afterwards
ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my story, in

[]

Post by Linea Recta
Perhaps I should have mentioned this happens on a laptop.

[]

Post by Linea Recta
I think you might be right. I now disabled the touch pad.
BTW with "the moving cursor" I meant the flashing I (whatever it is called)
in the text program. Not the one directly moving with the mouse actions.

Clicking will make one move to where the other is.

Post by Gene Wirchenko
The flashing I is called a cursor. Sometimes, the mouse pointer
will appear that way, sometimes as an arrow.

(Some people call it "text insertion point", or more commonly "I-beam".)

Post by Gene Wirchenko
Do you have very dry hands? I do, and sometimes, I have caused a
click on my laptop's touchpad when my finger is not touching the
touchpad (but is about 1/16" away).
I have my laptop configured to disable the touchpad when a
regular mouse is connected. What I wish I could do, but it does not
have a setting for this, is disable the touchpad's clicking. (I would
rather use only the buttons for this.)

I suppose it depends on your touchpad. I've always been able
to disable clicking through control panel.
[]'s

It's probably under the extra bit: assuming it's a Synaptics one (or at
least using their driver), and I've yet to see one that isn't:
Control Panel, Hardware, Mouse. There are the usual tabs: Buttons,
Pointers, Pointer Options, Wheel, and Hardware; there is also a tab
"Device Settings". If there isn't, it's _probably_ not got a touchpad
driver at all, and the touchpad is just defaulting to being a mouse; I
_think_, if that's the case, tap-clicking _is_ on. (If you haven't got
the extra touchpad controls, it's worth getting them - there are lots of
goodies! Ideally get from your machine's manufacturer's website, though
I've never found the default one from Synaptics not to work.)

In Device Settings, there's another button "Settings...". That opens
another window.

The contents of that window vary. On my W7 machine, I have "Synaptics
TouchPad V6.2", and there's just a box "Tapping". (I was worried as I
was able to turn it off but not back on again [I _like_ the facility] -
until I realised that once I'd turned it off, tapping to turn it on
again of course wouldn't work, I had to use the button!) On my XP
machine, which has "Synaptics Touchpad V7.2", Tapping has a main setting
Enable Tapping, but also subsections for Tap and Drag, and Tap Zones.

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"Bother," said Pooh, as he tasted the bacon in his sandwich.

dadiOH

2017-06-09 19:34:39 UTC

Post by Shadow
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:13:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around the
place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but also e.g.
in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and afterwards
ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my story, in stead
of at the end. This is very treacherous...

Perhaps I should have mentioned this happens on a laptop.

How good a typist are you? Inadvertantly hitting certain keys in
combination with others act as control codes to position the cursor.

Ken Blake

2017-06-09 20:28:03 UTC

On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:56:22 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Shadow
On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:13:41 +0200, "Linea Recta"

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around the
place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but also e.g.
in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and afterwards
ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my story, in stead
of at the end. This is very treacherous...

Perhaps I should have mentioned this happens on a laptop.

With a laptop, the problem is often that you accidentally drag a
finger along the touchpad while typing.

Dick

2017-06-09 15:04:44 UTC

I had a similar problem and it drove me crazy until I realized that
there is a setting in the 'mouse' control panel that has to do with
'gestures'. Turning that OFF solved my problem.

Dick

Mark Lloyd

2017-06-09 19:06:29 UTC

Are you using a laptop with a touchpad? I've had a lot of trouble with
self-clicking touchpads, producing symptoms like that, including
newsgroup replies being sent too soon. Now, I have the touchpad disabled
and use a wireless trackball.

--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"My experience in the world is that things left to themselves don't get
right." --T. H. Huxley

Paul

2017-06-09 19:17:56 UTC

Post by Mark Lloyd

Post by Linea Recta
Recently I have problems with the cursor, apparently jumping around
the place.
This happens not only when typing a message in Windows Mail, but also
e.g. in TextPad.
When typing I don't look constantly at the application window and
afterwards ik seems my sentence continues somwhere in te middle of my
story, in stead of at the end. This is very treacherous...

Note that Thunderbird sometimes puts up a dialog box in
the middle of you composing a message. It's a warning about the
character set, and that you pasted some text that requires
UTF8 for proper preserving of the characters used. If your
head is down and you hit return just as that thing
decides to pop up, your post is Sent.

I checked your headers, as that's a Thunderbird specific "feature".
I don't think all USENET clients are quite that "clever". Thunderbird
could easily wait until you actually attempt to Send or Save or
whatever, and *then* present the dialog. Popping up a dialog when
there is a danger you will be hitting return, that's just asking
for trouble.

Paul

VanguardLH

2017-06-09 20:26:48 UTC