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    Touchpad is smooth, but mouse is jerky?

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by slnotebook, Jul 17, 2009.

  1. slnotebook

    slnotebook Notebook Consultant

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    I recently got a basic Logitech USB mouse (model UAE-96). I plugged it into my Thinkpad T60 laptop, and the mouse pointer was kind of jerky when I moved it around. But the mouse pointer moved very smoothly when I used the touchpad.

    I thought the mouse might be defective, so I plugged it into my HP laptop, and the mouse pointer moved very smoothly, so it wasn't defective. Both laptops are running Windows XP Pro SP3, and are using the exact same driver version.

    Then I tried downloading the latest software from Logitech, but that didn't help with my Thinkpad, the mouse pointer was still jerky.

    So I thought I might try a different brand mouse. I got a Microsoft mouse, and it is also kind of jerky when I move it around on my Thinkpad.

    Any idea why the mouse pointer would be jerky when I use a real mouse, but it is smooth when I use the touchpad?
     
    slnotebook, Jul 17, 2009
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  2. dancom96

    dancom96 Notebook Consultant

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    Could be mouse sensitivity in Mouse Options, change it to default and let's see if anything changes.
     
    dancom96, Jul 17, 2009
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  3. Flaring Afro

    Flaring Afro Notebook Consultant

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    also, are you plugging into the rear of the thinkpad? could have something to do with that, unless its bluetooth.
     
    Flaring Afro, Jul 17, 2009
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  4. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

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    Is this a wired or wireless mouse? If it's wireless, try replacing the battery with brand-new ones and moving the mouse very close to the receiver and see if it works.

    If it's wired, or if the above does not work, try fiddling with sensitivity settings, moving them up and down and applying them. See if the jerkiness is present on all settings. If so, the mouse may have issues.
     
    MidnightSun, Jul 17, 2009
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  5. slnotebook

    slnotebook Notebook Consultant

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    By mouse sensitivity, you mean the pointer speed? Changing that doesn't seem to help.

    This mouse is a wired mouse, plugged into one of the side USB slots. There is no USB slot on the rear.

    I have now noticed something though. If I have the AC adapter plugged in, then the mouse seems a little jerky. But if I then disconnect the AC adapter, and run off the battery, the mouse will be really smooth. It will remain smooth even after I plug the AC adapter back in. The mouse will go back to jerky if I restart Windows.
     
    slnotebook, Jul 18, 2009
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  6. slnotebook

    slnotebook Notebook Consultant

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    The problem appears to be the ethernet network adapter. I noticed that when I unplug the AC adapter, that little ethernet icon in the system tray disappears (because it's configured to be turned off when running on the battery). So I disabled the Intel PRO/1000 PL network device, and now the mouse is always smooth!

    How bizarre is that? Would like to find a fix for this, in case I need to use the ethernet port. I tried downloading the latest Intel PRO/1000 PL driver, but that didn't help. Could it be a resource conflict? But Windows won't let me change the Memory Range, I/O Range, or IRQ in the Device Manager (and I am logged in as Administrator).
     
    slnotebook, Jul 19, 2009
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  7. slnotebook

    slnotebook Notebook Consultant

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    Well I did a factory re-install of XP, and the mouse isn't jerky anymore!
     
    slnotebook, Sep 3, 2009
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