Erratic Trackpad solution!!

My 2 year old MB's trackpad has been erratic the past few days after installing the latest Security Update. It would grab files & move them around; delete items from my Dock or Finder; couldn't enter items into Excel cells, etc. I called Apple Care & we tried the usual resettings. I read the forums & checked my battery for bulges....everything seemed straight & narrow. The hint about pressing on the trackpad with your palm would work for about 3 mins.
Today I took it into the Apple store; after telling my story, the Genius took out the battery & put it on a level surface....there was a minute bulge in the middle & the computer worked fine without the battery. They replaced the battery (free) and my problem is fixed!! Yeah AppleCare!

To everyone with this mouse lag problem, who also has a Macbook Air,
check your processors when you have this problem. If your first core is spiking and your second seems dead, this is likely a core shutdown problem due to overheating. iStat menus, with both cores set to show, will help you see this problem when it happens. The mouse lags and so will your dock icons because your system is overheating, then to reduce heat, one of the cpu cores shuts down temporarily to reduce heat. This is a problem that is effecting many macbook air's. Do not make the mistake of thinking this is some random issue. Join the masses who know this is caused by overheating. Proper diagnosis will force Apple to fix this systemic problem.
Here here are other threads that shows how widespread this problem is.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1415343&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1387729&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1445521&tstart=0
hope this helps!

Similar Messages

Erratic trackpad issues

Recently, my trackpad has been acting up.
Symptoms: (just SOME, not all)
-cursor/arrow will move on its own
-random areas will become highlighted
-gestures are wonky (ex: swiping from left to right with one finger will change entire desktops)
-screens will zoom in
-left mouse click acts as if the right mouse button was clicked
It's almost as if someone has taken control of my trackpad.
Note: I have Lion 10.7.1
Remedies already tried:
-PRAM reset
-SMC reset
-shut down computer and let rest for a few hours
-software update
-turning off all trackpad and gestures
I've read Apple's official explanation for an erratic trackpad (which was useless to me) and other users' experiences but none seem to match what's going on with mine. I know I can take it to a store and have some "Geniuses" look at it, but I was hoping to exhaust all possible at home solutions first.
Has anyone had similar problems, and what did you do???
I really appreciate any feedback.

Ralph,
I tried the SMC Reset - and it helps to an extent. It works fine, albeit a little sluggish, for about 10-15 minutes before it becomes sluggish and erratic again.
The magsafe led colour is either orange/yellow or green (when fully charged). The charge button on the side shows that green lights fill up except for the last one which flashes.
I'm now trying a software update but I don't know if that will work.

Erratic trackpad due to humidity?

I have an erratic trackpad on my min-09 MB Pro, which began this evening. The pad is unresponsive to hand motion but also generates spontaneous cursor motion and clicks. After some googling, I saw that the pad can be sensitive to humidty and failing to cure the problem with restting the PRAM I took it down to the basement (55% humidty down here). Almost instantly the behavior disappears and normal operation is restored. I have tried the calibration by palm proximity technique and cleaned both the pad and my hands, to no avail. Is there a fix for this in software (ie calibration file)? If I swap a new keyboard/pad in will that fix it?

I should note, the erratic behvior returns if I go back up to the kitchen and disappears when I return to the basement. The humidity level in the kitchen is high but not out of the ordinary for New Jersey. I am not shutting down or sleeping the machine while moving up or downstairs.

Macbook erratic trackpad and stuck on right click! NEED HELP!

Hi,
Got a Macbook Unibody, 10.6.8, 2.4GHz, 8GB RAM.
Basicly it was working fine. I installed a driver for a Tascam audio interface, still working fine for about 2 hours. Took it round to my girlfriends and after a few more hours the pointer started moving around the screen on it's own, clicking only operates the right click function and it will right click on it's own sometimes.
I've removed the driver and software that came with the Tascam Driver the best I can (Not sure how to do it fully on a Mac, Windows is much better at these things!), I've clean the pad itself and tried 'resetting' it by placing my palm on it for a few seconds. All these things haven't worked.
USB mouse seems to work ok but even the erratic trackpad will take over sometimes.
The interface was plugged in via USB and I'm wondering if this could have effected it?
Any help is much appriciated, it seems like everytime I touch her computer something goes wrong with it!!!
Oh and no Apple warranty so going to apple ain't an option.
Many thanks,
Karl.

If you have a model with a removable battery, pull the battery and try running without it. I had a problem with my battery swelling and it created all weird trackpad issues. I replaced the battery and it cleared them all up.
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Jumpy cursor/erratic trackpad problem and solution

I'm visiting Buenos Aires and my Macbook air has been intermittently having a problem with the trackpad. The cursor will jump around and the scroll function (2 fingers) was erratic. I tried a bluetooth mouse and it still wasn't "right".
I just figured out that it only happens with the charger is connected. This did not occur in the US but Argentina is 220V...that must be a contributing factor. I'm using the standard charger supplied with the MBA and an adapter. The plug is the type with 2 slanted prongs ... / \ .
I'll probably call Applecare when I get back to the States but thought others may be having this difficulty, so I'm posting my experience. If someone at Apple is monitoring this and forwarding it for investigation, I'd appreciate an email so I don't spend the time.

To everyone with this mouse lag problem, who also has a Macbook Air,
check your processors when you have this problem. If your first core is spiking and your second seems dead, this is likely a core shutdown problem due to overheating. iStat menus, with both cores set to show, will help you see this problem when it happens. The mouse lags and so will your dock icons because your system is overheating, then to reduce heat, one of the cpu cores shuts down temporarily to reduce heat. This is a problem that is effecting many macbook air's. Do not make the mistake of thinking this is some random issue. Join the masses who know this is caused by overheating. Proper diagnosis will force Apple to fix this systemic problem.
Here here are other threads that shows how widespread this problem is.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1415343&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1387729&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1445521&tstart=0
hope this helps!

Erratic trackpad- SOLVED

I've been to this community a lot searching for the solution to an erratic macbook pro trackpad. Nope, I don't have a swollen battery. The trackpad just starts zooming and clicking by itself, though. Apple store tested it with their software- all good. According to the all-wise Google, a lot of people get this problem. I could temporarily solve it by wiping the trackpad with a clean cloth, so I figured it's probably some sensitivity to skin oils or something.
The solution: Get a cheap screen guard for a tablet. Cut it down so it's just bigger than the trackpad. You want a little overlap. Clean the trackpad with a dry, lint-free cloth and stick the sucker on. Problem gone. Hope this can help somebody out.

Thanks for your advice.
I tried to change users but on each occasion the password that I set up was not recognised!
I will now take it to an Apple shop and show it to a Genius.
My only problem is that I do not have my proof or purchase! I have everything else though, box, disks, instructions.
Will Apple not be able to check when I bought it from the date of my initial registration? Or the date certain files were first updated?

Erratic trackpad when ethernet plugged in

Hi,
I've got a brand new MBP 15" with a trackpad that works perfectly while on wireless. However, as soon as I plug in an ethernet cable - even when the network is not being used - the trackpad immediately becomes erratic and unusable.
As soon as I unplug the ethernet cable, the trackpad reverts to working fine again.
It only seems to be a problem when on battery.
There's a post from Jan 2010 that reports exactly the same problem but is now archived so I can't respond to it.
To summarise,
Ethernet cable plugs in --> Trackpad doesn't track correctly.
Ethernet cable out --> Trackpad tracks fine.
Is this a known problem ? Should I be taking the laptop back to Apple ?
Thanks !
Andrew

Hi,
AS the MacBook Pro is new I would take advantage of the Service and AppleCare level you still have.
10:02 PM Tuesday; September 21, 2010

Jumpy, erratic trackpad on MBA (Is there a firmware update?)

There have been complaints about jumpy/erratic/random cursor behavior with Macbook Air's trackpad. I have the same problem, and it's driving me nuts.
However, I noticed that, from users who were complaining about similar behavior on their MBP mentioned an April 12 keyboard firmware update that seemed to have solved their issue.
Does anyone know if there is something similar for the MBA that can solve it.

Hi guys, I thought I was going crazy here after owning my MacBook Air for a couple of months now.
This happens to me as well. In fact, it happened a few minutes ago and I had no other choice but to hit the power button and select Shut Down. After a restart, it was fine. I have seen this problem come up a few times on this machine.
Sometimes the trackpad would not respond at all, the cursor doesn't move. At other times, it has a mind of its own and seems to 'catch up' to my actions and moves around the screen really fast, starts right clicking, clicking on things, being erratic.
I have also noticed that I'm unable to drag-lock (tap and keep a selection) and sometimes lose the ability to right click with two fingers.
I may have to get this looked at but I don't want to put this baby in for servicing since it has had a clean record.

Erratic Trackpad Issue - Very Annoying!

I've got a MacBook Pro running Mac OS X 10.5.2. Ever since I upgraded to Leopard, I've had intermittent problems with my trackpad/cursor. Sometimes, after sleeping the computer and waking it up, I get very erratic cursor movements (it "jerks" around the screen). It is getting very irritating. I thought 10.5.2 would fix this issue, but it didn't. What I've had to do is restart the computer whenever it happens - which is multiple times a day...
Anybody know what I could do to fix this? I would be extremely grateful for someone's help. Thanks!

Try switching to another application and see if it fixes the problem temporarily. Hold down Alt and then hit the Tab button.
I have been fighting what seems like the same problem. Switching to another application and back seems to fix it - at least for a few minutes..

Erratic trackpad fixed temporarily with external mouse

I've been having issues with the trackpad on my Mid 2012 MacBook Pro lately, where it acts erratic and goes from jumping around, to staying completely still, to clicking things that I never meant to. There aren't any updates for my laptop either, as I currently have what I believe to be the most recent installment of Yosemite, and my computer is not notifying me of any possible change.
I've had this issue occur before but on a lesser scale, and I was able to fix it by simply going to the trackpad system preferences, unchecking everything, and then rechecking everything. This time, however, that method's only worked for about five minutes or so before it went back to acting strange. Eventually, I found an old Logitech plug-in mouse that I've been using so far, and I've discovered that when it's plugged in the trackpad works just fine, so I took out the mouse and the trackpad began working for about twenty minutes before it acted up again. So, again I plugged in the mouse, but this time, the trackpad worked in spurts where it would be fine one minute and act up the next. I've also shut down my computer entirely and waited anywhere from a few minutes to overnight completely, which would once again fix the issue for the first ten minutes of use once I turned it on before it began going haywire.
Any help would be appreciated as I'm totally lost with this. It might be a while before I can carve out some time to visit an apple store myself, so if I could get this fixed on my own that would be wonderful. Also, apologies if this was placed in the incorrect community/category. Thanks in advance (:

Jumpy Trackpad
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1449
Go step by step and test.
1. Restart
2. Shut down the computer.
    Clean the trackpad with moist not wet microfiber cloth.
    System Preferences > Point & Click
    Try turning off three finger dragging and then turning it on after testing.
3. Is there any Bluetooth device nearby with failing batteries? If so, replace the batteries.
4. Reset PRAM:   http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14222
5. Reset SMC.     http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
    Choose the method for:
    "Resetting SMC on portables with a battery you should not remove on your own".
6. Close all windows and quit all applications.
    Click the Spotlight -the magnifying glass icon- in the menu bar. Enter Disk utility in the box.
    Select Disk Utility. When the Disk utility window opens up,
    select Macintosh HD, then First Aid.
    Click Repair Disk Permission
    Ignore the time remaining estimate.
    Last 1 minute may take longer.

Macbook Air keys not working and erratic trackpad

I purchased my macbook air 13" in 2o11. About 14 months after I purchased it, the trackpad was acting erratic. I took it to the genius bar and they recommended replacing it. Since my initial warranty had expired, I decided to replace it myself. Everything was all fine and dandy until about a month ago when the trackpad started acting erratic again. I took it to the apple store and the recommended replacing the trackpad again even though initial diagnostics showed that nothing was wrong with the trackpad. I decided to replace the trackpad myself again {using brand new OEM trackpad}, and a day after I replaced it, I noticed that the zero button and the command keys stopped working, even though the trackpad issue seemingly resolved. I'm not sure what to do or what the problem is. Does anybody have any suggestions? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Since any diagnostics at this point are utterly deadlocked, no; however see SMC reset below for last chance option before appt. with Apple
re-verify still the same.
Make an appt. with your local Apple store for full diagnostics and possible reinstall of your OS.
I hope you had a backup your vital data on your machine, a complete restore may be required, though that is indeterminate.
Peace.
See if you can perform a SMC reset to get out of same:
SMC reset
Shut down the computer.
Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected.
On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.
Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
Press the power button to turn on the computer.
Note: The LED on the MagSafe power adapter may change states or temporarily turn off when you reset the SMC.

Cannot open files with a double click !! Trackpad solution does not work, just makes my cursor move slowly. Have not found a solution in forums. Help needed please!!

I cannot open files by double clicking ... have looked at forums and no solution yet !!! Control click is the only way i can open files
"If you go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Mouse and Trackpad - You can set the speed of the double click to be much slower. Hope this helps someone else with a similar problem. " this solution did not work it just made my cursor move at a snails pace.
Thanks for any help forthcoming !!!

found this on another websites forum .... it worked
I figured it out. Thanks everyone!
I had to turn on my wireless mouse... And even though I wasn't using my wireless mouse and just the trackpad...I had to turn on my wireless mouse then adjust those settings...Had to turn down the speed. Then Once I shut the mouse off and started to use the trackpad again it works perfectly.
I'm not sure why the mouse settings would change the trackpad settings but it did.

Very Erratic Trackpad Behavior - Heat?

The trackpad on my one-year-old MBPro has started exhibiting extremely erratic and intermittent behavior:
• Taps react as control-clicks
• Cursor jumps and becomes impossible to control
• Drags and scrolls behave unpredictably
The trackpad becomes impossible to use. Eventually, as now, everything returns to normal. I'm very experienced in the proper use of the trackpad, and am familiar with the 'phantom fingers' phenomenon, so no need to advise against keeping extra fingers and hands away from the trackpad.
This behavior has even occurred when standing well away from the computer: after fighting to control the cursor and restart the computer via the Apple menu, I left the room and returned to see a contextual menu of the Activity Monitor (set to auto-launch at restart) being self-activated.
I'm starting to guess that this is related to heat issues. In support of this theory, the following:
- This behavior was first seen a few months ago when I traveled to the south of France where it was quite warm, and the computer had been playing video for some time. The computer was indeed rather warm.
- Now it's summertime and the ambient temperature is warmer (though here in the Netherlands, it's not exactly tropical). The last two occurrences of this behavior (yesterday and today) have been hot sunny days. After allowing the computer to cool, the trackpad behaves as normal.
Others have reported strange trackpad behavior, but they seem to believe it is caused by defective or damaged hardware, or else user-error. It is often suggested they check their trackpad System Preferences. This post which supports my theory that this is indeed heat-related problem, also remarks that the problem is more likely when the battery is charging.
Can anyone offer advice, explanation or supporting arguments?
Thanks

Try using your laptop without the battery installed (ie remove the battery and run the laptop from the mains supply only), and see if that cures the problem.
If it does, then you have a warped battery casing, and will need to replace the battery.
The battery sits directly over the trackpad circuitry, so that if the battery casing warps, it presses against the trackpad circuitry and causes it to act as though you have pressed it.
If that doesn't cure the problem, then you probably need to replace the trackpad, itself.

Opera Mini and Trackpad Solution Found

Hi, all,
If you have tried Opera browser on a Blackberry with a trackpad such as the Bold 9650, you find that the latest version of Opera Mini, 5.1, does not work well. The trackpad is super sensitive, making the browser unusable. However, after much searching, I have found a solution. The Opera Mini version 5 Beta 2 works very well and is stable. I installed it and the Opera browser works well; tabbed browsing, Opera link syncronization, and overall speed of the browser, all are great. If you would like to have a link to download, simply send my a Private Message here in the forums and I will forward the download link, as we are prohibited from posting links for 3rd party applications. If you do not know how to private message, click on my screen name and it will bring up a profile page and you will find a link for sending me a private message.
Doc

Hey,
Great news. I really like the Opera browser 5.0. The tabbed browser works great and runs smoothly.
Doc

Erratic trackpad behavior

The other day I replaced the hard drive in my iBook with a larger one, and every since I reassembled it the trackpad seems to be behaving erratically. I reopened it up and made sure that the trackpad ribbon cable was connected firmly, and it helped a little however the problem still remains. I know it is not a software issue because when I boot up holding option and play around with the cursor it has the same problem, skipping around and whatnot. I notice the mouse seems to work pretty well when I first boot, but gradually gets worse the longer the computer has been on. Could it somehow be related to the laptop overheating? Could heat from underneath the trackpad effect it? Would that explain why the longer it's on the worse it gets? That's the only conclusion I can come to. And just so you know I've reset the PMU, PRAM, and NVRAM. I've tried it all, wall outlet vs. battery (everything). So any thoughts? Is my theory valid?

I've never heard of overheating causing the trackpad to behave erratically.
I can think of several things that could cause this.
The PMU settings may be getting corrupted in some way.
From the Apple Knowledge Base article on _resetting the PMU_:
The Power Manager is an integrated circuit (computer chip) that is usually on the logic board of the PowerBook and iBook. As the name implies, it is responsible for power management of the computer. It controls backlighting, hard disk spin down, sleep and wake, some charging aspects, trackpad control, and some input/output as it relates to the computer sleeping.
Over time, the settings in the Power Manager may become unusable, which can result in operational anomalies with the computer.
Since making sure the trackpad ribbon cable was firmly connected helped a bit, it could be that the trackpad connector has been damaged slightly.
Another possibility is that the trackpad cable itself may have been damaged.

Erratic Trackpad solution!!

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