Laptop issue--help!

[frugalone]

Help! Can anyone tell me why the cursor on a laptop keyboard would skip around while I'm typing? Like, in the middle of a line, it goes to another part on the same line and I end up typing in the middle of another word. Or, it skips back to the previous line. The reason I am asking is I am not used to laptops. Am I hitting a key and doing this myself? Or is it possible this computer has a problem? Thanks!

[herbgeek]

Let me guess, do you have Windows 7 on this? I'm driven crazy by the build in shortcuts that I DO NOT WANT and in this version (home premium) I can't shut them off either. I hate when I've completed a whole email then I hit something I don't even know and the whole thing is gone.

[fidgiegirl]

Does the laptop have a trackpad mouse (a flat mouse that you run your finger on)? If so, is it possible you could be brushing your wrists across the trackpad as you type?

[treehugger]

I have had that issue, and I found out (in my case anyway) that the touch pad (that functions as a mouse on my laptop) that sits below the keyboard was too sensitive and I was brushing against it unknowingly as I was typing.

3 things that helped:
1) I changed the settings for the touch pad to decrease the sensitivity.
2) I am very careful now to keep my hands raised when typing, so that I don't inadvertently hit the touch pad.
3) I also changed the settings to disable the touch pad when I have a mouse plugged in (which I do whenever I can; I have a wireless mouse).

Kara

[frugalone]

Herbgeek, yes it is Windows 7. I've used my mom's laptop before and this has never happened, and she has 7. It just erased a whole line!

Fidgie, I am holding my wrists way up in the air since a friend suggested that might be the problem. So I'm not touching the pad. I swear, the cursor is just jumping around indiscriminately.

Back to IT, I should say!

[frugalone]

Can you tell me how you disable the touch pad? I will never use it, as I don't like touch pads.


I have had that issue, and I found out (in my case anyway) that the touch pad (that functions as a mouse on my laptop) that sits below the keyboard was too sensitive and I was brushing against it unknowingly as I was typing.

3 things that helped:
1) I changed the settings for the touch pad to decrease the sensitivity.
2) I am very careful now to keep my hands raised when typing, so that I don't inadvertently hit the touch pad.
3) I also changed the settings to disable the touch pad when I have a mouse plugged in (which I do whenever I can; I have a wireless mouse).

Kara

[treehugger]

Can you tell me how you disable the touch pad? I will never use it, as I don't like touch pads.

No, I can't since it will be different on each computer. But go to your control panel and look for mouse settings. On my computer, it's under mouse, and there's a tab for Dell Touchpad.

Kara

[frugalone]

Kara, I figured it out, and sure enough, that is what it was! Thank you so very much! Whew!!!

[treehugger]

You're welcome. Glad I could help. I can go home now, right? ;)

Kara