Today I'm going to talk about one of the most irritating, annoying and frustrating problems I have ever encountered while using laptops. The problem occurs while typing some text. It doesn't matter what and where are you typing, you might be typing in Microsoft Word or a web browser or anywhere else. When you are typing some text, the mouse cursor automatically jumps to a different location and if you don't notice it and keep typing, you may end up with an unpredictable document which might look written in an alien language.
In past I was using Dell XPS 1530 laptop and I never faced such problem but when I got another laptop Dell XPS M15, I started having this annoying problem. I double-checked that my hands were not touching the touchpad accidentally. In fact I tried to type some text while looking at the keyboard and touchpad and still the cursor jumped to a different location.
First I thought that its a problem in my laptop but then I searched on Internet, I found there are many people who have faced the same problem while using a laptop with touchpad. Most of them were using laptops of Dell, HP or Sony.
So its definitely a problem present in some laptops and not in your hands. So what's the solution? How to fix this annoying cursor jumping problem?
Here is the answer! I found that a freeware "TouchFreeze" can fix this problem. It has been suggested by lots of people in Microsoft communities as well.
TouchFreeze is a free software which automatically disables the touchpad of your laptop as soon as you start typing. Since the touchpad is disabled, the cursor will not jump automatically while typing.
You just need to install the software and it'll sit in system tray. Its very simple to use and doesn't need any configuration. If you want to close it, you can right-click on its icon in system tray and select exit option.
If you are using a laptop and facing similar problem, you can give this freeware a try using following link:
Download TouchFreeze for Windows
Have you also faced this problem while using a laptop? Feel free to share your experience in your comment...
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Software, Troubleshooting
TheAslan
Is there a hotkey for this to disable/enable it?
arafat
thank its WORK !~!!
robert
The issue isn't the technology. The problem is the user. This application enables bad typing habits. 1. Not looking at the screen when typing and 2. Poor posture which could result in wrist injury. Learning how to type properly would be much more valuable than this software.
My 2 cents.
Anurag Lilha
Awesome! i always have this problem with dell's work laptop.
Thanks.
Moreno
What would you do for an oversensitive touchpad that "latches onto" every link and opens them without a real click?
macpro622776
@Moreno - Most touchpad software drivers can be configured to adjust the sensitivity of the touchpad, both during moving the cursor normally as well as the tapping sensitivity. Check the Mouse control panel.
Moreno
@macpro - Been there, done that. I have a new Lenovo G580 laptop that has these lousy goosebump type small dimples spread throughout the pad. I believe that the pad feels pressure against these bumps and interprets them as clicks. I've googled G580 touchpad sensitivity" and it seems to be a common complaint. The best touchpads I've had in the past are the stainless steel types that let you "glide" your forefinger across them with ease and "know" what a real click is. The G580 is way too oversensitive and "grabs" on just about every link as I move the mouse cursor across the screen. Invariably it will open undesired links and the times I do a real click, the stupid pad doesn't engage.
macpro622776
@Moreno - I feel your pain. I also really dislike that style of touchpad and unfortunately it is becoming increasingly common amongst laptops. Too bad it's almost impossible to cure.
macpro622776
Also that's why I usually disable tap-to-click anyway, I never use it and severely dislike it.
Ned Palacios
It's not the touchpad itself, it's a Windows software glitch.
spacerock27
macpro622776 - I agree. I have no idea why that feature was even designed in the first place.
Andreas Jordan
I have a problem with my touchpad (Dell Inspiron N4050). When I touch (without moving my finger to move the cursor), the cursor always jump and jump to another place non-stop. So now I can't use my touchpad. Now I have to use mouse :( What's problem with my laptop?
VG
^^ It sounds a hardware problem. You should ask a technician to check the touchpad.
N Studios
@Andreas: I actually think it sounds like an outdated driver. I'd try updating the driver through Dell's website. If that doesn't work, I'd try updating the driver through the manufacturer's site (usually Synaptics). If neither of those work, then it's most likely a hardware problem. If that's the case, I'd take it to an electronics store like Best Buy and have it repaired.
Although, it's a good idea to back up your system, the registry, and take out the hard disk drive before allowing them to repair it. I once had to bring a Toshiba Satellite to Geek Squad to get a broken screen fixed and when I got it back, the hard drive was formatted. So I'd back up your registry, back up your system, and then take the hard drive out (preferrably in that order) to lower your chances of losing your data. Hope this helps!
~ N Studios 2013
Dan C.
On my XP, left click = double click. Not always, but very, very often. The mouse takes a single left click as a double one. It's very, very annoying. I tried to reduce the mouse's sensitivity in Control panel, but the problem still persists. What is to be done?
Bhartbrat
many thanks to this app! It's been a long time nuisance in my laptop finally found the solution!
Trevor
@Robert -- armchair strategist
I have placed stiff cardboard over my Acer Aspire 5315 -- and I still get cursor jump
Acer have even created a patch for this problem but I have just stayed with my trusty cardboard patch.
The Acer cannot be tweaked because there is no settings.
One persons experience is not everyones.
Rose Coo
I have a Toshiba Satellite c6600
And as I am typing it swipes over my message and deletes all I have written also the curser has a mind of its own! It opens any stuff it hovers over closing pages too..
I have had it repaired once but its happened again and 11 and a half months later it is out of warranty.
I have been told to pay £50 to be looked at by KnowHow from Currys Has anyone had a similar problem?
Shauna Russ
@Rose - I went through the exact same frustrations with a Dell Inspiron 15R running 64-bit Win7. It was even worse because I've been disabled for 13 years and the HP laptop that I had been very happily using completely gave up the ghost even after several trips to see a local tech with the best reputation in town. The Dell was lovingly and generously sent to me by a very kind friend that I had worked with 20 yrs ago and I really did not want to tell her that it was TOO stressful to try and work on an otherwise very nice machine! I too searched the forums for a reasonable answer/solution (this was close to a year ago) and tried everything that sounded hopeful, but nothing was a true solution. I really have to try and avoid stress so that meant avoiding my favorite way of staying "in touch" with the rest of the world - reading & writing on the 'puter. My memory damage seems to get more severe each month so I really don't like to talk on the phone or have verbal communications in any way since many details are soon lost if I don't have a written record that I can look back on (both of what was told to me and of what I said).
So, you don't mention if you have tried the solution mentioned in Vishal's article above - Touch Freeze? I would suggest that's where you start. I am just in the process of setting up a new computer and learning Win8 (oh my aching head!). Fortunately, I am able to completely turn off the touch-pad on this Lenovo G780 as I really enjoy using my Logitech Wireless Trackball M570 so that's the reason that I have not tried the software yet. Anyway, it sounds as though the only time the touch-pad will be deactivated will be when you are using the keyboard and that's all that you need.
I also tried Trevor's trick of covering the touch-pad with similar results. I read one idea that worked well when I was trying to complete a form or something important online & was reaching my limit for stress - open your "Ease of Access Center" and choose to "Start On-Screen Keyboard." Then use the On-Screen Keyboard to type with (which actually means you are typing through the touch-pad and that does eliminate the bouncing cursor, but it's much slower & awkward so not a long-term solution.
Then, I did find a solution that absolutely worked and very inexpensively! Here in the U.S. we have a discount, department store type place called Wal-Mart (they are also online, of course). They often carry many of those "gee wiz gadgets" that are sold over the TV for either $9.99, $14.99, $19.99, etc. They had a high contrast keyboard (keys were yellow with bold, black print), USB connection for $9.99. The visibility of the keyboard was the first thing that caught my interest because I often wake up at odd hours and immediately roll over to grab the 'puter and finish whatever task I fell asleep while trying to complete. Then I realized that being able to just grab the keyboard and leave the laptop on the little bedside stand would also be a benefit (the stand is built specifically for laptops and has wheels on it so I can pull it close enough to see the screen clearly). I was pleasantly surprised to discover that when I connected the new keyboard to the computer, I could type as long as I wanted and there was NO bouncing cursor problem so I feel rather confident in suggesting that folks try attaching and using an alternate keyboard to avoid the cursor problem. I was not concerned about spending $10 because I knew that sooner or later the keyboard would come in handy or if it didn't fix the problem & I didn't want to wait for sooner or later, I could return it with no problems.
Best of luck to everyone who is struggling with this problem; I really am surprised that it has not been eliminated yet by the powers that be since it truly can render a laptop virtually useless.
@Robert - don't want to make you feel picked upon, but Trevor is 100% correct. Most of the problems that I've heard about or experienced re:bad, bouncing cursor has nothing to do with anyone's typing technique, posture or anything similar. It matters not even one smidgen that you are looking directly at the screen while you are typing - if you are a typist of any speed, your fingers have already typed the equivalent of another 1/2 line while the cursor has flown to the top of your document, highlighted most if not all of the paragraphs and, just as you stop typing, you hit that final key and it's all gone! Of course, you are putting Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y to good use because of these misadventures, but you no sooner get back to where you left off than the cursor takes off again and you eventually find it outside the borders of the document this time! It is a never ending battle that damages productivity, to say nothing of the original ideas that you are trying to develop for your written piece.
Shauna Russ
@Vishal Gupta - Thank you so very much for a very informative and helpful site - I am a great fan of Mozilla's Firefox and I have been greatly helped by some of your articles on Win8. I am so very sorry to hear of your discomfort and pain and I do pray that you are well on your way to a successful recovery. Do try to follow your doctor's orders even if you have to decrease the information that you are kindly providing to us right now - it sounds as though I am not the only one who will gladly be patient while you heal; we'll be here waiting for your help!
There is one thing that I would find very helpful if I'm not somehow overlooking it: I cannot see any date on the articles nor on the comments. I'm guessing that other readers depend upon the date of their newsletter to determine the date of the article? My problem is that I'm trying not to request any more email just so that I will not end up feeling stressed & over-obligated by too much e-mail as I have done several times over the years. I prefer to keep your site on my tab page and either review it from that link or from the Google+ link. Anyhoo, if it would not be too much trouble, I would appreciate dates on the articles - if that's a problem, I certainly can live without them!
Again, thank you for your contributions on behalf of your cyber audience and we look forward to the happy news that your pain is gone and you are free to live life as you enjoy it!