Jumping cursor

[bilyo]

I have a Lenovo G550 laptop with the latest PCLOS distr loaded (2010) including KDE 4.4.2.  During installation, "Any PS2 or USB" mouse was automatically selected.  The touchpad generally works as it should except when I'm typing something like this message or something in a text editor. I try to be careful not to touch the pad as I'm typing yet, frequently the cursor will jump to another place and type where I don't want it. Sometimes it will jump clear off the window so that my working window looses focus.  I read somewhere that using another mouse driver will make improvements.  I have experimented with other mouse setup selections but this caused the system to hang with one selection.  I don't want to do that again. Using a separate mouse may correct the problem but I would like to have the touchpad working properly.
Thanks,
Bill

[bilyo]

Oops! I put this in "Desktops" rather than "Laptops". How do I move it. Delete and start over?
Sorry.
Bill

[Ramchu]

Hope this will help :

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,61733.0.html

[smcs_steve]

I have a Lenovo G550 laptop with the latest PCLOS distr loaded (2010) including KDE 4.4.2.  During installation, "Any PS2 or USB" mouse was automatically selected.  The touchpad generally works as it should except when I'm typing something like this message or something in a text editor. I try to be careful not to touch the pad as I'm typing yet, frequently the cursor will jump to another place and type where I don't want it. Sometimes it will jump clear off the window so that my working window looses focus.  I read somewhere that using another mouse driver will make improvements.  I have experimented with other mouse setup selections but this caused the system to hang with one selection.  I don't want to do that again. Using a separate mouse may correct the problem but I would like to have the touchpad working properly.
Thanks,
Bill

Same issue here - solved on my Acer Aspire-one Netbook by pressing <Fn> + <F7> keys - (this is an Acer feature, not Linux I believe).  <Fn> + <F7> toggles the touchpad on/off.  I've given up using the touchpad and plugin a USB mouse if I need to do more than a minimum of typing!
Maybe something similar exists for your Lenovo?
>Steve

[bilyo]

Ramchu,
Thanks for the link. I wish I had found that in my search. It would have saved you some trouble. I think I've got it worked out. I had to load qsynaptics first but then set it for a short delay and that seems to do the trick.  At least, there are no problems while typing this. Oops. Spoke too soon. It just jumped. I'll refine the adjustments. It is a lot better.
Thanks,
Bill

[bilyo]

All,
Even after tweeking the settings in qsynaptic, it is not acting satisfactorily.  It seems that the touchpad is just too sensitive and the cursor will jump with the slightest brush of my wrist as I type. I did a search of "touchpad" in synaptic and it listed these other applications:

gpointing-device-settings (configuration tool for pointing devices)
kcm_touchpad (touchpad Configuration GUI for KDE)
Synaptiks (touchpad service for KDE4)

Would any of these do anything different and/or better?  Are there any other choices not listed by this search?  Can these be loaded and experimented with simultaneously or should one be uninstalled before trying another? Are the above compatible with the "x.org input driver for Synaptics touchpad devices" currently loaded?

[scoundrel]

I have a Lenovo G550 laptop with the latest PCLOS distr loaded (2010) including KDE 4.4.2.  During installation, "Any PS2 or USB" mouse was automatically selected.  The touchpad generally works as it should except when I'm typing something like this message or something in a text editor. I try to be careful not to touch the pad as I'm typing yet, frequently the cursor will jump to another place and type where I don't want it. Sometimes it will jump clear off the window so that my working window looses focus.  I read somewhere that using another mouse driver will make improvements.  I have experimented with other mouse setup selections but this caused the system to hang with one selection.  I don't want to do that again. Using a separate mouse may correct the problem but I would like to have the touchpad working properly.
Thanks,
Bill

Same issue here - solved on my Acer Aspire-one Netbook by pressing <Fn> + <F7> keys - (this is an Acer feature, not Linux I believe).  <Fn> + <F7> toggles the touchpad on/off.  I've given up using the touchpad and plugin a USB mouse if I need to do more than a minimum of typing!
Maybe something similar exists for your Lenovo?
>Steve

thanks Steve.... very good tip thanks 

[ka9yhd]

I had similar problems on my Acer laptop while typing.  Install Qsynaptics and uncheck tapping.

While I was typing the touchpad would accept the tapping on the keys as tapping to confirm.

[Yoyo]

I have the exact same problem with my wife's laptop, an emachines W4605. I've tried for three years, and happens on all distros, with all mice, or even without a mouse.

[menotu]

Mebbe one of these will cure it: 

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/13/swiftpoints-tiny-mouse-finally-up-for-pre-order-shipping-in-au/

[bilyo]

The Swiftpoint looks very intriguing.  Apparently it won't be available until next month. I'm inclined to wait for some test reports.
Has anyone used the Kensington Slimblade trackball?  I like trackballs and this one also looks very intriguing.  I found some earlier posts about fixing problems with bluetooth devices.  In my case, I think I would also need a USB/bluetooth adapter (is that called a "dongle"?). Is there any reason to believe this trackball and dongle wouldn't work OK with PCLOS?
Bill

[parnote]

bilyo,

I've noticed a trend in the last 4 or 5 years where the touchpads on laptops and netbooks were so sensitive, that just placing your palm on the palm rest makes the mouse cursor skate all around your screen. I have the Lenovo G530, and it's for this reason that I wrote TouchpadToggle, a GtkDialog enhanced bash script that simply turns off the touchpad, eliminating the cursor jumping all about your screen. It's in the repos, btw.

Just be sure to use/connect a mouse before running the script, or you may be left with no pointing device with which to move your mouse cursor. Myself, I use a cheapo wireless mouse from Newegg.com.

I hope this helps! I know how maddening that jumping cursor can be.

parnote

[bilyo]

parnote,
I don't mean this as a put-down. I admire the ability to write such scripts. However, my Lenovo G550 has a function key (fn F8) that toggles the touchpad on and off.  Does "Touchpad Toggle" do something different or do it better somehow? I actually enjoy the touchpad when its working as it should. I just wish you could control the sensitivity.
Thanks for the suggestion,
Bill

[bilyo]

I had mostly given up on trying to correct the jumping cursor problem with the touchpad. Of course, one can turn it off and/or install a mouse. But, I like the convenience of the touchpad and was looking for a way to make it work as it should.  Anyway. When looking for something else, I came across some posts on another forum discussing the same issue.  One person observed that when the cursor jumped it always went upward.  So, she simply "parked" the cursor at the extreme upper edge of the screen just before starting to type something.  This seems to work so long as you don't inadvertently brush the pad and drag it back down again.  This doesn't actually fix the problem, but it is a quick and easy work-a-round.
I  hope this helps someone else.