mouse pointer glitch

Hi all

firstly, not sure if this counts as hardware or software issue, so fingers crossed i'm in the right section

about a month ago, my mouse pointer started jumping around. i've tried everything i could find from googling etc but no joy whatsoever.

i'm on a mac pro (late 2013) running el capitan, have 32gb RAM and 380Gb spare on the boot drive

i've run onyx, restarted in safe mode (it still did it) and removed all programs from the login items.

i've got a screen video of it happening but not sure if i can post it here

any suggestions most appreciated!

many thanks

Phil

A warm welcome to Mac-Forums, Phil.

Is your Mouse wired or wireless? And the model/make might be helpful (is it Apple or Other, for example).

Do you have access to any other Mouse to test it; just to see if it's your Mouse (or its cable) which is at fault? This is possibly the most useful test, and way forward.

(You've certainly done a lot of research & testing - OnyX, Safe Mode etc.)

Ian

Hi Ian, thanks for getting back to me

I'm currently using a wired dell mouse, and swapping it for another one didn't make any difference. i've used them for years with no trouble at all, but if it could be that, i can bring an apple wireless mouse in to work and try that?

cheers

Thank you for posting back.

As it's wired, a few thoughts; although you may have tried these already.

You will have rebooted your Mac, I'm sure. This is always a good thing to do at the outset of a problem.

Software updates - up to date?

Try a different USB port - and, in particular attach your Mouse directly to the Mac, (not Hub or via Keyboard).

System Preferences > Mouse > fiddle around with the settings.

No luck? Okay, try a Reset of NVRAM and SMC - see here for background on what they do and how to reset them:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2881177/macs/how-to-reset-your-macs-nvram-pram-and-smc.html
https://thenextweb.com/lifehacks/2017/06/14/how-when-why-to-reset-the-pram-smc-on-your-mac/

Thank you for your patience.

Ian

Hi again

i have gone thru your list of suggestions and unfortunately its still doing it

i've put the screen recording i did on youtube so you can see it

https://youtu.be/TbvOU7shTsw

thanks for all your help, its most appreciated

P

Have you cleaned/blown out the laser on the mouse? Cleaned the pad or surface?
Check for hairs on the bottom over the laser.

What are you using for a mousepad or mousing surface?
Try using a smooth non patterned non-reflective surface if not doing so already.

And what other mouse software if any is being used in your System Preferences in addition to the Apple Mouse pref pane?

If any additional mousing prefs, does it have a setting for some sort of acceleration?






- Patrick
======

Do you have a spare graphics card for your Mac Pro that you can substitute for the one you're currently using? If you do, swap cards and see if that cures it. A glitchy graphics card can cause strange things to happen. Also, make sure the PS is OK.

thanks all

i bought a new mouse mat, have swapped the mouse, and tried blowing out the laser. still the same

unfortunately i don't have a spare graphics card. i wonder if there's a way of testing it?

hi there

sorry if i'm being a bit slow, but could you let me know what the PS is please?

many thanks

mnkytrk said:

hi there

sorry if i'm being a bit slow, but could you let me know what the PS is please?

many thanks

Click to expand...

I think he means "Power Supply".

Ian

oh ok, thanks

suppose it might be worth trying a different kettle lead.

the fun will resume on monday!

cheers

I know you said you tried another mouse, but if it was the same brand and model, I'd try using a completely different one, at least to do some testing.

Maybe pickup both a new wired one and a wireless one to go with your new mousepad and give them a try.

And I wonder if booting in Safe Boot Mode might change anything, but easy to try. Just hold down the shift key when doing a cold boot and login. to get back to normal boot mode, just restart or boot normally.


PS: OK, what's a kettle lead???




- Patrick
======

Hi Patrick. I have to say, to Phil's (OP) eternal credit, that he tried all sorts of tests before he even posted including running OnyX and using Safe Mode.

Considering what has followed since then, all the resetting of NVRAM and SMC, different cables and Mouse, different ports on the Mac - all to no avail - it remains a mystery.

Following a suggestion I made, I think Phil is going to bring home from work a wireless Mouse. That obviously works via Bluetooth and may therefore bypass the wired setup, if that is at fault.

And I believe that "kettle lead" was his little joke, acting upon Admin chscag's suggestion to check the Power Supply?

Ian

Following a suggestion I made, I think Phil is going to bring home from work a wireless Mouse. That obviously works via Bluetooth and may therefore bypass the wired setup, if that is at fault.

Click to expand...

I'd sure try a USB wireless mouse as well, as I've always been annoyed with the delay of all the Bluetooth mouses I've tried, but maybe they and Bluetooth have improved lately. :Blushing:





- Patrick
======

hi again

back at work again now. Have pinched my wife's apple magic mouse. think its a v1, but not sure. the glitching isn't as bad, but its still doing it. our IT dept only buys dell pc's so i'm going to have to do some searching to find a non dell mouse, but will post my results when i do.

sorry if i threw anyone with the kettle lead term, thats just what i've always called them. no idea where i got it from tho..

cheers

last post on this

i've 'borrowed' my son's v7 wireless mouse today, and so far, its working perfectly!

fingers crossed its sorted, just won't use a dell mouse with a mac pro.

thanks all for your help, really appreciated

Excellent. Glad it's sorted and thank you for posting back.

Ian

+1 to Ian's post!!!


- Patrick
======