Track pad has lost control of pointer

[Mikeo512]

On my old MBP the track pad has lost control of the pointer, which jumps all over the screen by itself. I can't even control it sufficiently to get back to the Magic Mouse. Sometimes I can swipe more or less in the direction I want it to go but am unable to steer accurately enough to get to the bluetooth icon at the top and thus regain control via the Magic Mouse.

If I borrow a wired mouse might I be able to regain control with this?

Thanks in advance.

M

 

[IWT]

If I borrow a wired mouse might I be able to regain control with this?

Yes, I'm almost certain you can. Try and see is the best I can offer.

It may be the age of your MBP, but on more recent Notebooks (my wife has one), when she switches on the Magic Mouse (previously paired to the Mac, I have to say), it immediately takes over - ie it over-rides the Track Pad.

Is your Magic Mouse paired or is that what you are trying to achieve?

Ian

 

[Mikeo512]

Thanks for the reply.
The MBP is "mid 2014" and it's on 10.13.6
In fact, not long after posting, I got the pointer into bluetooth and have thus regained control via the Magic Mouse.
However, this is not a permanent fix because in time the battery in the mouse will go down.
There is still stuff on the old MPB that I need to get at from time to time and I need to maintain access.
If I can be sure that a wired mouse will take precedence I will buy one on line or try to blag one from a friend. In any case, I'd like to use the MM with the new MBP.
The USB ports on the old MBP are the older, bigger ones. I'm guessing that any mouse will do providing the USB connection is OK. In other words, it doesn't need to be one of the nice white ones from Apple.
Is this assumption correct?
I've seen videos on YouTube about fixing the track pad but I'm reluctant to fiddle till I have everything that I need from the old MBP.
M

 

[IWT]

I'm guessing that any mouse will do providing the USB connection is OK. In other words, it doesn't need to be one of the nice white ones from Apple.
Is this assumption correct?

Yes. A USB connected keyboard should do. Any make, even a Windows one will do. And Yes, beg, borrow rather than buy, if you can.

I also agree - get the stuff off the old machine before tinkering with things. Once that's done, you can take it to pieces if you want. Nothing lost - data-wise anyway.

Ian

 

[MacInWin]

OK, there may be an actual safety issue here. If the battery is swollen, it can push up on the trackpad, producing exactly the symptoms you describe. And a swollen battery is dangerous because the swelling comes from hydrogen gas being created in the battery. Hydrogen is flammable, so it and electrical circuits are NOT a good mix.

You can see if it is the battery by putting a ruler on edge in the space between the track pad and keyboard. It should lie essentially flat. Like this:


If it touches in the center and not on both ends, it could be the battery pushing up on the case. You'll see the same bulging on the back side as well.

If it's swollen, replace the battery. Not only will that be safer, it may eliminate the trackpad issues.

You can check with ifixit.com on how to change the battery, or you can see if a local repair shop can do it. OWC ( macsales.com ) may have a battery for that machine, you'd have to check with them.

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/laptop-batteries/macbook-pro is the place to start.

 

[Mikeo512]

OK and thanks for that important tip.
I'll do the check that you suggest.
Just thought: I've hardly ever used the trackpad so it's strange that it should go wonky.
One way or the other, I'll have to get at the inside of the MBP.
Can you or someone else pse advise regarding the appropriate tools that I need to take off the rear cover? This would be better than going through the videos again - also I'd have a hard copy and would not need to take notes while the video is playing.
I noticed that they are using rather special tools. I have some small watchmaker's screwdrivers but they don't fit. How are these screwdrivers described?
Thanks in advance.
M

 

[MacInWin]

Check at ifixit.com. They have tools for sale and step by step directions you can print out to use as you go, along with videos you can watch in advance so you know what's coming. Search there for your particular model.

 

[Mikeo512]

Check at ifixit.com. They have tools for sale and step by step directions you can print out to use as you go, along with videos you can watch in advance so you know what's coming. Search there for your particular model.

OK Jake thanks again.
Well, I've just done the ruler test and there does indeed seem to be a bulge. This is apparent on the front and on the back.
When I hold the ruler at the front - I mean in front of the track pad - there is no bulge. But the bulge is apparent between the space bar of the keyboard and the trackpad.
Perhaps it's common for the battery to go after this period of time - I think the MBP dates from 2014.
One other thing - I've tended over the years - to leave it on charge. I used to let the battery run down and then re-charge but I got lax.
Is it bad practice to leave an MBP on charge?
M

 

[Mikeo512]

OK Jake thanks again.
Well, I've just done the ruler test and there does indeed seem to be a bulge. This is apparent on the front and on the back.
When I hold the ruler at the front - I mean in front of the track pad - there is no bulge. But the bulge is apparent between the space bar of the keyboard and the trackpad.
Perhaps it's common for the battery to go after this period of time - I think the MBP dates from 2014.
One other thing - I've tended over the years - to leave it on charge. I used to let the battery run down and then re-charge but I got lax.
Is it bad practice to leave an MBP on charge?
M

Putting this in as a new post rather than edit again.
Given the fact that I've hardly ever used the trackpad - 99% of the time I've used the Magic Mouse - perhaps the trackpad is OK. I've seen on the videos on YouTube how the button can cause the ring to get indentations. But, given the fact that it's hardly every been used, I guess the trackpad may well be OK.
M

 

[MacInWin]

Opinions differ on batteries and 100%. First, the swelling comes from contaminants in the chemicals in the battery, not from any use pattern. And the contaminates can be as small as a few hundred atoms. Over time the Lithium is converted to Hydrogen and that causes swelling.

As for battery life, Lithium batteries "prefer" to be between 80 and 40% for optimum life. Going below 40% is very hard on the battery as the chemical reactions get exercised a lot. Staying above 80% is not that hard, certainly not as hard as a deep discharge. Most battery manufacturers rate the battery slightly below what it can actually handle and then work with the charger to stop at a reported 100% that really isn't 100% of the physical battery, just to keep the battery from being "fully" charged. But not all batteries play well with all chargers, so it's safe to assume that 100% is 100%. That said, staying at 100% is not that hard on the battery life in the long run. My MBPr is rarely off the external power and my battery lasted 4 years before swelling got to it, and the new battery is just fine now in the second year of service, on mains power 90+% of the time.

As for the video you watched, I don't know what the "button" or "ring" you may be talking about, but in the case of the battery pushing up on the trackpad, what my wife saw was uncontrollable cursor movement and no clicks (she couldn't press down hard enough to overcome the battery pushing up. New battery and the issue went away instantly.

Once you get a screwdriver to open that machine, just touch the battery. The outer cover of the battery should be a tight fit to the battery itself. If it's puffy at all, it is swollen.

 

[Mikeo512]

OK and all noted.
Thanks for all the advice.
Perhaps I should try to get a battery here in the UK rather than have one shipped.
Does anyone know a good source in UK?

-------------

Just googled the above and see there is a UK branch of ifixit.

M

 

[Mikeo512]

I've just watched two YouTube videos about replacing a battery in an MBP. But what a difference!

The first video (I didn't note the model) was a more professional (US) video production. For this model of 15-inch MBP you have to disassemble half of the inside in order to get at the battery.

The other MBP (again I didn't note the model) was English - a guy explaining the method in his workshop. Here the battery was in full view as soon at the back of the computer casing was removed. He used some adhesive remover and twine or perhaps dental floss to unstick the battery.

I must say that I would not want to attempt the job on the first Mac. I suppose for the pros who are doing this kind of thing all the time, it's straightforward. I might be tempted to try if my MBP is the same as the second one but there's no way that I'd try the first. I'll look at the videos again and note the models.

 

[MacInWin]

Instead of Youtube, go to ifixit.com and see what your system will take. They have instructions, with pictures, and sometimes videos. OWC ( macsales.com ) also sometimes have videos specific to machines.

 

[pm-r]

Check at ifixit.com. They have tools for sale and step by step directions

For those interested in getting their own specialized tool kit, they may want to check out this site:

Chinese Tools vs iFixit Kit!

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linustechtips.com

I did basically this and discovered the source that iFixit uses for many of the kits they resell and ended up with an excellent and possibly better set than what iFixit sells for a fraction of their price.



- Patrick
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[msatterw]

On my old MBP the track pad has lost control of the pointer, which jumps all over the screen by itself. I can't even control it sufficiently to get back to the Magic Mouse. Sometimes I can swipe more or less in the direction I want it to go but am unable to steer accurately enough to get to the bluetooth icon at the top and thus regain control via the Magic Mouse.

If I borrow a wired mouse might I be able to regain control with this?

Thanks in advance.

M