Vista, 32 bit. Using touch pad, the pointer continually jumps and/or 'selects' whatever the hell it wants. I've tried opening the settings page and tried a variety of configurations - all to no avail. I even tried re-installing the drivers from the restore disc. Hell, typing this took 13 minutes ! Can you help ?

Adel Heider,

You may want to first download the driver and install it into the system from the link below.
Inspiron 1545 Drivers Download Page
http://dell.to/14IpAJU

Erratic Pointer Movement

Here are some easy steps to take to determine the problem with a touch pad demonstrating erratic pointer movement:

1. Get the latest driver from support.dell.com - Most problems can be corrected with a simple driver download. This should always be one of the first steps when diagnosing any touch pad problem.
2. Check for hand and finger placement - The most common cause of random pointer movement is that the touch pad senses a finger or part of the hand near the surface of the device.
   • Have the customer attempt to use the touch pad normally but to pay attention to the location of his or her hands and fingers. Are any straying too close to the touch pad?
   • Adjust the Touch Sensitivity and TouchCheck settings in the Touch Pad Settings section of the Dell Touchpad Properties.
3. Try an external mouse - Does this problem happen with an external mouse attached?
   • The Device Select section of the Dell Touchpad Properties has options to enable or disable the touch pad or external mouse. Try several combinations of these settings.
   • If the problems only occur when the touch pad is enabled and do not occur any time a mouse or other external device is used, then the issue is related to the touch pad.
4. Check for mechanical problems - If the problem cannot be corrected by adjusting the settings mentioned above and only occurs with the touch pad enabled, then this could indicate a mechanical problem.
   • Press down on the palm rest on first the left side of the touch pad and then the right. See if the cursor starts moving on its own.
   • Run Dell 32-bit Diagnostics and try to recreate the problems there. If either of these situations occur, then replace the palm rest.

No Pointer Movement

No pointer movement from the touch pad (or track stick, if available) usually is the result of one of two things: The touch pad has been disabled in the driver interface, or the touch pad cable is damaged or disconnected. Follow the steps below to determine the problem.

1. Connect an external mouse - In either situation, an external mouse should still function. If it does not, try booting into Safe Mode and testing both devices again.
2. Enable the touch pad in the driver settings - Using the external mouse (or key strokes if no mouse is available), go into the Dell Touchpad Properties. Go to the Device Select section and enable the touch pad. If already enabled, get the latest driver from support.dell.com.
3. Test the device in Dell 32-bit Diagnostics - To eliminate a potential software problem, run the Dell 32-bit Diagnostics and test the device here.
4. Check for mechanical problems - As a last resort, press down on the palm rest where the touch pad connector is located on the system board. If the pointer reacts in some way, then the cable may just need to be reseated. Otherwise, replace the palm rest.

Thank You,
Dell-Jesse L
Dell Social Media and Communities

Step 1

1. Open Mouse by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Hardware, and then clicking Mouse.
2. Click the Pointer Options tab, and then do any of the following:

• To change the speed at which the mouse pointer moves, move the Select a pointer speed slider towards Slow or Fast.
• To make the pointer work more accurately when you're moving the mouse slowly, select the Enhance pointer precision check box.
• To speed the process of selecting a choice when a dialog box appears, select the automatically move pointer to the default button in a dialog box check box.
• To make the pointer easier to find when you move it, select the Display pointer trails check box, and then move the slider towards Short or Long to decrease or increase the length of the pointer trail.
• To ensure that the pointer doesn't block your view of the text you're typing, select the Hide pointer while typing check box.
• To find a misplaced pointer by pressing the CTRL key, select the Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key check box.

Change mouse settings
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-mouse-settings

Step 2

If you are using touchpad, try reducing the Touchpad sensitivity and check

1. Click on the "Start" icon in the lower left corner of the screen. Select "Control Panel." Next select "Mouse" under "Hardware and Sound." You can also left-click the touchpad while the cursor is anywhere on the desktop. From that screen, choose "Mouse Pointers."
2. Select the "Buttons" tab at the top of the dialog box that opens. This shows the type of touchpad device installed on your laptop.
3. Set the touchpad for right or left-handed use from this dialog box. You can adjust the double click speed of your computer as well. When you finish making any changes, click "Apply."
4. Pick the "Device Settings" tab from the dialog box now. You can see the touchpad for your Vista machine highlighted on this screen. Select "Settings."
5. Read the information provided in the next dialog box. It gives you options for tapping your touchpad, using the buttons, scrolling, pointer motion and sensitivity.
6. Make any changes you want from the various topics. When you make a change, click "Apply." Click "OK" when you finish making all your changes.
7. Do some work on your computer for a while, If the touchpad is still too sensitive, return to the "Mouse" menu and continue to adjust the settings until you get them just the way you want them.

Step 3

If the issue persists try to perform a clean boot and check whether the issue is still persists.

Follow the steps mentioned in the article given below.

How to configure Windows Vista to start in a "clean boot":

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Note:Once the troubleshooting is over, reset the computer to start as usual.

Also I would suggest you to keep in touch with mouse manufacturer

Step 1

1. Open Mouse by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Hardware, and then clicking Mouse.
2. Click the Pointer Options tab, and then do any of the following:

• To change the speed at which the mouse pointer moves, move the Select a pointer speed slider towards Slow or Fast.
• To make the pointer work more accurately when you're moving the mouse slowly, select the Enhance pointer precision check box.
• To speed the process of selecting a choice when a dialog box appears, select the automatically move pointer to the default button in a dialog box check box.
• To make the pointer easier to find when you move it, select the Display pointer trails check box, and then move the slider towards Short or Long to decrease or increase the length of the pointer trail.
• To ensure that the pointer doesn't block your view of the text you're typing, select the Hide pointer while typing check box.
• To find a misplaced pointer by pressing the CTRL key, select the Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key check box.

Change mouse settings
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-mouse-settings

Step 2

If you are using touchpad, try reducing the Touchpad sensitivity and check

1. Click on the "Start" icon in the lower left corner of the screen. Select "Control Panel." Next select "Mouse" under "Hardware and Sound." You can also left-click the touchpad while the cursor is anywhere on the desktop. From that screen, choose "Mouse Pointers."
2. Select the "Buttons" tab at the top of the dialog box that opens. This shows the type of touchpad device installed on your laptop.
3. Set the touchpad for right or left-handed use from this dialog box. You can adjust the double click speed of your computer as well. When you finish making any changes, click "Apply."
4. Pick the "Device Settings" tab from the dialog box now. You can see the touchpad for your Vista machine highlighted on this screen. Select "Settings."
5. Read the information provided in the next dialog box. It gives you options for tapping your touchpad, using the buttons, scrolling, pointer motion and sensitivity.
6. Make any changes you want from the various topics. When you make a change, click "Apply." Click "OK" when you finish making all your changes.
7. Do some work on your computer for a while, If the touchpad is still too sensitive, return to the "Mouse" menu and continue to adjust the settings until you get them just the way you want them.

Step 3

If the issue persists try to perform a clean boot and check whether the issue is still persists.

Follow the steps mentioned in the article given below.

How to configure Windows Vista to start in a "clean boot":

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Note:Once the troubleshooting is over, reset the computer to start as usual.

Also I would suggest you to keep in touch with mouse manufacturer

hi

just go to control panal then select mouse & Touch pad [name may be different because you don't intimate the operating systems] settings then
go to pointer option un-check the box showing " Automatically select default option"

and change the mouse speed using slider as you comfort

if any problem replay me

You seem to be brushing against the touch pad while you're typing. You need to adjust the sensitivity of that touch pad:
Click on the "Start" icon in the lower left corner of the screen. Select "Control Panel." Next select "Mouse" under "Hardware and Sound." You can also left-click the touchpad while the cursor is anywhere on the desktop. From that screen, choose "Mouse Pointers." Select the "Buttons" tab at the top of the dialog box that opens. This shows the type of touchpad device installed on your laptop. Set the touchpad for right or left-handed use from this dialog box. You can adjust the double click speed of your computer as well. When you finish making any changes, click "Apply." Pick the "Device Settings" tab from the dialog box now. You can see the touchpad for your Vista machine highlighted on this screen. Select "Settings." Read the information provided in the next dialog box. It gives you options for tapping your touchpad, using the buttons, scrolling, pointer motion and sensitivity. Make any changes you want from the various topics. When you make a change, click "Apply." Click "OK" when you finish making all your changes. Do some work on your computer for a while. If the touchpad is still too sensitive, return to the "Mouse" menu and continue to adjust the settings until you get them just the way you want them.

HI

IT MAY BE DUE TO SOME PROBLEM IN THE DRIVER ..
BETTER TO DOWNLOAD A NEW VERSION OF TOUCH PAD DRIVER (INTERNET) FOR VISTA HOME PREMIUM 32/64 BIT

HOPE YOU BE SUCCESSFUL

hello, have you tryed adjusting the sensitivity of the touch pad to a less sensitive touch ?

Ah, the Vista mouse annoyance! Go into your control panel, and in the Mouse properties, set the pointer speed a bit slower until the cursor stops bouncing all over.

hi,

Please reduce the touchpad sensitivity. that shld take care of teh issue.

inu

Hi -
I've been having the same problem and it is MAJORLY annoying to be typing along, and have the cursor reappear on another line!

I had a heck of a time finding the place to disable the touchpad, since we use a USB mouse with the laptop. Turns out, someone else helped me find a simple way - hold down the Fn key (next to the left side CNTRL key), and hit F7. That toggles the touchpad off/on easily!

Also suggested by someone else, some mice can cause erratice behavior with Acer laptops, so perhaps try another mouse?

So far, I've been typing this response AFTER disabling the touchpad, and the cursor has not jumped around at all.

Good luck! : )