"inaccurate" mouse click issue

[DE]

I've searched & searched, and not found a single report of this, though
I've experienced it on two different Dell laptops. Please note, this is
-not- the issue where the mouse cursor jumps to a different part of the
screen on its own.

I run XP/SP3 with the taskbar set to show each window, not grouped by
type, so I might easily have 20 or more items showing on the taskbar on
multiple rows, but with only one row displayed. Then I scroll (since I
only show a single row) from one row to the next, if I want to switch
from one program to another & the program is not visible in the taskbar
row showing. It's an old habit, and always worked in the past, with the
exception of two different Dell laptops (but also works fine on other
Dell laptops.)

Unfortunately, the problem resolved on the first Dell laptop at some
point, and I don't recall or know how or when. But I'm stuck with it on
the second laptop.

Specific behavior is:

When I have multiple program windows showing on the taskbar, with
multple rows, sometimes I click on one to restore it, and instead a
completely different window restores. This happens no matter how
carefully, slowly, or un-quickly I click on it. At the same time, the
task bar will scroll on its own to the row for the window that opens, so
apparently it "knows" what window it's opening, but it's not the one I
selected with the mouse.

The mouse pointer is not set to jump to the most likely item; I hate
that behavior.

I have updated both the mouse (well, it's a touchpad actually) and
display drivers. However, because the scroll bar actually seems to
select another row when I click, not just the wrong window, I think
something else is at play. If it's relevant, both laptops have a
wide-screen format that I run at 1280x768 or 1280x800.

The really bizarre thing about this behavior is that it happens with
every-other selection; that is, it happens precisely one time out of
every 2 that I'll click on the taskbar to restore a window. The other
click will restore the window I really select. It doesn't seem to
confine itself to any particular program or circumstances.

Having experienced this on two different laptops, I feel sure I'm not
the only person in the world with the problem, although I know the
preference to run a bunch of separate windows showing on the taskbar
(instead of grouping them) is not the common one.

Anybody have any thoughts on how to fix this, rather than "do things
differently"? I've tried to search for answers in every way I can
imagine, but all I come up with are the (frequent) issues have with
jumping mouse on Dell laptops, which is a completely different issue
(and one I'm familiar with.)

Thanks.

 

[Unknown]

I don't have a touchpad, however do you have 'enhance pointer precision'
when displaying mouse pointer options?

 

[Jose]

I've searched & searched, and not found a single report of this, though
I've experienced it on two different Dell laptops.  Please note, this is
-not- the issue where the mouse cursor jumps to a different part of the
screen on its own.

I run XP/SP3 with the taskbar set to show each window, not grouped by
type, so I might easily have 20 or more items showing on the taskbar on
multiple rows, but with only one row displayed.  Then I scroll (since I
only show a single row) from one row to the next, if I want to switch
from one program to another & the program is not visible in the taskbar
row showing.  It's an old habit, and always worked in the past, with the
exception of two different Dell laptops (but also works fine on other
Dell laptops.)

Unfortunately, the problem resolved on the first Dell laptop at some
point, and I don't recall or know how or when.  But I'm stuck with it on
the second laptop.

Specific behavior is:

When I have multiple program windows showing on the taskbar, with
multple rows, sometimes I click on one to restore it, and instead a
completely different window restores.  This happens no matter how
carefully, slowly, or un-quickly I click on it.  At the same time, the
task bar will scroll on its own to the row for the window that opens, so
apparently it "knows" what window it's opening, but it's not the one I
selected with the mouse.

The mouse pointer is not set to jump to the most likely item;  I hate
that behavior.

I have updated both the mouse (well, it's a touchpad actually) and
display drivers.  However, because the scroll bar actually seems to
select another row when I click, not just the wrong window, I think
something else is at play.  If it's relevant, both laptops have a
wide-screen format that I run at 1280x768 or 1280x800.

The really bizarre thing about this behavior is that it happens with
every-other selection;  that is, it happens precisely one time out of
every 2 that I'll click on the taskbar to restore a window.  The other
click will restore the window I really select.  It doesn't seem to
confine itself to any particular program or circumstances.

Having experienced this on two different laptops, I feel sure I'm not
the only person in the world with the problem, although I know the
preference to run a bunch of separate windows showing on the taskbar
(instead of grouping them) is not the common one.

Anybody have any thoughts on how to fix this, rather than "do things
differently"?  I've tried to search for answers in every way I can
imagine, but all I come up with are the (frequent) issues have with
jumping mouse on Dell laptops, which is a completely different issue
(and one I'm familiar with.)

Thanks.

That would be the Dell Inspiron 15, right?

 

[Elmo]

I've searched & searched, and not found a single report of this, though
I've experienced it on two different Dell laptops. Please note, this is
-not- the issue where the mouse cursor jumps to a different part of the
screen on its own.

I run XP/SP3 with the taskbar set to show each window, not grouped by
type, so I might easily have 20 or more items showing on the taskbar on
multiple rows, but with only one row displayed. Then I scroll (since I
only show a single row) from one row to the next, if I want to switch
from one program to another & the program is not visible in the taskbar
row showing. It's an old habit, and always worked in the past, with the
exception of two different Dell laptops (but also works fine on other
Dell laptops.)

Unfortunately, the problem resolved on the first Dell laptop at some
point, and I don't recall or know how or when. But I'm stuck with it on
the second laptop.

Specific behavior is:

When I have multiple program windows showing on the taskbar, with
multple rows, sometimes I click on one to restore it, and instead a
completely different window restores. This happens no matter how
carefully, slowly, or un-quickly I click on it. At the same time, the
task bar will scroll on its own to the row for the window that opens, so
apparently it "knows" what window it's opening, but it's not the one I
selected with the mouse.

The mouse pointer is not set to jump to the most likely item; I hate
that behavior.

I have updated both the mouse (well, it's a touchpad actually) and
display drivers. However, because the scroll bar actually seems to
select another row when I click, not just the wrong window, I think
something else is at play. If it's relevant, both laptops have a
wide-screen format that I run at 1280x768 or 1280x800.

The really bizarre thing about this behavior is that it happens with
every-other selection; that is, it happens precisely one time out of
every 2 that I'll click on the taskbar to restore a window. The other
click will restore the window I really select. It doesn't seem to
confine itself to any particular program or circumstances.

Having experienced this on two different laptops, I feel sure I'm not
the only person in the world with the problem, although I know the
preference to run a bunch of separate windows showing on the taskbar
(instead of grouping them) is not the common one.

Anybody have any thoughts on how to fix this, rather than "do things
differently"? I've tried to search for answers in every way I can
imagine, but all I come up with are the (frequent) issues have with
jumping mouse on Dell laptops, which is a completely different issue
(and one I'm familiar with.)

Thanks.

If the Pointer Precision doesn't help, consider this:

Try lowering graphics hardware acceleration slide. You can lower
graphics hardware acceleration in Display Properties, Settings tab,
Advanced button, Troubleshooting tab. If this helps, you probably need
a different graphics card or updated drivers.

 

[DE]

No, but with that thought (a sensible one) I have already tried various
tweaks in that area, to no avail.
I actually meant to say that but fumbled it.
Thanks.

 

[DE]

That would be the Dell Inspiron 15, right?

No, actually, this one is a Latitude D420, which is very similar to the
Inspiron 700m on which I had the problem in the past & it resolved at
some point (possibly something I did but, if so, I don't recall what it
was.)

The Inspiron in question -also- had the typical Dell jumpy-mouse
problem, where the mouse cursor suddenly appears in a completely
different part of the screen. I occasionally have that problem with
this one, too, but have now read about a hardware-based fix for it. And
that particular issue seems to carry across to a number of Dell laptop
models for quite a few years.

This problem of mine is one that I can't even find a reference to.

Thanks.

 

[DE]

DE wrote: .... ....

If the Pointer Precision doesn't help, consider this:

Try lowering graphics hardware acceleration slide. You can lower
graphics hardware acceleration in Display Properties, Settings tab,
Advanced button, Troubleshooting tab.

Yes, that was it. I may have done that on the other laptop at some
point, and not remembered it. Doing that, plus changing some of the
advanced effects so that it isn't completely Windows-managed, fixed the
problem totally. (I don't like the "fade" settings and animations
anyway; I like things snappy and clean.)

If this helps, you probably need
a different graphics card or updated drivers.

I might, but getting a new card would be probably half the cost of the
laptop, and not worth it to me; it works fine with acceleration
dropped, and I dislike those other effects anyway.

And I had already tried different/updated drivers, 3 different sets
including those directly from Intel, to no avail.

But thank you for putting me on to the right area of settings! It's
such a little thing, but SO VERY ANNOYING!

 

[Elmo]

That's great! Thanks for reporting back.

Yes, that was it. I may have done that on the other laptop at some
point, and not remembered it. Doing that, plus changing some of the
advanced effects so that it isn't completely Windows-managed, fixed the
problem totally. (I don't like the "fade" settings and animations
anyway; I like things snappy and clean.)


I might, but getting a new card would be probably half the cost of the
laptop, and not worth it to me; it works fine with acceleration
dropped, and I dislike those other effects anyway.

And I had already tried different/updated drivers, 3 different sets
including those directly from Intel, to no avail.

But thank you for putting me on to the right area of settings! It's
such a little thing, but SO VERY ANNOYING!