Mouse, touchpad, and keyboard problems in Windows

Some of the most common problems with the mouse are:

• The mouse cursor moves erratically

• The mouse cursor moves too fast

• The mouse buttons don't respond as expected

• Moving the mouse doesn't move the cursor

Some of the most common causes of these problems are:

• Dirt. There might be dirt or a buildup on the bottom of the mouse around the opening for the sensor. Clean any dirt or buildup from the bottom of the mouse and from the opening for the sensor. For an older mouse that uses a mouse ball, you can unplug the mouse, turn the mouse over, and twist the bottom cover off. Remove and clean the mouse ball. If necessary, you can use compressed air to blow any lint from the inside of the mouse. Replace the mouse ball and cover. If your mouse uses a PS2 connection, you might need to restart the PC to reload the driver for the mouse.

• Incorrect settings. You might need to adjust your mouse settings such as pointer speed, click speed, or other settings. For more information, see:

  Change your mouse settings in Windows 7

  Change your mouse settings in Windows Vista

  To change your mouse settings in Windows XP, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Mouse.

  2. Click the tab for the type of setting you want to change, and then make the change.

• Improper surface. When using a laser mouse, the surface should have enough of a pattern for the mouse sensor to detect movement. On a surface such as glass or a mirrored surface, the mouse sensor doesn’t have enough of a pattern to detect movement, so the mouse won't move the cursor (or the cursor might move very erratically).

Some of the most common problems with touchpads are:

• The touchpad starts and stops working or has never worked.

• The touchpad is too sensitive, or it moves the cursor too fast.

• The cursor sometimes jumps to another spot in a document or on the desktop.

Some of the most common causes of these problems are:

• The touchpad has been enabled or disabled. The touchpad might have been mistakenly enabled or disabled. The touchpad can be enabled or disabled in several ways, including using keyboard shortcuts (key combinations on the keyboard), using Device Manager, or by using the touchpad settings in Control Panel.

• The touchpad settings might be set incorrectly. Most touchpads have adjustable settings and these settings can make the touchpad function improperly if set incorrectly.

  

  Note

  • Most manufacturers have included a keyboard shortcut for enabling or disabling the touchpad. Some PC manufacturers also include additional multitouch functionality that allows you to enable or disable the touchpad by using particular touch gestures on the touchpad.

• The sensitivity of the touchpad is set too high. If the sensitivity is set to high on the touchpad, any slight touch can cause the cursor to randomly jump to another location of the screen. To resolve this issue, lower the sensitivity setting of the touchpad using the touchpad settings.

To correct these issues, enable or disable the touchpad or adjust its settings. To do this, follow the steps for your version of Windows:

If your keyboard isn’t functioning properly, it might be because the device is dirty or defective, there's a loose connection, or the most recent drivers aren't installed. Some of the most common problems with the keyboard are:

• Pressing a key causes multiple characters to be typed.

• Pressing certain keys doesn't result in a character being typed.

• The keyboard doesn't respond when you press any key.

• The keyboard types incorrect characters.

Some of the most common causes of these problems are:

• Dirt. Dust, foreign debris, or liquid spills between the keys on the keyboard can cause keys to stick or not function at all. Blowing compressed air can help remove dust and debris from between the keys. Liquid spills might be more difficult to resolve and might require replacing the keyboard.

• Incorrect cable connections. For older PCs that use PS2 mouse and keyboard connections, make sure that the cables are connected to the correct PS2 port. If you need to switch the cables, turn off the PC before doing so, and then restart the PC to install the drivers.

• Incorrect keyboard layout settings. For more information, see:

  Change your keyboard layout in Windows 7

  Change your keyboard layout in Windows Vista

  To change your keyboard layout in Windows XP, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

  2. Click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options.

  3. Click Add other languages.

  4. Click the Languages tab, and then click Details.

  5. Click the Settings tab, and then click Add.

  6. Click the Input language list, and then select your preferred language and dialect. If you want to change the standard keyboard layout, click the Keyboard layout/IME list, select a new keyboard layout, and then click OK.

  7. On the Settings tab, click the Default input language list, and select the language you'll use most often. The language you select as the default will display when you first start your PC.

  8. To add additional languages, go back to step 5, or, if you have finished adding languages, click OK.