HELP! mouse moves around by itself

[henderson2001mis]

I am running Windows 2000 Pro and recently my mouse started moving along the screen by itself. I am familiar with remote control programs such as Win VNC but it happens even with no network connection. The computer is a Dell Inspiron 4000 laptop and I have up to date virus definitions using Norton 2001. I have run full virus scans and nothing is detected. At first the cursor would move slightly off course as I moved it. Now it moves erratically all over the screen so that I can't even control the computer. I think it has to be a virus but Norton finds nothing. On a related note, another computer on the network is saying that it has Nimda, but I can't get it off. Could Nimda be causing these problems.

Thanks so much for the help!

 

[DaiShan]

is it an external mouse or the pointer device on the laptop? if it is an external mouse with software, try reinstalling, also try toning down the sensitivity of the mouse.

 

[henderson2001mis]

it's the touch pad, but I tried hooking a regular mouse up and nothing changed. I also changed the sensitivity--no better. Thanks for the idea though.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Can I have it? I love mysteries!

 

[SaigonK]

Reinstall the Synaptics (i believe that is what is on the Inspiron seies) software.
if this doesnt work then Call dell and ask them to replace your motherboard, that is usually the next step I have seen on CPxj series laptops.
They recently had a bad batch of motherboards in their laptops, and had tons of Latitiude and Inspirons with bad motherboards causing keyboard issues.

 

[GiGoLo]

saigon has it on the nose... try reinstalling the touchpad drivers first and also update the bios from support.dell.com If this doens't work, you will need to contact dell tech support and like saigon said, they will most likely replace the motherboard for a faulty keyboard bios chip (i know its not the keyboard giving you the problem but this chip is the cause). Don't forget to mention that you tried an external mouse or they will try to replace the touchpad instead which will lead nowhere.