Do I have a virus or am I just ham fisted. Have been using this laptop since my desktop broke, and seem to be hitting the wrong keys. Think that needs an explanation. When I stop typing a sentence, and when I start the next, the curser jumps down several lines, up into the existing text or perhaps elsewhere on the screen. Is there a virus or something that this might indicate exists, as I know how to type and have been doing so for over fourty years. Its really a pain since I usually do not realize it has jumped until too late and I must undo. Use AVG Free and it does not indicate a problem, although I get my share of spybots etc.
Use XP Home SP1 and Explorer on a Toshiba Satellite. Seems perhaps the computer is talking to the outside as it just happened. Curser changes form like it is waiting on the computer to catch up or come back or whatever.
Additionally what happened to the spell checker...it does not want to work. Again...is it me....or them?
I had a lot of trouble typing on my mom's Toshiba laptop because a lazy thumb would accidently sweep across the touch pad, and the cursor would go haywire, sometimes moving all over the place and sometimes highlighting stuff. I finally got tired of it -- and solved the problem -- by buying one of those cheap USB-based mice, plugging it in, and disabling the touch pad.
(I'm not a big fan of touch pads anyway, I admit.)
Disable your mouse touch pad and plug in a standard mouse.. Problem should stop.
With touch pad mice, often when typing skin makes contact with touchpad and next thing you know your typing someplace other than you intended.
I keep a wireless mouse and keyboard with me for my Laptop. Then I can leave laptop on table, use KB in lap and all comfy and reach for mouse if needed just like your desktops at home.
Annoying problem but nothing wrong with your computer.
I hate typing on a laptop ..!!
I don't think laptops are made for human hands..
Like EUBANK, I taught myself how to type correctly a long time ago.
For me it was 52 years ago on an old 1930's era typewriter and now today, even with a 60% vision loss and arthritis hands, I'm still "fairly" fast and accurate..
So how did I solve my problem with the laptop...?
I simply took both the keyboard and mouse from my desktop computer and plugged them into the laptop.. (love those USB connections)
Problem solved...
Many, if not all, computers and associated peripherals manufactured since the year 2000 can be plugged in almost any brand of keyboard and almost any brand of mouse into almost any brand of computer and that includes both desktops and laptops...
and they will work fine ...WITHOUT ... having to install any type of program, like special drivers, etc..
Many, but not all, computers, both laptop and desktop that were made since the year 2000 have what is called "PLUG-n-PLAY" built into them...
Which means that most peripherals like a mouse, keyboard, external hard drives, etc... will be recognized by the computer and do not need to have a "Program" installed for them to work.
Simply plug them in and wait a moment for the computer to tell you.. "New Hardware is Detected" ........
Some of today's printers are also made to the "Plug-n-Play" standards and do not need a special program or driver installed for them to work.
So why not use the same trick as I did and plug your old keyboard and mouse from your desktop into your laptop.
What have you got to lose except a couple of minutes time and you will not harm anything and it may be the answer to your problems..
Best Wishes,
John
John Harrelson
Carson City, Nevada
fulltime since 1977
93 Ford 350 4wd Diesel
95 Prowler 30.5 ft 5th wheel w/slide
TWO CENTS WORTH
The story goes that a man died and was approached by the Devil who told him that he could buy his soul back for a dollar. The man searched his pockets and could only come up with 98 cent. While begging the Devil to forget the two cent he was short, an Angel happened by and hearing the Devil laughing, asked the man, "Would you mind if I put in my two cents ?" The Devil got so mad that he exploded in a puff of smoke and the man's soul was saved. The moral: Sometimes putting in your two cents worth makes a difference.
JOHN "the cook" 1997
After using a laptop for five years, I think I have finally figured out how to type on the darn thing. I position my hands a certain way and I am careful not to touch the pad.
Marilyn w/ Joe, 2000 Xplorer Class B van, usually pulling a Ranger bass boat.
Smudge, (in photo) a Shih Tzu/Yorkie Mix and Gizmo is waiting at the Rainbow Bridge
Have an RF cordless mouse so the touchpad has been disabled as suggested. Probably a lazy thumb as pointed out, but not confident that is the problem. But, if it happens again, will know its not a digit problem and will need to do more searching etc. Lots of good suggestions and thanks for the help....it was driving me nuts. Took a while to get back onto the forum....was being fixed for a while.
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