On 30/08/2026 12:24, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

On 2026/8/29 20:8:46, NY wrote:
[]

Rebooting always fixes the problem and it takes an hour or so before the
behaviour starts again.

_Did_ you try "Switch User" (option under Ctrl-Alt-Delete)? If you're
the only user, it's a lot quicker than a reboot.
[]

Next time it happens - and, sod's law, it's been behaving itself in the
last two days - I'll try Switch User and see whether just restarting
user processes (without restarting system processes) makes any difference.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026/8/31 20:43:37, NY wrote:

On 30/08/2026 12:24, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

On 2026/8/29 20:8:46, NY wrote:
[]

Rebooting always fixes the problem and it takes an hour or so before the >>> behaviour starts again.

_Did_ you try "Switch User" (option under Ctrl-Alt-Delete)? If you're
the only user, it's a lot quicker than a reboot.
[]

Next time it happens - and, sod's law, it's been behaving itself in the
last two days - I'll try Switch User and see whether just restarting
user processes (without restarting system processes) makes any difference.

For my "left Ctrl Key" bug (other things happen too), just a Switch User
clears it (them) - I don't need to restart anything (though I do close Thunderbird); everything comes back as it was, I think even the
copy-paste buffer contents remain.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

I hate petitions, they're the modern-day equivalent of villagers with pitchforks and flaming torches. - Alison Graham RT 2016/2/20-26

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 29/08/2026 21:16, Paul in Houston TX wrote:

NY wrote:

My Windows 10 laptop has just started exhibiting "wild mouse pointer"
syndrome - the mouse pointer occasionally jumps horizontally or
vertically on the screen by an inch or so (rarely in both directions
at the same time), even when the mouse is kept perfectly still.
Occasionally I've seen windows change position, as if I'd clicked on a
window's title bar to bring it to the foreground. It happens at
irregular intervals ranging from once every few seconds to once every
five minutes. Each shift is a permanent one: it's not that the pointer
moves somewhere else and then returns to its original position.

It's a USB mouse, and I've tried two different mice of the same type,
in all three USB ports. It happens both when the laptop is running on
battery and on mains power.

It is reliably cured by rebooting the PC, and then it's fine for a few
hours.

I can't see any common factor which provokes it: I just do standard
things like reading or replying to emails in Thunderbird, browsing the
web in Firefox, running LibreOffice Writer. I'm not aware of having
installed any software that has started it happening. The laptop is
about 5 years old and the problem has only just started.

Have you tried system restore to a pre-annoying mouse time?
Have you tried safe mode?
Have you tried disabling all non-essential startup programs?

Why not invest in a new computer, mouse and keyboard? You could also
purchase dust covers to protect your valuable items! :).



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026/8/31 23:26:34, McDonald Trump wrote:
[]

NY wrote:

My Windows 10 laptop has just started exhibiting "wild mouse pointer"

[]

Why not invest in a new computer, mouse and keyboard? You could also purchase dust covers to protect your valuable items! :).

Ah, the ultimate helpdesk solution, after "reboot your system" and
"reinstall your OS".

If that's your philosophy, what are you doing in a Windows 10 group? :-)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"Bugger," said Pooh, feeling very annoyed.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Tue, 9/1/2026 8:28 AM, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

On 2026/8/31 23:26:34, McDonald Trump wrote:
[]

NY wrote:

My Windows 10 laptop has just started exhibiting "wild mouse pointer"

[]

Why not invest in a new computer, mouse and keyboard? You could also
purchase dust covers to protect your valuable items! :).

Ah, the ultimate helpdesk solution, after "reboot your system" and
"reinstall your OS".

If that's your philosophy, what are you doing in a Windows 10 group? :-)

Just running a Linux LiveDVD and watching the mouse pointer, might be
enough to decide whether it is hardware related.

Paul

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)