My cursor is drifting across the screen again, and sometimes becomes completely unresponsive.

"TrackPoint drift is due to the autocalibration mechanism, usually.

If it senses that the stick is in a certain position for 3 seconds, it'll recenter the stick on that point. This is important, because heat and humidity can affect what forces the force sensing resistor sees.

The biggest cause of TrackPoint drift, is usually preceded by the pointer STOPPING movement. Then, when you let go, it shoots across the screen, then stops. This happens when you hold the stick in the same position... so it thinks it needs to recalibrate, and it does... but then you release, and it realizes it went out of calibration AGAIN, and that's when it stops. The cure for this is to make it so you can cross the screen in 3 seconds, preferably less, by increasing TrackPoint sensitivity and pointer speed.

The other cause is a defective TrackPoint - the self-centering mechanism doesn't work, or some other problem. If the first solution doesn't work, call IBM and tell them that the TrackPoint drifts randomly. They should send you a new keyboard.

As for Enhance Pointer Precision... that theoretically could help if you're right on the borderline of that 3 second mark, because a hard hit on the TrackPoint will cause it to bounce back a little if you have it on, causing you to have to go further. However, with that function off, I find using a TrackPoint (or another pointing stick without the inertial features) is like sliding on ice.

Mark Simon


THANK YOU
THANK YOU

mark, wow, you are by the far THE BEST hardware specialist on this subject that i have talked to. now i know where the best hardware people can be found. out of all the people talking about this, you by far have the most accurate analysis of the situation.

problem solved: i suspect that heat is one of the issues. i did a cold boot in the morning, and it works just find now.

i think your right, it is the heat, and that heat is a factor. if it starts "acting" up again, i try the other techniques.

dang this is amazing, you are really...wow.

has anyone ever told you that you are awesome?!!

White Hat

Mark Simon,

from your experience, is this problem computer brand specific, or does it happen to all laptops?

thank you