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Inspiron Pointers Are Junk!
I administer 20+ Inspiron and Latitude notebooks. There is definately a problem with the pointers on these systems. I have had quite a few replaced and continue to have problems with the pointers drifting and not working at all, even the ones that have been replaced. It would be nice if Dell would address this issue instead of consistently blaming the mouse software or Windows. Personally, I think the problem is cheap parts and/or bad design. They obviously did not test the pointer on these systems well enough before they mass produced them or they would have discovered this common problem.
The only work-arounds I could offer to anyone having pointer problems on these systems are to either uninstall the Synaptics software and use the built-in windows mouse driver or change the Synaptics settings for the pointer to Heavy Touch. Both of these things helped a little. Flashing the BIOS and installing updated drivers as Dell suggests never helped much on any of the machines. The problem always reoccurred.
I personally will not purchase another Dell laptop for my company, I've just had way too many problems and service calls with them.
Message Edited by jarasta on 11-06-2003 03:44 PM
blackblackhamme
65 Posts
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Posted March 9th, 2004 09:00
This notebook has a pointing stick + touchpad.
I WAS experiencing eratic cursor behaviour.
The HARDWARE problem(s) was RESOLVED by Dell under Part Only Warranty as follows:
"The WANDERING OFF BY ITSELF mouse POINTING ARROW problem":
Replacing my apparently faulty palm rest assembly (part number 9C938 A00) with the latest part number 06G500 rev A05 in June 2003 solved the cursor racing over the screen all the way to e.g. the corner of the screen problem.
(I think part 06G500 is for both the i8000 and the i8100.)
"cursor jumping around when typing" aka "erratic mouse self clicking" aka "random cursor jumps" problem:
A few months later,
replacing my apparently faulty keyboard (part number 03609Y rev A00) with the latest part number 03609Y rev A03 in December 2003 solved the unintentional jumping of the active cursor to other parts of the word processor whilst typing problem (aka "ghost clicks" or "cursor jumping" problem).
Cursor works fine now.
IN GENERAL:
-Run the Dell diagnostics and see if a hardware problem is located.
-The pointing stick nub between the g and h keys may be stuck - wiggle it a couple times
-Adjust the sensitivity of the mouse in the Mouse entry in the Device Manager. Drag the Touch Sensitivity towards Heavy Touch and the Palm Check towards Maximum.
-Disable the pointing stick for a few days, if the problem is gone the keyboard may need replacing or cables are not properly connected.
If the problem is not gone the palm rest unit may need replacing or cables are not properly connected.
Contact Dell Tech Support.
I think Dell gives great service.
Hereby 2 links on the "cursor jumping around when typing" aka "erratic mouse self clicking" aka "random cursor jumps" subject that may be related:
LINK: http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_input&message.id=16253.
LINK: http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_input&message.id=16425.
For those interested in a link on "The WANDERING OFF BY ITSELF mouse POINTING ARROW problem" see:
LINK: http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_input&message.id=12447.
See also the following 6 urls:
LINK: http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_input&message.id=11052.
LINK: http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_input&message.id=7068.
LINK: http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_input&message.id=16361.
LINK: http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_input&message.id=7362.
LINK: http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_upgrade&message.id=16000.
LINK: http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_input&message.id=16577.
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