I'm having the same problem with an 8200, and I'm afraid it's getting worse
Also i experience this in every App, not just Word.

This has been a common compaint for a long time.  If you search the forums you will find many postings and different solutions.  One solution is to update your touchpad drivers to the most recent version and then change the settings for touch sensitivity and/or palmcheck in the control panel.  For a synaptecs touchpad, I recommend putting the palmcheck and the max setting.  For the Alps touchpad, I recommend making sure that the touchpad is disabled while typing. 

The problem may be caused by the fact that touchpads are heat sensitive NOT touch sensitive.  If you touch a touchpad with an object that is not creating heat (ie a pencil eraser) nothing will happen.  When typing, your palm will come close to the touchpad, the touchpad will sense the heat, and the pointer will move (and click).  This is actually a problem on ALL touchpads, not just the ones used by Dell.  I have encountered the problem on many different laptops from different manufacturers.  But each individual touchpad is different (even two touchpads on the same type of system) so sometimes the problem is more pronounced on a particular system.

If the driver update and changing the settings does not work, you may want to try getting the touchpad replaced.  Touchpads are also sensitive to temperature and humidity in your environment and sometimes (especially due to high humidity) they will malfunction.

I had the same cursor problems.  After thorough discussions with Tech. support, and reinstalling the driver and also WindowsMe my Inspiron 8000 (under warranty) was returned for repairs last Thursday, 8/14, and returned yesterday morning, 8/18.  I no longer have a problem.  Under Corrective Repair Action Other: was checked and Palmrest was listed.  It must have been replaced or repaired, I am not sure which.

Under Comments: was "Customer need to contact Dell Tech support on reinstalling software and driver for this issue" which seemed strange, as I didn't send my hard drive with the computer to be repaired, and since the notebook has been returned it is now working great.  I had already upgraded the driver and I can't see any reason to contact Tech. support again. 

This is the fourth time in two years this computer has been in for repairs (motherboard, heatsink, and keyboard other times) but I am still a satisfied Dell customer.  I am just very glad I purchased the three year warranty.

perfect, updating the driver of the touchpad seems to have solved all issues, i love my inspiron once again :)

thank you

See also:

LINK: http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_input&message.id=20305.

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Hi, I have an inspiron 8000.

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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