Trackpad Pixies

August 18, 2005 9:04 PM

How do I fix a jumpy laptop trackpad?

I have a 2004 iBook G4, and for the second time since its purchase, my trackpad is acting wonky. The first time this happened, Apple replaced the pad under warranty. Unfortunately my 1 year free coverage has since expired, so I'm looking for a cheaper solution.

The symptoms are as follows: Every so often my cursor becomes momentarily 'pinned' in place. When it gets like this, I can get the cursor to 'jump' by touching the pad in a new location (usually this has no effect), but when I lift my finger off again, the cursor returns to the pinned spot. I can usually get the blockage to clear with several frustrated hard taps, or quick random movements, but its an unreliable fix, and the last time this happened the twitchiness got worse and worse until I couldn't use the trackpad anymore.

I have eliminated the obvious causes:
- I thought the symptoms would fit a buildup of oil on the pad, which is messing with the capacitance sensing. However wiping with a kleenex doesn't help.
- I am not hitting the pad with my wrist
- I used to run a non-Apple mouse driver: SideTrack. But uninstalling it doesn't fix the problem.

Has anyone had similar problems with trackpads? Is there a maintenance procedure I'm forgetting to perform? Is there a manual, or software method I can use that might calm this sucker down, or am I doomed to pay for a replacement?

posted by Popular Ethics to Computers & Internet (12 answers total)

Do you wear glasses? Lenscrafters gives you these really nice eyeglass cleaners with a microfine cloth. You can also buy them seperately, a large bottle and a cloth for $10. They are awesome for cleaning track pad surfaces, a kleenex isn't doing a lot. They are also known for cleaning records really, really well.
posted by Dean Keaton at 11:02 PM on August 18, 2005

My track pad does this when it is humid, as soon as the humidity goes down the problem goes away. I don't know why it happens but I agree that it has nothing to do with build-up or dampness on the pad.

I know it's not helpful but my solution was to buy a mouse.
posted by 517 at 11:47 PM on August 18, 2005

My track pad does this when it is humid, as soon as the humidity goes down the problem goes away

Trackpads work by capcitances. If you fingers or the pad are damp, you short out the capcitor formed by the pad and your finger, and it doesn't work.

What I do -- clean with a high grade version of isopropyll alcohol, then wipe off any residue with a microfiber cloth. I use 99.99% pure, but I get that for electronic cleaning. I've found that many drugstore 91% are cut with a bit of oil, this isn't useful. Most 70% are cut with water, or you can get 95% or better at a home depot cheap.

Anything that gets all the oil and such off the pad will help.
posted by eriko at 5:25 AM on August 19, 2005

I have the exact same problem with my iBook G4. I find cleaning the pad and my fingers makes things better, but it never seems to go away completely.
posted by bondcliff at 6:34 AM on August 19, 2005

I also have this problem from time to time on my iBook G4. I wonder if this model is particularly susceptible for some reason. Anyone have this problem on other notebooks?
posted by teg at 6:55 AM on August 19, 2005

Response by poster: have the exact same problem with my iBook G4
I also have this problem from time to time on my iBook G4

:( I hope not, because if that's the case, even a replacement won't fix it for good.
I'm going to try the high-purity alcohol and fine cloth route. I'll report back here after.
posted by Popular Ethics at 9:41 AM on August 19, 2005

Response by poster: rather, I hope this model isn't particularly susceptible...
posted by Popular Ethics at 9:43 AM on August 19, 2005

My girlfriend has the same problem on her iBook G4..:P
posted by sirion at 10:05 AM on August 19, 2005

I hate trackpads! I never got used to using them. I use a Logitech Marble Mouse instead. It is a well-designed ergonomic trackball with four programmable buttons. Tracking is very smooth and precise and it takes up very little desk space.
posted by plokent at 10:33 PM on August 22, 2005

Response by poster: The alcohol didn't work. There's still a "no go zone" in the middle of my trackpad :(

I have an optical mouse, which I'm using now, but the trackpad takes up -no- desk (or lap) space.

A replacement trackpad is $70 us, plus assembly. Sucks to be me.
posted by Popular Ethics at 4:27 PM on August 25, 2005

Response by poster: In case anyone reads this again, here's a follow up: About a week after posting my logic board crapped out, and I had to have the whole computer replaced. I don't know for sure, but the trackpad problems may have been an early symptom. In any case, lean from my mistake people: buy applecare.
posted by Popular Ethics at 1:30 PM on October 16, 2005

I also have an iBook G4 and the same problem. This may be partially the product of a design flaw.
posted by sindark at 11:32 AM on August 6, 2006