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My mouse pointer over-rides my cursor and suddenly I'm typing at a different point in the document; how do I stop this?

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This has been going on for a few months now. At first, I noticed it in email and blamed Yahoo (my web mail provider). Then I noticed it in filling out forms on-line - like this one. When typing an email, I may move the pointer that looks like I (or the arrow associated with it) down so I can see what I'm typing, and find myself typing in the middle of my signature line; or move it up and suddenly be in the previous paragraph. In fact it just happened. The capital-I pointer was above where the cursor is (that indicates where I am typing). All of a sudden, I typing the next sentence in the middle of the word "blamed. I suspect it started with an up-date, but I can't pinpoint the date.

This has been going on for a few months now. At first, I noticed it in email and blamed Yahoo (my web mail provider). Then I noticed it in filling out forms on-line - like this one. When typing an email, I may move the pointer that looks like I (or the arrow associated with it) down so I can see what I'm typing, and find myself typing in the middle of my signature line; or move it up and suddenly be in the previous paragraph. In fact it just happened. The capital-I pointer was above where the cursor is (that indicates where I am typing). All of a sudden, I typing the next sentence in the middle of the word "blamed. I suspect it started with an up-date, but I can't pinpoint the date.

Chosen solution

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

  • Switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Appearance
  • Do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Safe Mode start window

Did you check for hardware issues with your mouse (hanging left mouse button)?

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All Replies (4)

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Chosen Solution

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

  • Switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Appearance
  • Do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Safe Mode start window

Did you check for hardware issues with your mouse (hanging left mouse button)?

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On some systems, the mouse pad is the cause of the problem. Even if the pad is not in use, it sends a signal and . . . .

Some systems can be set up so that if a mouse is detected, the pad is disabled.

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UnhappyBarb said

This has been going on for a few months now. At first, I noticed it in email and blamed Yahoo (my web mail provider). Then I noticed it in filling out forms on-line - like this one. When typing an email, I may move the pointer that looks like I (or the arrow associated with it) down so I can see what I'm typing, and find myself typing in the middle of my signature line; or move it up and suddenly be in the previous paragraph. In fact it just happened. The capital-I pointer was above where the cursor is (that indicates where I am typing). All of a sudden, I typing the next sentence in the middle of the word "blamed. I suspect it started with an up-date, but I can't pinpoint the date.
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I was nervous about changing settings when I went into safe mode, but turning off hardware acceleration appears to have helped. Thanks. (I also looked at mouse and pad settings, but didn't see a way to change pad settings.) Thanks to you both for taking the time to answer. Barb