Mouse get locked in square in the middle of the screen

[Tartaglia]

<p>My laptop once a day (sometimes more) seemingly randomly freezes my mouse. Where the mouse is stuck in the middle of the screen, I can still move the mouse, but it will jump back to that spot again and again, and won't go away until i restart the computer. I have already turned off the touch screen and turned off the mousepad on the laptop. Does anyone have an idea what might be causing this (the laptop is 10 years old, might be an old age thing). The screen has some small cracks too unfortunately, but since the touchpad function is turned off, that shouldn't affect it I would think. Any help is appreciated.&lt;/p&gt;</p>

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Tartaglia 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like you're dealing with a frustrating issue where your mouse is getting stuck in the middle of the screen and continuously jumping back to that spot. Given that your laptop is 10 years old and has some screen cracks, the cause could be related to a variety of factors. Here are some possible causes and solutions to investigate:

1. Graphics Driver Issue:

• Your mouse behavior could be caused by a glitch in your graphics drivers. Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause weird graphical glitches, including mouse issues.
• Solution: Try updating your graphics drivers. You can do this by going to the device manager, expanding the "Display adapters" section, right-clicking your graphics card, and selecting "Update driver." If that doesn't work, you may want to uninstall the driver and reinstall the latest version from the manufacturer’s website.

2. Corrupted System Files:

• Sometimes system files can become corrupted over time, especially on older laptops, causing erratic behavior.
• Solution: Run the built-in system file checker tool (SFC) to scan and repair corrupted files. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type the following command:
• Let it run and fix any issues it finds.

3. External Device Interference:

• If you have any external peripherals connected to your laptop, like a mouse, keyboard, or even a USB hub, they might be causing conflicts or glitches.
• Solution: Disconnect all external devices and see if the problem persists. If the issue stops when devices are disconnected, reconnect each one individually to identify the culprit.

4. Malware or Software Conflicts:

• It's also possible that a piece of malware or software running in the background is interfering with your mouse's behavior.
• Solution: Run a thorough scan using your antivirus software or try using Malwarebytes for a more in-depth scan. Also, check Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) for any processes that seem unusual or suspicious.

5. Hardware Issues:

• Given the cracks in your screen and the fact that the laptop is quite old, there's a possibility that hardware failure (e.g., a malfunctioning touch screen or motherboard issue) could be responsible.
• Solution: If possible, you could try connecting an external monitor to see if the issue persists on that display. If it stops, the issue could be related to the built-in screen or the internal hardware.

6. Touchscreen Still Active:

• Even if you disabled the touchpad, there could still be residual interference from the laptop’s touchscreen, which can sometimes cause strange behavior even if it seems "turned off."
• Solution: Double-check the touchscreen setting in your device settings to ensure it's fully disabled. You can disable it via Device Manager under "Human Interface Devices" by right-clicking the touchscreen device and choosing "Disable."

7. Mouse Software/Settings:

• Sometimes, specific mouse settings or software can cause the mouse to act erratically, especially if you're using custom mouse software.
• Solution: Try using a basic mouse (one without specialized software or drivers) and see if the issue persists. You can also try resetting mouse settings to default in the control panel.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support