My HP Laptop cursor won't stop jumping around the screen when it's both in use and not in use.

[LisaMcG21]

How do I get my cursor to stop jumping around my screen? 

Every time I go to use it from the touchpad to click on something it jumps elsewhere on the screen. The arrow cursor disappears and then a diamond star type cursor shows up somewhere else on the screen, It also jumps around the screen while I am typing or not even using it. It's driving me nuts and I really want it to be fixed. It's been this way since we bought the computer in January of 2018. 

[Jeet_singh]

@LisaMcG21,

Thank you for posting your query on HP Community,

Did you check if an alternate or external mouse works without these issues?

If you haven't, I recommend you try the below steps:

Attempt using an alternate/external mouse. 

(If that works when the touchpad is disabled on Synaptics software, it would mean that it's a touchpad failure,

However, if the external mouse doesn't work either, it could be a software/driver issue).

Check the Mouse options under control panel:

Start → Control Panel → Mouse → Buttons tab.
Check the box labeled "Use MS Office compatible scroll only."
Also, check the box below labeled "Scroll in active window only."

 
Attempt using an alternate/external mouse.

Uninstall and reinstall the drivers for your mouse:

Go to the Device Manager and select your mouse. Uninstall it and then restart your computer. During restart, your mouse driver will automatically be reinstalled.

• 1.   Click on Start and type ‘Device Manager’.
• 2.   Click Device Manager.
• 3.   Click + sign next to Mouse.
• 4.   Right-click on mouse entry and choose "uninstall".
• 5.   Restart your computer.

Next thing, I would suggest here is to update the Bios, Chipset and touchpad drivers on your PC from our HP support website, using this link.

Also, download and install HP support assistant on your PC. It should automatically download and install the latest updates and drivers for your PC.

Refer this link to know how to use HP support assistant.

Try the steps recommended below.

Control Panel -> Hardware & Sound -> Power Options -> Change Plan Settings (of current selected plan) -> Change Advanced Power Settings -> USB Selective Suspend Setting -> Disable (both)

Control Panel -> Hardware & Sound -> Power Options -> Change Plan Settings (of current selected plan) -> Change Advanced Power Settings -> PCI-Express -> Link State Power Management -> Disable (both)

Let me know how it goes for further assistance!

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

[LisaMcG21]

I have tried just about everything you listed and my mouse is still jumping around on the screen. Like I said it is like a small 4 sided star and moves all around the screen now even more so than before I tried doing everything you suggested. It is really frustrating. I don't know what else to do! 

[Jeet_singh]

Thank you for replying, @LisaMcG21

Let's try to run a test on the touchpad from F2: 

• Let us run the hardware test first.

• Hold the power button for at least five seconds to turn off the computer.

• Turn on the computer and immediately press the F2 key repeatedly, about once every second.

• The HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (UEFI) main menu is displayed.

• Select Component tests.

• Please initiate a test on the Mouse/Touchpad - There are 2 mouse tests to determine if the mouse is functioning correctly - the Pointer Test and the Drag and Drop Test. Click Mouse/Touchpad, then select the test you want to run and follow the instructions.
  NOTE: If you have connected an external USB mouse then please disconnect it before initiating the test on the touchpad.

If the test on the touchpad passes then please refer to this HP Document to solve touchpad related issues. 

Let me know how it goes for further assistance.

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

[LisaMcG21]

Hi Jeet, 

I tried what you just suggested and ran both tests. Everything came back fine and passed them both. That being said my main issue is when I am typing right now my mouse if jumping all over the screen and when I try to click on things the mouse sometimes disappears and jumps somewhere else. I looked on the link you sent and I was not able to find anything on this issue. Maybe I missed it but I really don't know what to do to make it stop!

[LisaMcG21]

I took some videos to see if that would help but I'm not sure if I can share them with you on here. 

[Jeet_singh]

@LisaMcG21,

Let's try uninstalling the Touchpad driver:

1. Press Windows+X to open the menu, and choose Device Manager on it. 

2. In the device manager, expand category "Mice and other pointing devices". 

3. Under this category, right click on your Synaptics Touchpad driver and click on Uninstall. 

4. You may be required to confirm the uninstallation. Check the box next to "Delete the driver software for this device" and click OK button. 

5. Restart your PC for the change to take effect. After restarting. Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver. 

6. Do not perform any manual upgrades to the driver until it does automatically 

You may refer to this support document for - HP Notebook PCs - Using the TouchPad or ClickPad (Windows 10)

If the issue persists, I would suggest here is to run the Windows update troubleshooter.

Download and install the troubleshooter from this link.

Now try to perform Windows Updates - 

1) In the search box, type and open Windows Updates. 
2) Check for updates. 
3) If the updates are available, click on install and restart the computer. 

If the issue still persists, I would suggest here is to update the Bios on your computer from  HP Support Assistant Updates - 

1) In the search box, type and open HP Support Assistant. 
2) Check for updates. 
3) If the updates are available, click on install and restart the computer. 

Let me know how it goes for further assistance!

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

[allorey]

Is this 'jumping around the screen' phantom/ghost touches? (Assuming your laptop is touchscreen.) Basically, is it registering touches with the touchscreen even though you are not pressing anything with your fingers? This happens sometimes on touchscreen laptops; my previous laptop had this issue as well. Unfortunately, I have yet to find a software solution to it, it seems to be more of a hardware issue. 

I suggest contacting HP support directly to see if you can get a repair, or take it to a PC repair shop if this is the problem.