topic Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad in PCs & Accessories

Strange behavior of the trackpad

olivier.pantz — Sun, 25 May 2008 21:23:31 GMT

Hello all,

I have a VAIO VGN-SZ4MN/B.

My trackpad has from time to time a very strange behavor. If so, it starts at the begining of the seesion and last til its end. In such cases, everything is "up side down":

When I drag my finger from the left to the right, the "arrow" (do not know the name in english - I'm french -
but I hope you understand what I mean by "arrow") goes to the left !!!
Similary, when I try to do upward, it goes downward !!!

Well, with time and pratice, I get used to it and I almost manage the mouse at if it was normal... but
it is far of being natural and quite annoying at the end.

Does anyone have had a same problem ? and figure out how to solve it ?
Any help will is very welcomed !!!
In advance: Thanks !!!

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

Thalamus. — Mon, 26 May 2008 13:45:03 GMT

Hi olivier.pantz,

your touchpad problem has been mentioned before but unfortunately as far as I am aware no solution was found..

Firstly I would suggest you contact Sony Vaio support, you can do this either by phone or via e-Support, use the following link to find the contact details: Sony Vaio Support

Sony Vaio Support should be aware of this issue..

Note though that it appears, from what I have read, that a full recovery of your Vaio does not resolve this issue..

After searching around it appears that the general thought is that this problem is caused by a software conflict..

I would suggest to start, try installing a newer version of the alps pointing device driver, use the following link: SZ series pointing device

Does that correct the problem?

If the problem continues try shutting your Vaio down, ( not sleep or hibernate) then turn off the wireless switch.

Reboot your Vaio and once all the start-up processes have loaded, turn on your wireless switch again.

Does that correct the problem?

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

olivier.pantz — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:52:43 GMT

Thank you Thalamus,

I have replaced my previous "Pointing" directory by the one you suggested and done a reboot.
For the moment, the behavior of the touchpad is normal, but as the "strange" one appears at random
(for now on, I didn't figure out under which conditions it appears), there is no warantly that
my problem is over. However, I cross my fingers. Anyway, if the problem is not solved, I will contact the
e-support for help.

Thanks a lot !

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

Thalamus. — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:16:50 GMT

You're welcome..

I have replaced my previous "Pointing" directory by the one you suggested and done a reboot.
For the moment, the behavior of the touchpad is normal

That's good news...

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

olivier.pantz — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:30:07 GMT

Bad news...
The reverse behavior is back again (since several days in fact...)
I found out that I'm not the only one to have this problem, but no solution...
On a long thread in have found on the subject, the only solution that seems to work is the wireless on/off
trick you suggested me Thalamus.
Some suggest to switch the wireless off before turning the computer off (others to switch it off after),
and to switch it on one's the boot is complet.
But it doesn't seem to work all the time...
According to this thread, osny is well aware of the problem but has no solution to propose !

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

Thalamus. — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:35:46 GMT

Hi olivier.pantz,

sorry to hear that your mouse is playing up again..

Did you contact Sony Vaio support.?

Could you answer these questions please.?

1) Do you have another mouse attached to your Vaio.?

2) Press the windows key+R to open the Run box type devmgmt.msc and press OK

Click Continue on the User Account Control window.

Expand Mice and Other pointing devices, what device(s) are listed.?

3) Is the touchpad icon visible in your system tray.?

4) Next goto Control Panel click Mouse properties..

In the Mouse properties window click the Miscellaneous tab and enable Display Icon in Task Bar, also whilst in the Mouse properties window please click the Function tab and check that both web assist and Use Scroll function are enabled, click apply and OK

Then place your finger on the top of the touchpad does it indicate on the top of touchpad icon in the system tray.?

Also check this for the bottom and right hand side please.?

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

olivier.pantz — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 19:54:25 GMT

Hy Thalamus,

1/ I have no other mouse plugged on my laptop
2/ The device is:
Alps pointing-device for VAIO
3/ Touchpad visible on my system tray
4/ All functions you listed are enabled...

Moreover, I just find a very long thread on this topic:

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7587_102-0.html?forumID=69&threadID=252612&messageID=2516190

It seems that sony is aware of the problem but of little help.
One user of the forum finally proposed to install a weird little programm: sakasamouse that reverse the mouse !!!
(reverse+reverse= correct behavior).

I am currently trying this "solution".

It is working more or less: when I opened the User Account Control window it gets back to reverse mode, but
it seems to work quite well otherwise.

Moreover, the left button of my touchpad doesn't work anymore.... but this is another problem.

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

Thalamus. — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:22:43 GMT

Hi olivier.pantz,

although I don't think this will make any difference but have you tried giving the touchpad a blast of compressed air..

Let me know the outcome of your sakasamouse test please.?

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

Thalamus. — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:32:26 GMT

Hi Olivier,

what was the outcome of your sakasamouse trial.?

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

olivier.pantz — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:15:52 GMT

Well, sakamouse is working quite well. Nevertheless, when performing a task that requires administration rights, it doesn't handle the mouse correctly anymore.
Since, I have contacted the esupport, and I have to admit they were quite helpful.
They advise me to uninstall completely mouse and keyboard drivers, then to reboot, while pressing the F2 key (and then F9 and F10 if I remember well..., I should check out the complete process). Finally, I end up with another driver for the touchpad (a mouse driver in fact).
So scrolling with touchpad does not work anymore (I didn't have report them this problem yet, I wanted to be sure that the reverse problem was over before: as it happend randomly, I had to test it for several days).
Currently, I have another problem with my touchpad: The right button doesn't work anymore (but this is not a consequence of the solution proposed by the esupport, it started before).
So I will have to contact them hoping that they will be able to propose me a solution.

Sorry to answer so lately, but I am currently quite busy. Moreover, only my wife is using the vaio and as she is much more forgiving than I am for her vaio sometimes strange behaviors, there is no urgency in the matter.

Anyway, I will keep you in touch with the following evens...
Thanks for your help,

Olivier.

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

Thalamus. — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:26:32 GMT

Thanks for the update Olivier..

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

olivier.pantz — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:07:36 GMT

Hello Thalamus,

After having removed/reinstalled mouse and keyboard drivers, the touchpad worked fine for one month.
Unfortunately, the reversed behavior of the touchpad is back again !
The esupport advises me to uninstall everything and to restore all the system...
I'm not very fond of this solution (but will it really solves the problem ?)...

I just wanted to let you know.

Olivier.

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

Thalamus. — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:17:34 GMT

The esupport advises me to uninstall everything and to restore all the system...
I'm not very fond of this solution (but will it really solves the problem ?)...

Hi Olivier,

have you informed E-support that you have done this in the past, as from what I have reada full recovery of your Vaio does not resolve this issue..

I would be more inclined to ask them e-support to arrange to pickup and repair your Vaio as you have had this problem on and off for some time now...

Edit: can you let me have your e-support case number please.?

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

olivier.pantz — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:07:49 GMT

Hello Thalamus,

The ID of my esupport case is 3137738.
But it is written in french. I do not know if you understand french
or not...

Anyway, on the users forum I've mentioned before (which I have just visited), that is

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7587_102-0.html?forumID=69&threadID=252612&messageID=2516190

it seems that a solution emerged, what they are calling the "tape solution".
Maybe will I try.

Olivier.

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

Thalamus. — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:47:44 GMT

Hi Olivier,

thanks for the case number, I can't view your case but I can refer Sony to your case when escalating your problem on to Sony..

it seems that a solution emerged, what they are calling the "tape solution".
Maybe will I try.

Thanks for the info, if your Vaio is still within warranty I would wait as doing the modification will invalidate your warranty..

Re: Strange behavior of the trackpad

Thalamus. — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:49:44 GMT

Hi Olivier,

hopefully Sony will be in contact soon (possibly via E-support) to arrange a repair..

would you please keep us updated on your case.?