Operating system error??? PLEASE HELP!

Ive had this problem since i bought the laptop new in Feb. This problem
happens sporatically and may be an operating system error????

Its kind of hard to explain but what happens is, you may click on something
with the cursor and another function happens. For example.....you click on a
window browser to close it....and the "start" menu pops up. Another
example.....(this one happens quite often).... you click on a browser to
close it and the window minimizes or changes size.

I called Toshiba right after i bought the computer and they suggested
playing with the mouse sensitivity (not sure how that would help when its a
function issue!?!) and some other mouse functions....as well as formating the
computer and re-installing vista....all with no help.

Can someone please let me know if they have heard of this problem or have
any idea how to fix it!?!? PLEASE!?!

THANK YOU!!!
SCOTT

honda_mac wrote:
> Ive had this problem since i bought the laptop new in Feb. This problem
> happens sporatically and may be an operating system error????
>
> Its kind of hard to explain but what happens is, you may click on something
> with the cursor and another function happens. For example.....you click on a
> window browser to close it....and the "start" menu pops up. Another
> example.....(this one happens quite often).... you click on a browser to
> close it and the window minimizes or changes size.
>
> I called Toshiba right after i bought the computer and they suggested
> playing with the mouse sensitivity (not sure how that would help when its a
> function issue!?!) and some other mouse functions....as well as formating the
> computer and re-installing vista....all with no help.
>
> Can someone please let me know if they have heard of this problem or have
> any idea how to fix it!?!? PLEASE!?!

Actually. this does sound like a mouse issue. If you are using an
external mouse, try a different one. If a wireless mouse, start by
replacing the batteries before replacing the mouse. If you don't have an
external mouse and are only using the touchpad, then this is a hardware
issue connected with the touchpad. Exercise your warranty now! Return
for repair/replacement.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Thanks for your quick response.....actually i dont use an external
mouse....just the touchpad on the Toshiba. Unfortuneately at the time i was
living in the Cayman Islands...so at the first opportunity i had to be in the
US i went back to Best Buy. They had the "geek squad" look at it, but they
said they couldnt help me if they didnt see the problem for themselves...and
of course it didnt do it while i was there!!! Sooooo now im past my actually
warranty, which sucks because as far as im concerned this is a "vista"
problem that SHOULD be fixed. Any more suggestions??????

"Malke" wrote:

> honda_mac wrote:
> > Ive had this problem since i bought the laptop new in Feb. This problem
> > happens sporatically and may be an operating system error????
> >
> > Its kind of hard to explain but what happens is, you may click on something
> > with the cursor and another function happens. For example.....you click on a
> > window browser to close it....and the "start" menu pops up. Another
> > example.....(this one happens quite often).... you click on a browser to
> > close it and the window minimizes or changes size.
> >
> > I called Toshiba right after i bought the computer and they suggested
> > playing with the mouse sensitivity (not sure how that would help when its a
> > function issue!?!) and some other mouse functions....as well as formating the
> > computer and re-installing vista....all with no help.
> >
> > Can someone please let me know if they have heard of this problem or have
> > any idea how to fix it!?!? PLEASE!?!
>
> Actually. this does sound like a mouse issue. If you are using an
> external mouse, try a different one. If a wireless mouse, start by
> replacing the batteries before replacing the mouse. If you don't have an
> external mouse and are only using the touchpad, then this is a hardware
> issue connected with the touchpad. Exercise your warranty now! Return
> for repair/replacement.
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

honda_mac wrote:
> Thanks for your quick response.....actually i dont use an external
> mouse....just the touchpad on the Toshiba. Unfortuneately at the time i was
> living in the Cayman Islands...so at the first opportunity i had to be in the
> US i went back to Best Buy. They had the "geek squad" look at it, but they
> said they couldnt help me if they didnt see the problem for themselves...and
> of course it didnt do it while i was there!!! Sooooo now im past my actually
> warranty, which sucks because as far as im concerned this is a "vista"
> problem that SHOULD be fixed. Any more suggestions??????

The random nature of the problem (which you reported in your first post)
points to hardware, not software (Vista). However, without seeing your
computer I can't say for sure. The Geek Squad is worse than useless as
far as I'm concerned. Some things to try:

1. Update your touchpad drivers. You will get them from Toshiba's
website for your specific model laptop. If that solves the issue, great.
You're done.

2. If the problem still occurs, try and narrow down what you were doing
and what is running at the time. Possibly there is other software that
is taking the computer's "attention" away from the touchpad task. If you
can't say that this only happens when you do X, then try a clean boot
and see if the problem occurs. You do this in order to see if you can
find another program/process that is interfering.

How to perform a clean boot in Vista and XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796

3. If you get nowhere with #1 and 2, then boot the computer with a Linux
distro that runs from CD, such as Knoppix. If the same problem occurs,
you know for sure it is a hardware fault. In that case, contact Toshiba
because the machine is still under Toshiba's warranty.

To get Knoppix, you need a computer with a fast Internet connection and
third-party burning software. Download the Knoppix .iso and create your
bootable cd. You need to burn an image, not as data files.

http://www.knoppix.net


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Malke........thanks so much. Really appreciate it! You know your stuff. Im
gonna try all the things you listed.....will let you know what i find out.

Thanks again,
Scott

"Malke" wrote:

> honda_mac wrote:
> > Thanks for your quick response.....actually i dont use an external
> > mouse....just the touchpad on the Toshiba. Unfortuneately at the time i was
> > living in the Cayman Islands...so at the first opportunity i had to be in the
> > US i went back to Best Buy. They had the "geek squad" look at it, but they
> > said they couldnt help me if they didnt see the problem for themselves...and
> > of course it didnt do it while i was there!!! Sooooo now im past my actually
> > warranty, which sucks because as far as im concerned this is a "vista"
> > problem that SHOULD be fixed. Any more suggestions??????
>
> The random nature of the problem (which you reported in your first post)
> points to hardware, not software (Vista). However, without seeing your
> computer I can't say for sure. The Geek Squad is worse than useless as
> far as I'm concerned. Some things to try:
>
> 1. Update your touchpad drivers. You will get them from Toshiba's
> website for your specific model laptop. If that solves the issue, great.
> You're done.
>
> 2. If the problem still occurs, try and narrow down what you were doing
> and what is running at the time. Possibly there is other software that
> is taking the computer's "attention" away from the touchpad task. If you
> can't say that this only happens when you do X, then try a clean boot
> and see if the problem occurs. You do this in order to see if you can
> find another program/process that is interfering.
>
> How to perform a clean boot in Vista and XP -
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796
>
> 3. If you get nowhere with #1 and 2, then boot the computer with a Linux
> distro that runs from CD, such as Knoppix. If the same problem occurs,
> you know for sure it is a hardware fault. In that case, contact Toshiba
> because the machine is still under Toshiba's warranty.
>
> To get Knoppix, you need a computer with a fast Internet connection and
> third-party burning software. Download the Knoppix .iso and create your
> bootable cd. You need to burn an image, not as data files.
>
> http://www.knoppix.net
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

honda_mac wrote:

> Thanks for your quick response.....actually i dont use an external
> mouse....just the touchpad on the Toshiba. Unfortuneately at the time i was
> living in the Cayman Islands...so at the first opportunity i had to be in the
> US i went back to Best Buy. They had the "geek squad" look at it, but they
> said they couldnt help me if they didnt see the problem for themselves...and
> of course it didnt do it while i was there!!! Sooooo now im past my actually
> warranty, which sucks because as far as im concerned this is a "vista"
> problem that SHOULD be fixed. Any more suggestions??????
>

You can try attaching an external mouse and turning off the
touch pad to see if the problem persists. In my opinion,
Malke is right. You have a hardware problem with the Toshiba
touch pad. The fact that it's intermittent is a pain in the
butt to trouble shoot. I don't think it's a Vista problem.




> "Malke" wrote:
>
>
>>honda_mac wrote:
>>
>>>Ive had this problem since i bought the laptop new in Feb. This problem
>>>happens sporatically and may be an operating system error????
>>>
>>>Its kind of hard to explain but what happens is, you may click on something
>>>with the cursor and another function happens. For example.....you click on a
>>>window browser to close it....and the "start" menu pops up. Another
>>>example.....(this one happens quite often).... you click on a browser to
>>>close it and the window minimizes or changes size.
>>>
>>>I called Toshiba right after i bought the computer and they suggested
>>>playing with the mouse sensitivity (not sure how that would help when its a
>>>function issue!?!) and some other mouse functions....as well as formating the
>>>computer and re-installing vista....all with no help.
>>>
>>>Can someone please let me know if they have heard of this problem or have
>>>any idea how to fix it!?!? PLEASE!?!
>>
>>Actually. this does sound like a mouse issue. If you are using an
>>external mouse, try a different one. If a wireless mouse, start by
>>replacing the batteries before replacing the mouse. If you don't have an
>>external mouse and are only using the touchpad, then this is a hardware
>>issue connected with the touchpad. Exercise your warranty now! Return
>>for repair/replacement.
>>
>>
>>Malke
>>--
>>Elephant Boy Computers
>>www.elephantboycomputers.com
>>"Don't Panic!"
>>MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>>