I.T drama with Toshiba laptop

Hi,

This isn't the problem, screen isn't scrolling without control. Please see my original post.

Thanks Captain, I know this function but it's not my drama. Please see my orginal post.

Could be, I don't know much about this unit as yet. I can't find the function your describing. Looked through control panel but can't find the area you describing.

Any chance of a bit more help??????

Your right about the touchpad arrows, now I know how to use this, thanks.

Hi Benspoon,

I think your spot on. Have just tried clicking and double clicking in the top and bottom left hand corner and it does exactly as I described every time. Guess I now just have to work out how to turn it off. Any ideas?

Not sure how yours is setup as I dont have an A7 around to test on, but try looking for the menu to disable it in these places:
In the system tray (bottom right corner of your screen) - double click on the icon of a touchpad or something that changes colour when you use the touchpad,
In the control panel - "Synaptics" something... or even try under Mouse in there.
In the start Menu under synaptics or toshiba utilities.

Failing that, shoot an email to the clowns at toshiba- they are generally pretty helpful

Thanks Benspoon. Will try your suggestions, sounds like your on the mark.

Thanks again.

None of the above procedures address the issues at hand in the original post.

If it is a new laptop or near enough to it, it would have come with NTFS already enabled/used (default in WinXP).

Probably came loaded with the antivirus software along with firewall, etc.

Absolutely no need to introduce any other "distractions" or possible software conflicts into the equation. You are far better off fixing what you have to a stable level of operation, then upgrading (allows the use of a stable restore point...)

Is that so. Methinks you are merely attacking me. You certainly haven't offered any helpful hints as to how to fix the user's problem. I did.

Firstly, you do not know if it is new or near new or if it has NTFS. New laptops do not always have NTFS. Many of them still ship with Fat32. XP happily runs on Fat32 although it's far less robust than NTFS.

Secondly, if it came loaded with antivirus it would most probably be Norton. It may also have Norton Firewall. There is a 99% chance that it doesn't have any spyware control. I don't know what ships with Toshibas, since I don't sell them.

The steps I have suggested are what I routinely do in my business.

Since the problem behaviour suggests to me that the system may have spyware/trojans, the steps I have outlined will correct file system errors that should be fixed as a matter of course, then the system can be given added stability by converting to NTFS if it is on Fat32, and then Viruses and Spyware can be removed with Bitdefender, since lots of spyware easily disables Norton Antivirus. This is easily possible due to Norton/symatec pathetic definition update cycle of weekly (except corporates which can be auto updated more often, or you can manually update your norton daily if you can be bothered)

But you know all this already, you just didn't feel like helping, just pointlessly attacking me.

Bitdefender updates many times daily, and I know which I prefer.

Oh, and for your information, you probably can't get a stable restore point if the system has spyware/trojans, many of which lurk in the system backup area to re-infect the PC if restore is used.

Thanks Gerhard,

Have done a disk clean and defrag is this the same as check disc??

How do I change to NTFS?

I'm using AVG is this as good as bitdefender??

What Benspoon is suggesting sounds like it might even be the case but I don't know how to do what he suggests.

Disk clean and defrag are useful to run but not the same.

Easist way is to open a command prompt (cleck start, run, cmd then enter) a black window will appear.

type chkdsk and press enter, this will bring up a line which will say what the file system is - if it says NTFS, thats what we want. The disk check will continue in read mode and report any problems. If problems found, type in chkdsk /f and hit enter - then press Y and the file system will be fixed on the next restart of the system.

If it's Fat 32, also type convert c: /FS:ntfs and press enter. if you have a d: drive also do convert d: /FS:NTFS

Restart the system and the disk fix and conversion will take place. They won't take too long to finish.

If you are using AVG it will be OK for viruses, but it doesn't get spyware.

I have used the bitdefender I mentioned while other AV products are installed and it's happy to run alongs and clean up problems.

Afterwards you can uninstall it again, but you will need to get a spyware tool, AVG website has Ewido which is free but needs manual updating.

I'm not familiar with Toshibas, so can't help with Ben's uggestion.

Thanks Gerhard,

Will do as you suggest. Pretty sure now that Benspoon has solved the problem as everytime I touch a corner of the touch pad what I described happens each time. However I will certainly do the other things you've suggested, didn't realise AVG wasn't good enough to keep all the tossers at bay.

If the laptop has a mouse "button" in the center of the keyboard (a lot of IBM's have this) what can happen is the rubber cap disintegrates a bit and lodges itself in the mechanism. The software sort of recognises the position of the "button" on boot up, but any additional crumbs added while while the computer is on can make the mouse wander, as you ORIGINALLY described.

Gerhardp1,

Cleaning/defreag/adding antivirus/changing file system will never cure a wandering mouse....unless of course you like changing a lightbulb to turn the TV on.....(TOTALLY UNRELATED TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION).

FORMULA FOR RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS

1/2A = RTFQ (half the answer is to read the question).

Is that so.

Then why are you crapping on about a mouse button on an IBM .....(TOTALLY UNRELATED TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION), when the original question clearly states the laptop is a Toshiba with a touchpad.

FORMULA FOR CRITICIZING - BLUSTER AWAY AT SENSIBLE SUGGESTIONS WITHOUT GIVING ANY SUGGESTIONS YOURSELF

I merely gave my technique for eliminating file system and spyware/trojan issues, either of which can cause the behaviours described. If the problem is not software, it would be hardware. When you have a hardware problem which requires warranty service, THEY ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ELIMINATED SOFTWARE ISSUES FIRST.

But you would know that.