MacBook Air trackpad is absolutely WREAKING HAVOC!

[MrCheeto]

I have been very very good to my MBA, but today it has turned evil!

I was using it to VNC to another Mac. All was going great except that as I was clicking the remote Mac's items, I notice that my mouse started to drag things even though I hadn't tried to drag things. Now, at any random time that my finger is on the trackpad, it may choose to start dragging. If I click once, it decides to act as though the button is being held down, and two finger scrolling unleashes 36 dimensions of hell!

What is going on here! The absolute agony that using this trackpad (or trying to use) is honestly playing with my anxieties and making me sick, physically.

I've reset PRAM, deleted preferences, restarted into Windows and Lion recovery, the trackpad still acts the same! It's so bad that I wouldn't doubt it for a second if somebody told me it was a virus programmed to just make my life a living 36-dimensions of hell.

What to do???

 

[anirudh]

What is going on here! The absolute agony that using this trackpad (or trying to use) is honestly playing with my anxieties and making me sick, physically.

Thats a little extreme!

Does the trackpad or your finger have any moisture? I have seen weird behavior when there a bit of water on the trackpad (like when wiping it). If not, then I would say you have a faulty trackpad. Get it shown at any Apple store.

 

[lc25]

Slightly extreme thread title.... but i agree with anirudh seems to be a faulty track pad best go see a so called genius.

 

[GGJstudios]

I have been very very good to my MBA, but today it has turned evil!

Just today? It wasn't evil from the start? You may have a defective model!

... two finger scrolling unleashes 36 dimensions of hell!

Now it's obvious that you're exaggerating! It's well documented that two-finger scrolling unleashes only 19 dimensions of hell! You need 3 finger scrolling to get to 36!

The absolute agony that using this trackpad (or trying to use) is honestly playing with my anxieties and making me sick, physically.

Get plenty of bed rest, take two chill pills and call me in the morning!

I've reset PRAM, deleted preferences, restarted into Windows and Lion recovery, the trackpad still acts the same!

If the trackpad is acting the same in Windows and Mac OS X, it may be a hardware issue. One possibility that has been reported by others is that your battery may be swelling, putting pressure on the trackpad from underneath. Take it to Apple and have them check it out.

It's so bad that I wouldn't doubt it for a second if somebody told me it was a virus programmed to just make my life a living 36-dimensions of hell.

Macs are not immune to malware, but no true viruses exist in the wild that can run on Mac OS X, and there never have been any since it was released over 10 years ago. You cannot infect your Mac simply by visiting a website, unzipping a file, opening an email attachment or joining a network. The only malware in the wild that can affect Mac OS X is a handful of trojans, which cannot infect your Mac unless you actively install them, and they can be easily avoided with some basic education, common sense and care in what software you install. Also, Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Lion have anti-malware protection built in, further reducing the need for 3rd party antivirus apps.

Mac Virus/Malware FAQ​

1. Make sure your built-in Mac firewall is enabled in System Preferences > Security > Firewall
2. Uncheck "Enable Java" in Safari > Preferences > Security.
3. Uncheck "Open "safe" files after downloading" in Safari > Preferences > General
4. Be careful to only install software from trusted, reputable sites. Never install pirated software. If you're not sure about an app, ask in this forum before installing.
5. Never let someone else have physical access to install anything on your Mac.
6. Always keep your Mac and application software updated. Use Software Update for your Mac software. For other software, it's safer to get updates from the developer's site or from the menu item "Check for updates", rather than installing from any notification window that pops up while you're surfing the web.

That's all you need to do to keep your Mac completely free of any virus, trojan, spyware, keylogger, or other malware.

 

[old-wiz]

What is going on here! The absolute agony that using this trackpad (or trying to use) is honestly playing with my anxieties and making me sick, physically.

What to do???

I recommend a heavy dose of Thorazine.

 

[Augure]

Now, at any random time that my finger is on the trackpad, it may choose to start dragging. If I click once, it decides to act as though the button is being held down, and two finger scrolling unleashes 36 dimensions of hell!?

This is only my theory and it won't please the fanboys, but I have the same problem that irrupted at the same times it did for others with the exact same problem.

Either it is innocent and it's a bug that has come with one of the "security" update OR as I really think, it is just part of the planned obsolescence to start giving you reasons to upgrade soon.

 

[MrCheeto]

Thats a little extreme!

It's not, though. The frustration and mind game is absolutely making me feel ill.

If the trackpad is acting the same in Windows and Mac OS X, it may be a hardware issue. One possibility that has been reported by others is that your battery may be swelling, putting pressure on the trackpad from underneath.

The only malware in the wild that can affect Mac OS X is a handful of trojans, which cannot infect your Mac unless you actively install them

It may just be the battery. I'd check, my-self, but I have no pentilobe screwdrivers yet. It makes the most sense.

Also, does that mean it was a bad idea to seek out and install Flashback?

Oh, and GGJ, you know who this is... your arch nemesis Just take a guess

 

[DVD9]

Macs are not immune to malware, but no true viruses exist in the wild that can run on Mac OS X, and there never have been any since it was released over 10 years ago. You cannot infect your Mac simply by visiting a website, unzipping a file, opening an email attachment or joining a network. The only malware in the wild that can affect Mac OS X is a handful of trojans, which cannot infect your Mac unless you actively install them, and they can be easily avoided with some basic education, common sense and care in what software you install. Also, Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Lion have anti-malware protection built in, further reducing the need for 3rd party antivirus apps.

Mac Virus/Malware FAQ​

Kingpin: How One Hacker Took Over the Billion-Dollar Cybercrime Underground
by Kevin Poulsen

"Butler said he had no trouble hacking Macs"

One of Butler's associates got sick of Butler hacking into his machine to keep
tabs on him so he bought a Mac thinking this would solve his problem.


MAX RAY BUTLER 09954-011 39-White-M Release Date: 01-01-2019


MAX RAY BUTLER, Reg. No. 09954-011
Federal Prison Camp
P.O. Box 700
Yankton, SD 57078

http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/LocateInmate.jsp

If you have any further questions about your Mac being "hack proof in the wild" write Mr. Butler and ask him.

Butler's favorite method for entering someone's machine was writing malicious script into a web page and baiting someone to visit it, this included his "associates" who he wanted to keep tabs on.

Great book btw, five out of five stars.

 

[MrCheeto]

My trackpad is now 100% fully functional.

...100%...

 

[wineandcarbs]

My trackpad is now 100% fully functional.

...100%...

How did you fix it? What was wrong w/ it?

 

[TheRealDamager]

How did you fix it? What was wrong w/ it?

No kidding - I hate the drama queen appearance without the closure....

 

[GGJstudios]

If you have any further questions about your Mac being "hack proof in the wild" write Mr. Butler and ask him.

Hacking and malware are two very different things, and no one claimed that Mac OS X or any other OS is not hackable. The chances of an average user having their Mac hacked is ridiculously remote. Of all the threads in this forum, claiming, "OMG! My Mac was hacked!", not a single one ever was.

My statement stands.

 

[tecknik1]

I had the same issue on my Air, ended up having to get the trackpad replaced.

 

[MrCheeto]

How did you fix it? What was wrong w/ it?

Surprisingly, the problem is that there was no solution implemented...

I was using it, it was still puking all over me. I left it alone to work on the client's G4 cube and when I came back it was so-not-mad-bro.

Boggles. Mah. Mind.

My statement stands.

Wow, you've changed recently GGJ. Anything we should be concerned about? Not being my typical Trollaholic self, I'm really wondering.

 

[TheRealDamager]

Wow, you've changed recently GGJ. Anything we should be concerned about? Not being my typical Trollaholic self, I'm really wondering.

Probably just tired of dealing with d-bags on the forums.

 

[chekk]

Common hardware problem

I had the same issue on my Air, ended up having to get the trackpad replaced.

Same here on a mid-2011 MBA13. Intermittent issue became more severe with time. Also at the same time my left-option key was intermittently getting stuck on.

Apple genius at Palo Alto store said the stuck trackpad was a common problem--free repair was done overnight.

Not sure if they did anything to address the stuck option key, but I haven't had the problem since the trackpad+controller was replaced

 

[xtedx]

fix that worked for me

in osx lion, go to system preferences, search for 'drag'
select 'make trackpad and mouse easier to use'
in universal access settings: click 'trackpad options'
enable and then disable 'ignore built-in trackpad when mousekeys are on'

that worked for me..
i had the same problem of annoying problem of accidental dragging and selecting text.

i saw this error message in the console log and thought that i should reset the setttings.
24/05/12 10:07:14.768 PM System Preferences: Failed to get the Mouse Keys Ignore Trackpad Key value (error = -536870206)

for your case, maybe its different, but you can search for 'trackpad' in the console error log

i hope that helps someone else too
--tested on osx lion 10.7.4

 

[TheRealDamager]

I had trackpad issues - Apple checked, asked me to reinstall Lion (which I did), but ultimately ended up replacing the physical trackpad, which now works perfectly.

 

[applerepairs]

As I look into the issue. It clearly seems to me Faulty TrackPad. Get it replaced at any Apple Store or Apple repairing shop.

 

[mitup]

I am also experiencing a trackpack gone crazy on my MBA 13" from 2011. The problem started recently, maybe within the latest month or so. Unfortunately I live in a country without Apple stores, so what's the usual procedure here? Call them up or go to one of the certified retail partners?

 

[thitiv]

The trackpad of my late 2011 MBA 13" went crazy a few months ago as well, supposedly from excessive cleaning of the trackpad area. The local service center replaced a new one for me under warranty. That's when I learned to protect it with Moshi trackpad protector.

 

[lyciaharper]

Same issue - it's not the trackpad

I have the same issue on a 2-year old Air that has always behaved perfectly. It happens also with a bluetooth mouse and bluetooth trackpad, both of which work perfectly on another computer. Surely a software problem?

 

[jasenjones]

Mine too

My late 2012 MBA is doing the exact same thing, it is driving me absolutely crazy!!! it's been doing it for about the last 3 days. I can't remember downloading any updates, It just started out of the blue. I took it to my local apple service agent and of course they said "there is nothing wrong it" but as soon as i get it back, it's exactly the same. Clicking on **** i don't wont clicked, high lighting everything, 2 finger scrolling is just not happening for me, everything is almost impossible, it is so frustrating, I live 3 hours away from the nearest apple store. I don't know what to do. I hope someone can come up with a fix for this. I live in victoria Australia. I'm guessing this is a world wide issue.

 

[dia3olik]

jasen, how did you solve the issue?

 

[atlas chugged]

Im having issues with the trackpad on my 2012 macbook air also, I tried giving Apple a call about it and calling them unhelpful would be an overstatement. The problem is very intermittent and just seems to randomly pop up from time to time, I'm worried it's going to get more consistent after I run out of warranty.