Computer Help and Support

Holly_Hobby

(3,033 posts) Sat Aug 30, 2014, 09:41 PM Aug 2014

Weird laptop behavior

I have an older Lenovo T510 laptop that I just adore, Win 7 pro. 3 years ago, my dog stepped on the keyboard and damaged part of the memory, so my local shop disabled 1/2 of the memory and said not to worry about it. I never noticed the difference. That's the only trouble I've had with it all these years.

Anyway, sometimes my pointer freezes. There's a red button in the middle of the keyboard, and I have to use that to move the pointer until it unfreezes. Is this related to the disabled memory? I never did figure out the real purpose of the red button, I'm guessing for gaming?

I do monthly maintenance - Avast scan, Crap Cleaner scan, Malwarebytes scan. All software is kept up to date, as well as Windows update. I run hard drive temperature software and it seldom goes above 90 degrees.

I'd sure like to know what is causing my pointer to freeze. Thanks

5 replies

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Weird laptop behavior (Original Post) Holly_Hobby Aug 2014 OP

If I understand you correctly, there's no freezing bvf Aug 2014 #1

I did reinstall the drivers several weeks ago, Holly_Hobby Aug 2014 #2

You do know the red stick IS the mouse. (plus the touchpad mouse) BlueJazz Aug 2014 #3

Nope, never knew what it was, Holly_Hobby Aug 2014 #4

"If I had to use the red button all the time, it would go in the trash" BlueJazz Aug 2014 #5

bvf

(6,604 posts)

1. If I understand you correctly, there's no freezing

Reply to Holly_Hobby (Original post)

Sat Aug 30, 2014, 11:04 PM

Aug 2014

of the pointer when using the button on the keyboard. That's weird but maybe to be expected if the keyboard button operates directly in BIOS. You didn't say how you normally operate the pointer (mouse? touchpad?) but you may want to look at reinstalling drivers for whatever pointer device you normally use.

I would bet that your disabled memory has nothing to do with this, but it help to know about the context (if any) in which this problem crops up. "Sometimes" is pretty vague.

Holly_Hobby

(3,033 posts)

2. I did reinstall the drivers several weeks ago,

Reply to bvf (Reply #1)

Sun Aug 31, 2014, 08:45 AM

Aug 2014

I use the touch pad.

There aren't any specific programs or actions where it happens, it happens randomly, once or twice a day. I spend quite a bit of time on it.

Thanks for the reply

BlueJazz

(25,348 posts)

3. You do know the red stick IS the mouse. (plus the touchpad mouse)

Reply to Holly_Hobby (Original post)

Sun Aug 31, 2014, 08:11 PM

Aug 2014

There's probably a small conflict between the keyboard mouse and pad mouse.

Holly_Hobby

(3,033 posts)

4. Nope, never knew what it was,

Reply to BlueJazz (Reply #3)

Sun Aug 31, 2014, 08:16 PM

Aug 2014

I assumed it was for gaming. When the pointer froze the first time, I tried it and it moved. But very very slowly and difficult to navigate. If I had to use the red button all the time, it would go in the trash

BlueJazz

(25,348 posts)

5. "If I had to use the red button all the time, it would go in the trash"

Reply to Holly_Hobby (Reply #4)

Sun Aug 31, 2014, 08:22 PM

Aug 2014

Yes..many people have said the same thing...including yours truly.

(although you CAN get used to it, I've heard)

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