Monitor causes mouse problem

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I’ve been using a Dell external monitor connected to my Surface Pro 4 mini-DisplayPort for two years without problems. In the last few days, whenever the monitor is connected, my Logitech wireless mouse becomes uncontrollable. The cursor pointer randomly moves to various points on the screen without movement of the mouse. Just installed the latest Dell driver in attempt to fix, but problem persists. No way to to post a problem to Dell Community site, so I’m stuck. Hopefully don’t have to replace the monitor.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

D. Eager

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Have you tried changing the wireless mouse batteries?

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No, but there is a low battery warning PLUS the mouse works fine on the Surface display when the external monitor is unplugged.

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Check that both the power and display port cables are properly plugged in on the back of the monitor. Also check that the power cable is properly plugged into the wall outlet. Sometimes unplugging and re-plugging them can resolve issues.

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Data cable tight at both ends. Power cord firmly connected at both ends. Unplugged power while monitor ON and re-plugged. Same problem occurs.

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[wavy]

Different USB port for the wireless dongle and maybe put on an extension cable away from the monitor.
Does it misbehave on AC as well as battery?

oh and also does it have the problem if you use the mouse a few feat away from the display?

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by wavy. Reason: added ?

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If you mean if the Surface power is on AC vs battery, I almost always have it plugged in. The wireless receiver (dongle?) is plugged into a powered USB hub, which is about 1 foot away from the monitor. No other port is available, since this is a Surface with only 1 USB port. The mouse is also used about 1 foot from the monitor, and there is no practical way to get it further away. Anyway, until a few days ago, this all worked fine.

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Based upon the symptoms you describe in your posts above, it sounds to me like your surface laptop might just be having a problem with its’ mini displayport outlet, or there’s a problem with the cable connecting the monitor to the displayport outlet, or there’s a problem (as you already suspect) with the monitor. I say this because you’ve stated that when you don’t use the monitor (which hooks up to the displayport outlet) the mouse is just fine.

One sure fire way to check is to borrow another monitor that uses the mini displayport interface (but use the same cable you’ve been using already) and see how things go. If they’re still messed up, then keep the monitor you swapped in and change the cable. If they’re still messed up with the different monitor and different cable, then that tells you that the problem lies with the actual mini displayport outlet on the Surface laptop.

I sincerely hope it’s something simple and not so expensive, like a bad cable from the laptop to the monitor. That’s about $30 or so to replace, because I just bought one for my new monitor (which I bought to go with my new computer) about a month ago.

Oh, by the way, replacing the battery(ies) in the mouse with a high quality replacement (such as the Duracell or Energizer brands) is even cheaper than a new mini displayport cable! After all, you did say that you have been getting a low battery warning. 

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Thanks for the advice. I have no way to find another monitor to test the cable, which is a DisplayPort to mini-DisplayPort. I’ve pretty much decided to just spend a $100 and but a new monitor. It will have a VGA port, no Display port, so I’ll have to buy a VGA to mini-DisplayPort cable as well. Old monitor is two years old. Not expensive.

Not experiencing low mouse battery warnings at this time. When they do, appear I replace batteries using Duracell or Energizer.

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That sounds like some sort of electrical interference.

Move the monitor as far away as you can.

Move the USB dongle to a port further away from the display port.

cheers, Paul

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Could be that the monitor has recently developed a fault, whereby some kind of stray electromagnetic radiation is being emitted.  This is being picked up by the mouse’s wireless receiver, which sees it as random mouse movements.  You said “whenever the monitor is connected, my Logitech wireless mouse becomes uncontrollable” – does that mean connected and powered on?  Is it possible for the monitor to be connected, but not powered on?  If so, what then?  It could also be indicative of a faulty monitor if you have a portable radio, put it on a weak station or blank spot on the AM band, and move it around near the monitor.  Do you hear any buzzing, static, or other strange sounds?

Windows 10 Pro 64 bit 20H2

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Thanks to all who have posted information here on this problem. One of the suggestions led directly to solving the problem. It turned out to be a bad DisplayPort to mini-DisplayPort cable. I ordered one for $8.00 before taking more drastic action, such as buying a new monitor. Thanks for saving me $100+.

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Paul T

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