Fingerpad issues(Macbook)

[Norsker1]

I'm posting here because I presume this to be a hardware issue:

System info: Macbook laptop, Mac OS X version 10.4.11, 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo, 512 MB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Other non-primary issues: Cracks around rim closest to 'opening' side, tends to shut off when battery power still predicts 40+ minutes left.

My problem is this; every so often, my fingerpad goes crazy(at least the clicking component does). It acts as though I were constantly clicking, so that often, when I move my mouse around my desktop area, I end up 'dragging' and selecting a number of folders. Frequently, after activating a program, my mouse drags the icon off its spot on the menu bar. When I, say, click back on a web browser, it will act like I clicked a great number of times rather than just once. The list goes on; it's getting to the point where it's difficult to do a lot of day to day operations, like typing a message in an internet support forum.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Doctor X]

It may be broken--in that the bar does not fully return. I did this to my Pismo.

The solution is to look at it--I was able to simply fix mine.

This place--iFixit--has great tutorials on how to open your Mac. Now, if you it looks broken and you cannot fix it, try eBay for a replacement. Replacement parts through Mac tend to be $$$$$.

--J.D.

[ElDiabloConCaca]

In the "Keyboard & Mouse" system preference pane, under "Trackpad," do you have "Dragging" and/or "Drag Lock (tap again to release)" enabled?

If so, sometimes you can accidentally click twice, or the system can interpret a single-click as a double-click, and the problems you describe (dragging to select multiple icons when you're only trying to move the pointer) can happen.

[Doctor X]

You probably want to try that before taking apart you MacBook

--J.D.

[fryke]

If the thing's under warranty and there are cracks near the opening lid, get the topcase replaced. (The whole plate with the keyboard and the trackpad.) It's a known problem.