I recently got a new computer (an off-the-shelf stock Dell GX280) with
a Dell-branded USB optical wheel mouse (red light). I was having
strange problems with the mouse cursor jumping all over the screen.
Sometimes it happened a lot and sometimes only infrequently. It was
HIGHLY annoying.

I searched newsgroups and support sites and followed many leads
(drivers, soundcard conflicts, etc) that turned out to be dead ends for
me.

I finally figured out the problem and post my findings here in the
hopes it may help someone else.

It sounds crazy, but the problem was the mouse pad. I was using a
white mousepad with a black/gray/red corporate graphic (not a fabric
pad - the type of mousepad with a lightly-textured plastic top
surface). Of course, optical mice don't need pads, but it provided a
nice low-friction surface, so I often used it (but not always, which
accounts for the inconsistent nature of the problem).

With the mouse pad the cursor jumps all over the place (especially when
moving across the black portions of the printed graphic). Without the
pad the cursor is rock solid. FWIW, I can use an all-black
fabric-topped pad without any problems. But I can duplicate the jumping
cursor by moving the mouse across the cover of my Perl Black Book (a
programming guide whose cover has a predominately black background).

I thought modern optical mice were nearly foolproof, but this doesn't
seem to be the case. Hope this helps somebody.

Thanks! I am switching today to a fabric mousepad. The 'bad' pad I
was using is grey/white and the top of it is shiny plastic. I am
wondering if the shine may also have something to do with my mouse
jumping. The 'bad' pad is the Dell mousepad that came in the box with
my new SX280.

This is exactly the reason behind my mouse troubles. I am using an
optical MS mouse on a black plastic Dell mousepad with 3D engravings on
it. My cursor would often jump around on the screen...usually to the
edges and top left-hand corner of the screen.

I tried a cloth mouse pad and it was better but still occured every
once and a while.

I am now using my optical mouse directly on my desk surface (which is a
solid grey color) and the cursor hasn't jumped yet. I thought I was
crazy in thinking the problem was the mouse pad. Thanks for
confirming!!