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My PowerBook's trackball doesn't work smoothly; it appears to "stick" or "jump" when rolled.
Most trackball problems are due to contamination of the rollers. The trackball is just like the standard Apple mouse, in that dust and debris can accumulate on the rollers and impede smooth movement of the trackball.
Other possible symptoms:
- No horizontal or vertical tracking
- Sometimes it seems like the cursor is hitting a wall
- On-screen buttons are failing to activate
- The movement isn't smooth
- The trackball is physically difficult to roll
Here's how to clean the trackball:
- Remove the trackball retaining ring by turning it approximately 1/4 turn counterclockwise until rotates freely. You don't need tools; just press against the two small ridges with your fingernails.
- Lift the retaining ring and trackball out of its cavity.
- Locate the small rubber rollers at the left and bottom sides of the trackball cavity. Depending on your model, they may look like small rings or wheels.
- Use any reasonably clean, blunt object (your finger, a cotton swab) to wipe off the rollers. Do not use any liquid inside the computer.
- Locate the three white or red bearings located at approximately clockwise 4:00, 7:00 and 11:00 in all PowerBooks except the PowerBook 100. Using a fingernail, dry cotton swab, or blunt object clean them of any debris. (The PowerBook 100 has three black posts instead of bearings that may also need cleaning in the same manner.)
- Replace the trackball and the retaining ring.
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