Mouse cursor has disappeared on my HP ZBook

General Help
1

I was instructed to restart the computer and when I did, the mouse cursor disappeared. I am using a Logitech wireless mouse but the trackpad doesn't work either. Something is happening because when I move the mouse or trackpad randomly, things happen but I cannot see what is going on. So far all is well on this Lenovo ThinkPad but I haven't done a software update. The mouse cursor has been randomly disappearing for a few seconds and then reappearing on the HP for a while now, but now it has gone completely.

2

Hi. Can you open a terminal and confirm which kernel is in use by entering:

uname -r

If it is 6.17, this might be the cause of your problem.

Also, Zorin defaults (sadly in my book) to the Wayland protocol. At login, select your user name and a small cog appears lower right of screen. If you are on Wayland you will see a small dot to the left of 'Zorin Desktop'. If so, left click on 'Zorin on xorg' and see if the mouse issue gets resolved, if not then having used Brave A.I. search engine via Mojeek (I used Ubuntu 24.04 in search criteria as that is what Zorin 18 is based on) gives the following:

" Cursor Disappearance on HP ZBook with Ubuntu 24.04

The issue of a completely disappearing mouse cursor on an HP ZBook running Ubuntu 24.04 is commonly linked to driver compatibility, hardware interference, or specific system settings. Here are targeted solutions:

  • Update System and Drivers : Ensure your system is fully updated, as this often resolves known bugs. Run:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install xserver-xorg-input-libinput
  • Check Input Device Settings : Use xinput list to identify your mouse and xinput list-props <ID> to check for unusual settings like high sensitivity or acceleration. Adjust with:
xinput set-prop <ID> "Device Accel Constant Deceleration" 2.5
  • Switch Input Driver : If the problem persists, try switching from the default libinput driver to evdev :
sudo apt install xserver-xorg-input-evdev
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-evdev.conf

Add:

Section "InputClass"
    Identifier "evdev pointer catchall"
    MatchIsPointer "on"
    Driver "evdev"
EndSection

Save and restart.

  • Test for Hardware Interference : Move the mouse closer to the receiver, avoid USB 3.0 devices or metal objects nearby, and try a different USB port (preferably on the back panel).
  • Check for Known Bugs : A known issue in early Ubuntu 24.04 releases involved cursor themes. Reset the cursor theme with:
gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.interface cursor-theme
  • Use a Software Cursor (Last Resort) : If all else fails, force a software cursor by creating:
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-swcursor.conf

Add:

Section "Device"
    Identifier "device1"
    Option "SWCursor" "on"
EndSection

Reboot to apply. Note: This may affect performance and appearance.

  • Boot from Live USB : Test with a live Ubuntu USB to determine if the issue is system-specific or hardware-related.

Try these steps in order, starting with updates and driver checks.

AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts."

3

Was that because of an Update?

4

I think so - the message disappeared before I could read it but I restarted anyway. Then later I was on the Lenovo ThinkPad (as I am now) and got a message about an update but I decided not to for now in case the same thing happened and I'd be sans-Linux computers altogether! Swarfendor's message came through really late our time last night and I had to go to bed and I haven't had a chance to work through anything yet but hope to start this p.m.

5

If this was an Update, maybe it was a Kernel Update. In this Case, I would suggest to go back to the earlier Kernel Version. You can do that on the GRUB Menu. Choose ''Advanced Options'' and then take the older Kernel and then check if the Mouse Cursor is back.

6

What is GRUB Menu and how do I get there? I can't do anything without the mouse or touchpad.

7

Thank you. In answer to your first query, I was able to get onto the Terminal and it said 6.17.0-19-generic.

As for logging in and accessing the small cog, without the mouse or trackpad I can't do this. I can't do anything.

8

Hi. I would try repeat pressing the Esc(ape) key while powering on and this should bring up the GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader) menu. Choose Advanced options and if present, select the kernel numbered 6.14.

9

I pressed Esc while powering on and got "Startup Menu" with the following options:

Continue Boot
System Information (F1)
System Diagnostics (F2)
3rd Party Option ROM Management (F3)
Start Intel CIRA (F4)
ME Setup (F6)
Boot Menu (F9)
BIOS Setup (F10)
System Restore (F11)
Network (PXE) Boot (F12)
Select Language
Update System and Supported Device Firmware

No "Advanced Options." Where do I go from here?

Interestingly, the trackpad works with this, but not the mouse.

10

That means your computer BIOS key is set to ESC. Try repeat press of left Shift Key during boot.

11

It just booted into Zorin as normal with repeat pressing the L shift key.

12

Ok. Do you see P.O.S.T. screen at boot at all? (Power On Self Test) which checks your hardware before launch, then as it disappears try repeatedly pressing the ESC key.

13

No, I don't think I've ever seen anything like that. Just tried rebooting and it looked normal.

14

OK go into BIOS setup and select POST at boot time. Save and Exit changes to BIOS. Then after it goes through checking RAM and installed Drives on reboot try repeatedly pressing Left Shift key again.

15

I am sorry but I have no idea what that means or how to do it. I got into the BIOS and there was nothing like what you said. Please bear with me as a complete newbie to the inner workings of computers who doesn't understand this tech language!

16

When your computer boots you normally select the first line that says something like "Boot Zorin OS".

But the second line says something like "Advanced options". Pick that one.

Now you can chose from different kernal versions. Don't pick the latest version but the one before that.

I have just faced problems too. My HP Zbook G4 15 suddenly had a basic screen resolution of just 1024x768 and no wifi.

But chosing the second newest kernal version fixed the problem for me.

I am not sure if there has just been released a new kernal version?

17

When my computer boots I don't get any options to choose. It just boots into Zorin and I have to put my password in. That's all.

18

Then it would be neccessary to activate the GRUB Menu. It is a bit working with the Terminal. I hope this isn't a big Problem. I wrote here Instructions:

1 Like
19

Try holding down the shift-key on bootup :slight_smile:

I just asked Proton's Lumo AI:

When I boot Zorin OS 18 I get a boot menu that allows be to boot directly or chose advanced options. But other users report that they boot straight into the os?

Hi Søren — good catch noticing that difference. What you're experiencing is actually normal GRUB behavior, but there are a few reasons why your setup shows the menu while others don't.

Most likely causes:

  1. GRUB timeout settings — Your installation probably has GRUB_TIMEOUT set to a value greater than zero (commonly 5 seconds), while others may have it set to 0 or hidden entirely.

  2. Dual-boot detection — If GRUB detects another operating system on your machine, it will show the menu by default. Systems with a single OS installation often skip the menu.

  3. Recovery mode visibility — The "advanced options" you see includes kernel versions and recovery modes. Some distributions hide this by default unless Shift/Esc is pressed during boot.

If you want to hide the menu:

You can edit /etc/default/grub and adjust these settings:

  • GRUB_TIMEOUT=0 (hides the menu entirely)
  • GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0 (some versions use this)
  • Then run sudo update-grub to apply changes

A word of caution though: Hiding the boot menu means you lose quick access to recovery options if something goes wrong. I'd recommend keeping a short timeout (like 3 seconds) rather than removing it completely.

Is the menu appearing every time, or just occasionally? That might tell us whether it's detecting hardware changes or another OS.

I want to help someone display the menu.

Hey Søren — happy to help you figure this out. So you want to help someone who's not seeing that GRUB boot menu on Zorin OS?

Here's the thing: GRUB is configured to hide the menu by default on single-OS installations. It's a UX choice to make booting faster and less intimidating for casual users. But if you need to access advanced options or recovery modes, here are your options:

Quick fixes (no config changes):

  • Hold Shift immediately after BIOS/UEFI screen during boot — this forces the menu to show
  • Try Esc repeatedly during boot on some systems
  • On UEFI systems, sometimes you need to interrupt the boot process by pressing a key right after the manufacturer logo

Permanent solution (edit GRUB config): If you want the menu to always appear:

  1. Open terminal and edit the GRUB config:
sudo nano /etc/default/grub
  1. Look for these lines and modify them:
GRUB_TIMEOUT=5
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu
  1. Save and update GRUB:
sudo update-grub

Important caveat: If the person has Secure Boot enabled or uses UEFI fast boot, these settings might override GRUB's behavior. You might need to disable fast boot in BIOS/UEFI settings first.

What's the situation with this person's system? Is it a fresh install, or did they upgrade from another distro? That could affect what's going on under the hood.

20

I think there may have been a recent Zorin update that changed the grub file.

Mine had gone to hidden and timeout 0 when it used to be menu and timeout 10

Everything else seemed OK