Windows 7: erratic touchpad..

Just recently my touchpad has been acting strange...
It does not move in the linear direction and constant speed which was normal until now...
Now I have to use the touchpad several times to move it across or up and down and the speed changes-usually slower-the there seems to be less control over its regular motion.
I have checked the settings on the Control Panel but they have remained the same.

Probably a driver. Pleased go into device manager>pointer devices. Make sure the driver is listed and working properly

Please go to start>search>type device manager.
Are there any "unknown devices" with yellow triangles on them?
Is you driver there , listed, and working?

If your driver is missing, or there is a yellow triangle on it, you will need to update it.