Optical mouse with a mind of its own

[AerBabe]

I've got a desktop PC running Windows XP and an optical mouse plugged into a USB port. With annoying frequency, the pointer will suddenly shoot across the screen. There seems to be no pattern to this - I've checked the mouse is clean, I've tried it on different surfaces, I've tried it on a completely plain surface, I've tried turning the lights off in the room and shutting the curtains ... but the darn thing still goes walkies. Any suggestions beyond throwing it out of the window (unplugged first) and buying a new one?

[CWL2YOW]

I had this problem. Solution was to buy another mouse. I've still got this problem...

I tried cleaning the mouse and surface. I've updated the mouse driver, but still no joy. Any takers?

[mazzy1026]

I just read your post properly and was gonna suggest removing the mouse mat and trying the desk - is it all one colour the desk?

[AerBabe]

Tried that. :(

It's a wood desk, so has the grain pattern.

[Dave Martin]

Swapping the mousepad should do it. Try using just a blank sheet of white paper or the desk itself.

[mazzy1026]

Strange that AerBabe - I had exactly the same problem a couple of days ago in work, and a colleague duly pointed out that because my mousemat had lines of different colour on it, it would cause it to jump around the screen. To be honest, I typed out my reply before I even read your post, and I had to delete it as the suggestions I was making - you had already tried! The only other possible excuse, apart from hardware failure - could be virus/spyware - but that seems unlikely. Try the mouse on another machine, and also try a re-install and let us know how you get on...

Cheers ;)

[Saab Dastard]

Have a look at the MS knowledgebase, searching with appropriate keywords - for example (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321122/).

And Google - e.g. this (http://www.typhoon.de/en/kat.php?k=68) or this (http://www.askdavetaylor.com/weird_leaping_mouse_problems.html).

[milehigh2020]

Hi Arebabe,

I am just wondring if your Mouse Pointer settings are not too Fast. Perhaps you may wish to check the same by going into the control panel and under the "Mouse " check the Pointer options.

See if that helps.

Cheers !!

[Keef]

I had this a while ago. I replaced the mouse with a different brand, and the problem went away and stayed away.

Optical meece are cheap as chips these days, so it's not worth the bovver trying to diagnose and fix.

The one I'm using now cost about £5 and is unbranded, made in China, and all black (to match the ThinkPad and its docking station etc).

[Tarq57]

I had a MS mouse and MS wireless keyboard that never worked well. Turned out there was a conflict with Norton Antivirus. Surprise surprise. Now using a Labtec wireless optical and a Belkin wired keyboard Great.

[Tired Old Man]

Had the same problem, I read in a computer mag about same situation from someone who suggested a Logitech optical mouse that solved the problem.

So I bought one , and it did, but sometimes even though its no longer a big problem now Ive noticed the mouse cursor very slowly creep across the screen. Funny things these computers!

[Saab Dastard]

Make sure you don't have any cheese near the screen...

[AerBabe]

Thank you all, except for Saab. :=
Dave Martin : Swapping the mousepad should do it. Try using just a blank sheet of white paper or the desk itself.
Sorry if it's not clear from my original post, but this is one of the first things I tried.
Keef - I will probably do just that. I quite fancy a rechargable cordless mouse. Can you get one which recharges from the USB and not from the mains?

[CWL2YOW]

I just turned over my mousemat and the random movement has (temporarily) ended. Thanks for the advice.

[Keef]

I quite fancy a rechargable cordless mouse. Can you get one which recharges from the USB and not from the mains?
Logically it's possible, if the mouse has a socket to plug into. I don't mind the little wire trailing out of the back cos it means there's one less thing to go wrong.

I wouldn't have a mouse that isn't optical, though. I got so fed up with fixing clergy computers where the only problem was a mouse full of fluff (quiet in the back row!) that I carried around a couple of cheapos with me and presented them to the hapless victims of mouseball fluff.

[AerBabe]

It doesn't really help, BSR, as I don't currently have a cordless mouse. :confused:

[AerBabe]

Gosh, thanks!
It's a good job you're here. :rolleyes:


;)

[Keef]

I've got this wee sleekit cow'rin tim'rous beastie here with a tiny LED lamp on his hat and a long wire tied to his tail. Want me to send him over?

[AerBabe]

You've plugged a cat into the mains?!





Thanks for the offer, Keef, but I'm popping off to mouses'r'us after work to purrrrchase myself something.

[Tosh McCaber]

I'm on my third MS wireless mouse/ keyboard combo- the first two were optical - this new one is laser. The first two had all the symptons that you describe- mainly, I think , due to lack of range, even though the sender/ receivers are only a foot or two away from each other.

Anyway, I picked up the phone, and got onto MS Tech- they just kept upgrading me with no quibbles. Good service, other than the opticles should have been better in the first place.

Anyone want a couple of MS keyboard combos, that don't work well? MS told me to keep them!

PS- Another optical cordless mouse that I purchase a year ago for my laptop has perfomed faultlessly!

[AerBabe]

I've been 'n' gone 'n' bought myself a wireless optical mouse, which recharges from the mains. It were on 'alf price, so around £20. Fingers crossed!

[GJB]

I asked our IT depertment what the problem was with optical mice........and it is the surface you are using it on (9.999999/10 times)

You can buy a slightly different mouse mat that has a surface especially designed for an optical mouse.

Good luck

[SawThe Light]

GJB

You're lucky, ask our IT Department anything and all they tell us is to phone the Help Desk. Guess where the Help Desk is?