Poorly Mouse....
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Poorly Mouse....
I have a fairly good spec. inherited XP machine but have always experienced slightly odd behaviour from my mouse - well, actually, from all of my mice as I have made changes over the time that I've had this computer.
Every now and then out of the blue (sometimes not for days but then several times an hour in some sessions) clicking the mouse buttons does absolutely nothing. The only fix (and it's only a temporary one) which I have found is to open Task Manager (ctrl + alt + del) and then immediately click on the X to close its dialogue box. The Task Manager box doesn't disappear but just goes paler so I then click on the X once more to close the box - whereupon my mouse works perfectly once more.
I find that the problem occurs more frequently upon changing between applications (Firefox to Thunderbird or vice versa, for example) or perhaps upon finishing watching a clip on the BBC news site.
The above fix works without fail every time. It's tiresome, though. would any of you kind people have any ideas for a permanent fix?
Every now and then out of the blue (sometimes not for days but then several times an hour in some sessions) clicking the mouse buttons does absolutely nothing. The only fix (and it's only a temporary one) which I have found is to open Task Manager (ctrl + alt + del) and then immediately click on the X to close its dialogue box. The Task Manager box doesn't disappear but just goes paler so I then click on the X once more to close the box - whereupon my mouse works perfectly once more.
I find that the problem occurs more frequently upon changing between applications (Firefox to Thunderbird or vice versa, for example) or perhaps upon finishing watching a clip on the BBC news site.
The above fix works without fail every time. It's tiresome, though. would any of you kind people have any ideas for a permanent fix?
Puzzling indeed. No quick and easy answer comes to mind, but a few questions arise:
Is the mouse wired or wireless?
If wired, is it USB or mini-din ?
Is XP current with the latest updates?
Are the correct /latest drivers for the current mouse installed?
Are the drivers for previous mouse creatures removed? (Check control panel / Add or remove etc ... Caution! proceed carefully here)
As I said, no easy or immediate solution, but a clue may lie in answers to the above.
Good luck,
FOR
Is the mouse wired or wireless?
If wired, is it USB or mini-din ?
Is XP current with the latest updates?
Are the correct /latest drivers for the current mouse installed?
Are the drivers for previous mouse creatures removed? (Check control panel / Add or remove etc ... Caution! proceed carefully here)
As I said, no easy or immediate solution, but a clue may lie in answers to the above.
Good luck,
FOR
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Somehow I don't think that would help, mixture, since Cameronian says the same has happened with other mice he has used.
My instinct is drivers, possibly a corruption in Windows. Reinstall USB and mouse drivers (from manufacturers website and not from windows update) and if that don't work consider reinstalling windows since you cannot be 100% sure about what has happened to that PC before you "inherited" it
My instinct is drivers, possibly a corruption in Windows. Reinstall USB and mouse drivers (from manufacturers website and not from windows update) and if that don't work consider reinstalling windows since you cannot be 100% sure about what has happened to that PC before you "inherited" it
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Thank you for the responses, I've been tied up with Christmas stuff so I'm sorry for the delay.
FullOppositeRudder, the answers to your questions are:-
Wireless right now but have used wired.
All have been connected by USB.
Yes and Yes.
Yes and the problem occurs the same with even the most basic mouse.
Sorry, not sure because I don't know how to check if previous drivers are still there. The previous owner, I believe, used only a straightforward two button and wheel cable mouse which I still have. It does the same. I can't ask the previous owner because he has dropped off this mortal coil and joined the choir eternal.
Hellsbrink, thank you but I think that your probably very good ideas are above my paygrade! Mind you, as mentioned above, if I knew how to trace the already installed mouse drivers then I would have somewhere to start..... My talents lie elsewhere.
FullOppositeRudder, the answers to your questions are:-
Wireless right now but have used wired.
All have been connected by USB.
Yes and Yes.
Yes and the problem occurs the same with even the most basic mouse.
Sorry, not sure because I don't know how to check if previous drivers are still there. The previous owner, I believe, used only a straightforward two button and wheel cable mouse which I still have. It does the same. I can't ask the previous owner because he has dropped off this mortal coil and joined the choir eternal.
Hellsbrink, thank you but I think that your probably very good ideas are above my paygrade! Mind you, as mentioned above, if I knew how to trace the already installed mouse drivers then I would have somewhere to start..... My talents lie elsewhere.
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Original mouse is probably PS2 compatible, the drivers are probably "standard Microsoft". Shouldn't really be an issue.
What make is the mouse you use, what antivirus software do you have and when was the last time you updated the AV and scanned for virusses?
What make is the mouse you use, what antivirus software do you have and when was the last time you updated the AV and scanned for virusses?
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hb,
Serves me right for speed reading. 
My understanding at the time was that he was spending hours trying to figure out what was wrong with some old mouse he had.....
Stick. Wrong end. As they say.
Somehow I don't think that would help, mixture, since Cameronian says the same has happened with other mice he has used.
My understanding at the time was that he was spending hours trying to figure out what was wrong with some old mouse he had.....
Stick. Wrong end. As they say.
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No real logic behind this suggestion but maybe....
- Go to Device Manager (through Control Panel and then System, as I recall)
- Select mouse/pointing device from the list
- Uninstall the device(s) shown
- Re-boot the machine - which will enable the OS to 're-find' the mouse
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No real logic behind this suggestion but maybe....
- Go to Device Manager (through Control Panel and then System, as I recall)
- Select mouse/pointing device from the list
- Uninstall the device(s) shown
- Re-boot the machine - which will enable the OS to 're-find' the mouse
Another suggestion to try for the OP is to go into the control panel, into Add/Remove Programs (or Programs & Features on Vista/W7) and list down the names of all of the programs found there. Then transcribe that list here, and we can point out the possible mouse/trackpad/serial/etc software utility which might be causing problems with mice. If this is unsuccessful, then the easiest way forward would unfortunately be a rebuild of the PC in question (as troubleshooting from that point onwards becomes infinitely harder and more costly)
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Well, I've followed Spitoon's suggestion. It was with enormous trepidation that I uninstalled my mouse but when I rebooted, it was back! While this may be a total non-event for you lot, it's white man's magic for me!
I'll try it out over the next two or three days, or until it goes wrong again, and report back. Thank you once again for your help.
I'll try it out over the next two or three days, or until it goes wrong again, and report back. Thank you once again for your help.
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Ohhh, and it was going so well too! I've had no problem until two minutes ago when the mouse failed again. It still scrolls and points perfectly but nothing happens when either button is clicked. I was really convinced that Spitoon's trick had fixed it. I think that I've been working the machine for eight hours without a hitch since uninstalling the mouse.
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It actually sounds as though it's lost it's focus, i.e. it thinks it's pointing at something that doesn't allow clicking. It could be a graphics problem possibly. Try downloading the latest drivers for your graphic card from the makers site.
Ohhh, and it was going so well too! I've had no problem until two minutes ago when the mouse failed again
Oh bother!!
Can you try the mouse or it's transmitter on another USB port?
Is it running directly from a USB port on the motherboard, or from either an internal or external USB hub? (USB can do puzzling things once a hub is brought into play)
Could it be that other USB devices are grabbing priority and leaving it shut out in the cold? (unlikely I know but the straws are getting smaller). Try unplugging all other non essential peripherals for a while.
Is there a USB card installed to add extra ports?
Is there anything else "non standard" in the entire system which could be under reasonable suspicion?
And that's about the end of my list for the moment..... (sigh)
Rgds
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Some suggestions
You could buy a PS2 mouse instead of the USB connection.
Also with some BIOS settings a USB mouse has to be configured in the BIOS.
Don't know whether this would help but it's worth a try.
Also with some BIOS settings a USB mouse has to be configured in the BIOS.
Don't know whether this would help but it's worth a try.
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Hi again FOR. The current mouse is wireless and goes straight onto the board via USB while both of the cable mice I sometimes use (particularly when the previous wireless mouse packed up due to the failure of its charger and I still had to go out to buy a new wireless one) plugs into a USB socket on the front of my computer so probably uses what you call an internal hub. Anyway, all of these mice show exactly the same problem irrespective of the connection used. It sort of makes one think that the problem may lie elsewhere.
Hi green granite. That's interesting. If the mouse has "lost its focus" it would still scroll and move, wouldn't it (which it does)? When the mouse is not working properly the page in use is often paler than usual and mouse clicks are ineffective. When I open Task Manager to start my "fix" that box appears in full dense colour but goes pale when I make the first unsuccessful click to close it but then the second mouse click works fine on what is now a pale page and Task Manager closes. That leaves the mouse working perfectly - for a while.
Hi green granite. That's interesting. If the mouse has "lost its focus" it would still scroll and move, wouldn't it (which it does)? When the mouse is not working properly the page in use is often paler than usual and mouse clicks are ineffective. When I open Task Manager to start my "fix" that box appears in full dense colour but goes pale when I make the first unsuccessful click to close it but then the second mouse click works fine on what is now a pale page and Task Manager closes. That leaves the mouse working perfectly - for a while.
Last edited by Cameronian; 14th Dec 2010 at 04:40.
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Hi Cameronian, had my fingers crossed for you - I guess I shouldn't have uncrossed them.
It sounds like there is some application or process that is causing your mouse to have problems. The next step is to look for what it might be. Did you start up an application in the minutes before the rodent started misbehaving - or even closed one down? Was there something that you did - maybe printed something - shortly before?
Other things to try in order to pin down the problem might include unplugging (from the PC) any devices that you are not using. If all goes well, plug them in one at a time - a couple of days apart to see if the problems reccur.
There are various logging programs - some built into Windows, others as add-ons - which can help pin down the errant process but these are a bit heavy going to analyse. It's a while since I used anything like this but if the worst comes to the worst maybe someone more up-to-speed with these things can recommend a good logger and then help to analyse it for you....
Hope this helps.
It sounds like there is some application or process that is causing your mouse to have problems. The next step is to look for what it might be. Did you start up an application in the minutes before the rodent started misbehaving - or even closed one down? Was there something that you did - maybe printed something - shortly before?
Other things to try in order to pin down the problem might include unplugging (from the PC) any devices that you are not using. If all goes well, plug them in one at a time - a couple of days apart to see if the problems reccur.
There are various logging programs - some built into Windows, others as add-ons - which can help pin down the errant process but these are a bit heavy going to analyse. It's a while since I used anything like this but if the worst comes to the worst maybe someone more up-to-speed with these things can recommend a good logger and then help to analyse it for you....
Hope this helps.
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If the mouse has "lost its focus" it would still scroll and move, wouldn't it (which it does)?
It sounds more like a windows explorer problem than anything
You could try asking the question in the appropriate section here: Windows - Help and Troubleshooting | Microsoft Answers
poorly mouse
This may sem a bit dumb but............
if it's wireless, have you changed the batteries? also try and reset the mouse to the adapter (there'll be a little button underneath the mouse somewhere)
another thought, try adjusting the interval between clicks (for double clicking) if that's where the problem lies. I have found that, on occasion after an update, my pc or lapatop is expecting a longer interval between clicks than I give.
good luck
if it's wireless, have you changed the batteries? also try and reset the mouse to the adapter (there'll be a little button underneath the mouse somewhere)
another thought, try adjusting the interval between clicks (for double clicking) if that's where the problem lies. I have found that, on occasion after an update, my pc or lapatop is expecting a longer interval between clicks than I give.
good luck
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Hi golfbananajam. Thank you for your help. The wireless mice are both rechargeable while the wired ones are powered from the PC. They all give the problem and it happens on single clicking. The rechargeable ones fail whether they be fully charged or not.
Hi spitoon. It certainly does seem to be more likely to go wrong when I am changing applications. I'll bear your other ideas in mind but will follow up on green granite's one about asking the MS forum for help first.
Thanks for that suggestion, green granite. I have just posted it on the MS forum so will now wait to see if there is any response.....
Hi spitoon. It certainly does seem to be more likely to go wrong when I am changing applications. I'll bear your other ideas in mind but will follow up on green granite's one about asking the MS forum for help first.
Thanks for that suggestion, green granite. I have just posted it on the MS forum so will now wait to see if there is any response.....