Does my mouse hate electrical storms?
 

An odd question perhaps but here goes.

Last night I turned on my laptop, which has one of those pads that you can use to control the cursor. It didn't respond properly and the cursor either didn't move at all or seemed to have a life of its own. I rebooted the computer, went and washed my hands in case something on them was causing the problem, wiped the pad, and it was the same. So I plugged in a mouse and that also didn't work properly. This has never happened before.

About half an hour later we had a massive electrical storm, very impressive, and after that it worked properly.

My question is, could some sort of static electricity in the atmosphere have caused the problem, or was it just coincidental?

Mine is a nightmare when my hands and fingers are hot... not sure about the storms though.

HTC

Is the mouse wired or wireless?

More relevant question - is the mouse weird or not?:\

Dear Capetonian
 

I don't know about your House but approx 10 Days ago (When the LGW TWR took a strike) I too had that very unpleasent feeling of "Oh bugger." caused by an ear splitting roar of thunder and the frazzeling sound of a lightening strike. togather followed by the smell of buring timber.

Not me this time (last Oct being the last hit) but the house opposite 30 Metres or so away. - House ariels always get it, however, I did not notice the effects that you describe: on my portable.

However prior to an actual Lighting discharge; a state of "Electrical Tension" or voltage gradient exsists between the cloud and the earth. The electrical field gradient may be so high; as to promote micro-discharges between you and the mouse pad.- hence if its a capacititive pad, things might go awary.

I did not mean Voltage field gradients were so high that "St Elmo's fire" is present (Time to unplug ! Quick), but a less energetic form of the phenomonon may be the cause. A warning to shut down from mother nature.

This is one for the PprUne "Sparks" to tangle with. -

CAT III

Thanks for the suggestions, but so far no real answers. It's a wired (not wierd!) optical mouse by the way.