BS: Mouse problem

Subject: BS: Mouse problem
From: GUEST,Techophobe
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 11:19 AM

Just last night, the mouse of my computer developed a problem. On one ?application (okay, it's a computer game), the cursor/pointer periodically froze, and at other times jumped madly all over the screen. I've tried cleaning out the inside of the mouse, but the same thing is still happening in this game. Any other suggestions from anyone who's had this kind of problem?

Subject: RE: BS: Mouse problem
From: Peace
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 12:05 PM

Wireless connection? I had that happen a few times--not on games--when I acessed Google through Mozilla. I think it had to do with something that was still trying to load and the mouse, which was sitting on the table out of my hand, was still. The cursor was sliding down and up the screen all on its own.

I know zip about computers. I'm sure one of the folks who do will be able to help.

Good luck to you.

Subject: RE: BS: Mouse problem
From: GUEST,Techophobe
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 12:17 PM

Don't think it can have anything to do with being connected to anything, since I'm not connected to Internet or any connexion at the time.

Subject: RE: BS: Mouse problem
From: curmudgeon
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 12:38 PM

Had the same problem, with a Mac. Diagnosis - bad keyboard. We've got the mouse plugged into the hub for now; mouse works fine. Hope to get the replacement keyboard later today. Good Luck!

Subject: RE: BS: Mouse problem
From: curmudgeon
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 12:42 PM

P.S. The keyboard works fine - someting to with the keyboard/mouse connection - Tom

Subject: RE: BS: Mouse problem
From: Little Hawk
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 01:38 PM

Do you have a cat?

Subject: RE: BS: Mouse problem
From: Bee
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 01:45 PM

Hee, LH, I came into the thread intending to say 'Git a cat', only to find it's the inedible kind of mouse.

My computer mouse is cordless, and when it performs similar to Technophobe's description, it means the battery's gonna die in 3...2...1...

In other words, not getting enough electricity to function.

Subject: RE: BS: Mouse problem
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 01:57 PM

I go through about a "mouse" a year, though I use a track ball (Logitech). I'm probably what they consider an Industrial User since I work at home so I use my computer for work and my own use. I finally figured out when to stop trying to get the cut and paste to work (it drops stuff randomly when the left button finally dies) and just get a new one. I also finally read the box and it is supposed to last for five years, so Logitech owes me a few. For my use, this is the best design so I'll keep replacing these as long as they'll make them.

Keyboards and mice can be fairly inexpensive. After looking around (I'm also a touch typist, so I rely on those little bumps on the F and J keys) I settled for a $15 Microsoft keyboard. The trackman ball costs $30. $45 a year is less than I spend to maintain my truck, but it is the same process--you change out some things more often than the rest in the life of a device or machine.

So--change the battery if you have one, or go buy a new mouse. And check into the keyboard also. Is it full of cracker crumbs and cat hair, muting the connections between the keys and their sensors? Time to shoot some air through there or replace the keyboard also.

I use wired keyboard and mouse. Wireless means more batteries to keep track of and something lumpy to plug into an over-full surge protector or crowded back of the computer. The wire is simple and elegant. I'm not drifting all over the room with these devices, so wireless is not an improvement, in my opinion.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Mouse problem
From: artbrooks
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 03:26 PM

I had a similar problem, with a wireless Microsoft Optical Mouse 2.0. I was having slow curser movement and click response. I cleaned up the computer (I use Norton Cleansweep, but I'm sure there are other things) and removed 125MB of temp files, cache and other junk, and now it seems to be regenerated.

Subject: RE: BS: Mouse problem
From: Bee
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 03:40 PM

You might also check for new drivers for your mouse - I ran into this problem on my old Win 98 computer, even though it was the same wireless mouse I'd had for a couple years, it suddenly quit, and after a consultation with the Bro-in-law, I went looking for new drivers and after downloading what appeared to be the right one, it worked fine. Vista, however, says it has its own drivers, and did not want anything to do with the mouse's software. I just plugged in the receiver/transmitter thingy and it worked immediately.

I love my cordless mouse. I use rechargeable batteries, and it's one less wire for the cats to play with or me to tangle up in.

Subject: RE: BS: Mouse problem
From: Little Hawk
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 04:20 PM

Well, he said that the mouse "periodically froze, and at other times jumped madly all over".

That sounds to me like just the sort of symptoms mice will often display when menaced by a cat. That's why I'm thinking that the presence of the family cat could be the real problem here.

Subject: RE: BS: Mouse problem
From: GUEST,Techophobe
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 10:48 AM

No felines involved (I'd rather have a gorilla with political ambitions and a record of pugilism than a C - A - T), but I'll try out those other suggestions, beginning with the cheapest - taking a vacuum cleaner to the keyboard - and hoping the problem will be rectified before I have to do anything complex..   Thanks so far.