NationStates Jolt Archive

While it's true I've occasionally whined about silly personal problems on this forum, this time it's something serious. And before you give me advice, please keep two things in mind.
1. I'm poor.
2. I'm seriously technologically impaired.

Problem- my mouse. Or something to do with it. Occasionally my mouse quits working. Totally quits responding. The only way to get it working again is to shut down and reboot my computer. Then it works again for awhile. This is getting to be a real pain. Because my computer is from the stone age it takes awhile to do this. Driving me nuts. And any technical direction from fellow NSers is going to have to be given as if to a slow five year old.

A mouse isn't terribly expensive--ten bucks unless you want a wireless one, and then it's only about forty. Maybe less if you get one with a ball in it instead of a laser one.

Buy a new fucking mouse on tha intarwebs. Do it now. Or mug Bill Gates, I'm sure he hauls one around.

what kinda mouse is it? is it cordless? 'cuz if it is, that's the problem.

A mouse isn't terribly expensive--ten bucks unless you want a wireless one, and then it's only about forty. Maybe less if you get one with a ball in it instead of a laser one.I'm thinking it's not the actual mouse, since rebooting helps-am I wrong?

if its a old one with a Ball in it have you cleaned the rolls inside

what kinda mouse is it? is it cordless? 'cuz if it is, that's the problem.Are you kidding? Corded optical mouse. If it was cordless I'd have to buy a new one twice a week when I lost it.

I'm thinking it's not the actual mouse, since rebooting helps-am I wrong?
I suppose it could be the driver--have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling it yet?

Maybe the connector on either the cord or your comp is broken. That was a problem on my old comp. The contacts in the USB were worn out so were intermittant in their functioning.

I suppose it could be the driver--have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling it yet?Obviously you aren't paying attention. I'm totally technically incompetent. While I'm vaguely aware that hardware sometimes needs something called a driver to work, my knowledge stops there.

Are you kidding? Corded optical mouse. If it was cordless I'd have to buy a new one twice a week when I lost it.
Oh, sorry.

I suppose it could be the driver--have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling it yet?
*AHEM*
While it's true I've occasionally whined about silly personal problems on this forum, this time it's something serious. And before you give me advice, please keep two things in mind.
1. I'm poor.
2. I'm seriously technologically impaired.

Problem- my mouse. Or something to do with it. Occasionally my mouse quits working. Totally quits responding. The only way to get it working again is to shut down and reboot my computer. Then it works again for awhile. This is getting to be a real pain. Because my computer is from the stone age it takes awhile to do this. Driving me nuts. And any technical direction from fellow NSers is going to have to be given as if to a slow five year old.

do mouses have drivers? maybe it's one of them that's the problem. you can fiddle with mouse settings in the 'control panel'. i can't be of more help i'm afraid, this is really a case of the visually impaired leading the blind. otherwise, mouses aren't all that expensive, i got mine for about £8, and it'd be about half that in the US. it's a 'Labtec' corded mouse with a shiny red light instead of a ball.

Maybe the connector on either the cord or your comp is broken. That was a problem on my old comp. The contacts in the USB were worn out so were intermittant in their functioning.Cord seems okay. I tried unplugging and replugging when I first started having trouble, but it seems to have no effect. The driver theory seems logical to me, but it's just a hunch. And doesn't help me fix it.

I have the same problem (I have a terrible cheap mouse). Unplugging the mouse cord from the computer, then plugging it back in, works faster than rebooting.

WARNING: Tech purists, don't read the next bit ...

If I have unplugged/replugged and nothing happens, I throw it gently onto the carpet. Percussive maintenance, works every time!

I suppose it could be the driver--have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling it yet?

This is good advice. Is your mouse a USB mouse, or PS/2 (the plug for USB is flat, if you don't know the difference)?

Also, the title of your thread serves it purpose to attract computer geeks very well.

I have the same problem (I have a terrible cheap mouse). Unplugging the mouse cord from the computer, then plugging it back in, works faster than rebooting.

WARNING: Tech purists, don't read the next bit ...

If I have unplugged/replugged and nothing happens, I throw it gently onto the carpet. Percussive maintenance, works every time!

That is what is known as Emergency Repair Procedure Number One. It's standard for any electronic equipment.

*AHEM*:p Thanks Pluto. I wouldn't want anyone to miss the fact that I'm an idiot. :D

Also, the title of your thread serves it purpose to attract computer geeks very well.
Agreed. I actually thought it was something about sex, or not getting enough of it. :fluffle:

I have the same problem (I have a terrible cheap mouse). Unplugging the mouse cord from the computer, then plugging it back in, works faster than rebooting.

WARNING: Tech purists, don't read the next bit ...

If I have unplugged/replugged and nothing happens, I throw it gently onto the carpet. Percussive maintenance, works every time!
Just like when throwing the missus around the room, she soon learns to do the chores.;)
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Bitchkitten sounds to me like you've got a virus, specifacally the TPE2007 email Virus, you should get a new computer from an auction house.

Just like when throwing the missus around the room, she soon learns to do the chores.;)
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Bitchkitten sounds to me like you've got a virus, specifacally the TPE2007 email Virus, you should get a new computer from an auction house.

Thanks, Harlesy. I have run a virus scan and come up with nothing. Does it miss some of them?

Thanks, Harlesy. I have run a virus scan and come up with nothing. Does it miss some of them?
Depends what you are using.

TPE2007 is The Plutonian Empire 2007 though.;)

My CD drive is stuffed for whatever reason but if your mouse buggers up occasionally then that would be a very serious problem(one does need a mouse of course;) )

I'd suggest getting someone to uninstal and then reinstal something or take it to a computer shop(That'd probably cost something though...)

Are you using XP or another operating system? I seem to remember that XP comes with all the necessary drivers for a basic mouse to function, be that USB or PS/2 types.

If your mouse came with a CD/Floppy disk then find it. If it didn't... then well... ahahah... then load this page... it describes the exact problem you're talking about. The page doesn't load properly in Firefox, but does in IE (it's a microsoft page... duh).
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321122

Depends what you are using.

TPE2007 is The Plutonian Empire 2007 though.;)

My CD drive is stuffed for whatever reason but if your mouse buggers up occasionally then that would be a very serious problem(one does need a mouse of course;) )

I'd suggest getting someone to uninstal and then reinstal something or take it to a computer shop(That'd probably cost something though...)Thanks. Now I feel extra stupid. Though knowing Pluto I should have figure he would carry something communicable. (sorry, hon)



This is good advice. Is your mouse a USB mouse, or PS/2 (the plug for USB is flat, if you don't know the difference)?

Also, the title of your thread serves it purpose to attract computer geeks very well. A friend has informed me that I have a USB mouse with an adapter a PS/2.
Yes, folks. Please use as many acronyms as possible. *sigh*

A friend has informed me that I have a USB mouse with an adapter a PS/2.
Yes, folks. Please use as many acronyms as possible. *sigh*You'd rather we use phrases like 'Universal System Bus'? At least I think that's what USB stands for. Completely useless jargon that means nothing to most.

Types of usb cables
http://www.nullmodem.com/images/usb-cables.gif

A PS/2 cable
http://images.mercateo.com/images/products/BUGcomputer/gr_art110007253.jpg

A USB->PS/2 adapter
http://www.pictures.xbox-scene.com/hsdemonz/XPFS_Review/USB_Adapters_SOL.jpg

I have a USB mouse with a converter for a PS/2 port. I feel so smart now.:D

But my mouse is still misbehaving. :confused:

*AHEM*
I know 6-year olds who DO install drivers :)

Things to try...
Plug the mouse into your computer. Sometimes people overlook the obvious.

Take off the ps2 adaptor & stick your mouse in an usb port.

Chances are very damn good the PS/2 port's been yanked about a bit too much. I see it all the time. If that's the case, the first tip about pulling off the USB to PS/2 adaptor at the end of the mouse cord will solve all your problems (Yups, new fucking Porsche on the lawn & everything).
The next most likely reason's a broken mouse cord. In that case, you might have a friend willing to take a shot at fixing it, but it requires some special tools & a basic idea of what s/he's doing. It also takes a surprisingly long time, so if your friend's got any brains at all, s/he'll simply buy you a new mouse.

Click Start -> Control Panel then look for an entry called Mouse & double-click the fucker. A box will pop up on your screen with a bunch of tabs near the top. Click on the last one, called Hardware to find out what sort of mouse you have. Write down the full name of the thing, and use Google to find the proper driver for it.

Once located, download the driver & follow whatever instructions it gives you. When you're done, restart your computer.

Open the Control Panel as before, but locate the System entry. Double-click that, and a box with a bunch of tabs will pop up. Click the one called Hardware & look for a button called Device Manager. Click that as well.
You'll now see a new window with a bunch of entries arranged like a tree. Find the one called Mice & Other Pointy Shit & expand it (by clicking the + sign). There you'll find your dysfunctional mouse. Right-click it and choose Disable from the context menu.
Restart your computer & quit worrying about the mouse, because now you can be certain it won't work.

Note that if you need to uninstall the old driver, before the new & improved (they never are) you downloaded will work, the context menu you just used to disable your mouse is also where you uninstall mousedrivers. Don't worry, the exact procedure will be obvious once you try.

Eat the mouse. Since it's got a cord, try to do it when the TV license guy isn't about to walk through your front door. He'll think it's the TV & you'll get in trouble (should it happen anyway, try telling him it's the toaster).

Unplug your mouse, take it to somewhere with a small'ish screwdriver & some good lighting. Turn it belly-up & locate the screws keeping it together. Note that you may have to remove various stickers, and/or the 'feet'. A Stanley blade or similar is well suited for the task. If you have to remove the feet, you may wish to go shop for superglue first. Otherwise they just might fall off when you use the mouse in the future. Anyway, when you've removed the 3 or 4 screws, lift off the bottom of the mouse. This is normally done pulling it down & away from the tail.

Gently shake the thing, to make sure there's no loose bits in it. Now pull out the vacuum cleaner, kick it up to SuckATastic strength & clean the innards of the mouse.

Now gently pry it apart. You may have to remove one or two more screws. Do it carefully, and make sure you notice any differences between them. When done, examine the switches inside the mouse, as well as the the surfaces of the contact areas between bottons & switches. If any of the surfaces are worn down, the Superglue you nicked from the grocer half an hour ago, is surprisingly good for fixing up the worn bits. Simply apply a drop to the bit of plastic meant to activate a switch, and let it dry for one or two hours.

Whatever you use to clean CDs with is ideally suited to clean the mouses sensor, so do that as well, and be thorough.

Now apart from the cleaning & any gluing you might have done, do everything backwards, 'til the mouse is in one piece again. Connect it to your computer & marvel at how fucking nice it is. Send me a beer.

Fuck all the other stuff & just send me beer.

Take advantage of the fact that you're online. TG-whore yourself a mouse from some desperate twit in his mum's basement. If you're really lucky it'll be his own mouse & you'll never be bothered by the wanker again.
If you use this method, send me a copy of his pathetic shite so I have something to laugh about. I'm poor too & can't afford MAD magazine.

Defenestrate yourself. If you live in an apartment, especially one with a highway out front, chances are you'll never have to worry about mice again. If it's winter where you are, don't open the window first. That way it won't matter if you manage to kill yourself, at the very least you'll be too damn cold to wanna sit still infront of a screen.

Finally..

Call a vet

Roflpimp!

A mouse isn't terribly expensive--ten bucks unless you want a wireless one, and then it's only about forty. Maybe less if you get one with a ball in it instead of a laser one.

HAH! I got a wireless optical mouse for about $20 (CND).

Future Shop, if they have it in the States (I know it's in Canada), has a good house brand, Dynex.

what kinda mouse is it? is it cordless? 'cuz if it is, that's the problem.

Cordless or not doesn't mean the mouse will perform any better or any worse. Corded mice never worked properly for me, and cordless have always served me better.

Maybe the connector on either the cord or your comp is broken. That was a problem on my old comp. The contacts in the USB were worn out so were intermittant in their functioning.

That makes logical sense.

The best way to get around a USB connector on a mouse is to have the PS2 converter handy. Plug the USB mouse into the old PS2 connector for the mouse.

Cordless or not doesn't mean the mouse will perform any better or any worse. Corded mice never worked properly for me, and cordless have always served me better.It's typical behaviour for a mouse running low on batttery, so it made perfect sense.

Things to try...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/GermanNightmare/Pergament.jpg

Well deserved!

When I bought my new mouse three years ago, Best Buy offered traditional roller-ball mice for seven dollars. That seems a decent deal.

Other than that...my computer knowledge is decreasing exponentially every single second I'm an SBS major.

Well deserved!Heh, thanks.When I bought my new mouse three years ago, Best Buy offered traditional roller-ball mice for seven dollars. That seems a decent deal.LabTec (http://www.labtec.com/) mice. If you can find a dealer, a fair price is about US$1.20
The mice are just fine, bu the way. Ball, tail, 3 buttons. Nothing fancy, but they're cheap as hell & last forever.

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but if you have a mouse with the mouse ball (non-wireless), then you should take a Q-tip, and run it along the sides of the little wheels within the mouse which the ball rolls on.

(Unscrew the bottom, the ball will fall out, then look at the wheels and clean the dust off them).

Hope that helps...

Thanks. Now I feel extra stupid. Though knowing Pluto I should have figure he would carry something communicable. (sorry, hon)
Lol. :p

Don't worry, it's not a real virus. Just some acronym made up by Harlesperv to poke fun at me. :p

While it's true I've occasionally whined about silly personal problems on this forum, this time it's something serious. And before you give me advice, please keep two things in mind.
1. I'm poor.
2. I'm seriously technologically impaired.

Problem- my mouse. Or something to do with it. Occasionally my mouse quits working. Totally quits responding. The only way to get it working again is to shut down and reboot my computer. Then it works again for awhile. This is getting to be a real pain. Because my computer is from the stone age it takes awhile to do this. Driving me nuts. And any technical direction from fellow NSers is going to have to be given as if to a slow five year old.

it might be your drivers.

try uninstall your divers and reinstall them. EDIT: use Similization's method (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12259776&postcount=28).

but before you do, what happens when "it doesn't work" do the mouse buttons work but the pointer doesn't roll?

Soak it in petrol and set it on fire.

Do they sell vibrating mice?

Do they sell vibrating mice?

Yes. (http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/laos_vibrating_mouse.php)Yes they do.

Yes. (http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/laos_vibrating_mouse.php)Yes they do.

*buys one for Bitchkitten*and self*

Yes. (http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/laos_vibrating_mouse.php)Yes they do.

How rare.

Things to try...

Take advantage of the fact that you're online. TG-whore yourself a mouse from some desperate twit in his mum's basement. If you're really lucky it'll be his own mouse & you'll never be bothered by the wanker again.
If you use this method, send me a copy of his pathetic shite so I have something to laugh about. I'm poor too & can't afford MAD magazine.



This one made me LOL very much. :D

Yes. (http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/laos_vibrating_mouse.php)Yes they do.

What's the point of the vibrating though?

If it's a USB mouse, you can probably just plug it in and have it work, run the fancy CD it came with if you want anything extra. Do not use the PS2 converter, ever.