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| Fix PC Problems | |
| November 2000• Vol.6 Issue 11 Page(s) 36-37 in print issue | |
Fix Common Mouse Problems |
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[MOUSE]
[RICH]
[GRAY]
The mouse seems like such a simple device. Many computer users take it for granted until it breaks, and they realize just how much they need it for even the most mundane computing tasks. These tasks make the mouse the peripheral device most likely to suffer from wear and tear as it spins around its little mouse pad. You can readily solve many mouse problems through cleaning or adjustments to the software that controls the mouse.  Bits & Pieces.
As simple in design as the mouse is, there are several small
parts that make up the whole, and these parts can cause problems.
Cleaning mouse. No matter how hard you try to keep your work area clean, your mouse is going to find and collect dirt, dust, hair . . . you name it, and your mouse will eat it. Jerky or sputtering pointer behavior or a pointer that only moves up or down or left or right are classic symptoms of a mouse in need of a cleaning. Performing the following steps on a regular basis will help keep your mouse working smoothly. 1. Shut down your computer. 2. Remove the ball. On the underside of the mouse, follow the arrows to turn the ring holding the ball in place, then turn the mouse over and let the ball and ring fall out. Wash the ball thoroughly in warm, soapy water, then dry it with a lint-free cloth or let it air dry. 3. Blow dust out of the mouse. Keep a small can of compressed air on hand for this purpose; we’d hate to see you get lightheaded. 4. Clean the mouse rollers. On the inside of the mouse, you’ll see a system of three rollers that are notorious for collecting gunk and slowing down your mouse. If there’s a large build-up on the rollers, scrape it off with a toothpick or paper clip or use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. 5. Reassemble the mouse, boot your computer, and test your handiwork. Making contact. If your mouse’s buttons don’t seem to be working properly (such as rough clicking or double-clicks that result in quadruple-clicks), the inner workings of the mouse could be causing the problem. Shut down the computer, unplug the computer and the mouse from the system, take the mouse apart just as you did when cleaning it, and spray a little electronics-grade contact cleaner (check your local computer supply store) onto the contacts and switches inside the mouse, depressing the buttons several times to work the cleaner in. Cables and connectors. The cable connecting the mouse to your computer is another potential problem area. The periodic yanking, tugging, and dropping of your mouse can potentially damage the cable or the points where it connects to the mouse or your PC card at the back of your computer. If the pointer appears on-screen but doesn’t move or moves erratically, or if you get a “Mouse port disabled or mouse not present” message, you should check out your cable and connection points. Shut down the computer and carefully examine the cable, making sure it isn’t frayed or damaged. Make sure the connector is securely plugged into the back of the computer and that no prongs are bent, broken, or otherwise worn. If they are, replace the mouse. Hardware Conflicts.
Your mouse and the other hardware devices on your system may
not always work nicely together. Any hardware conflicts between them will
generally make themselves known shortly after installing either the mouse
or a new piece of hardware. If your mouse starts to act up, ask yourself
if you’ve installed anything recently.Many hardware conflicts can be resolved by checking the Web sites of the two conflicting parties and checking for patches, new drivers, or an FAQ that may contain more information on your problem. The odds are quite good that, if you’re having problems, you’re not the only one. A particularly common conflict occurs when two devices try to share the same IRQ (interrupt request lines). (A system pause when you try to move the pointer is one sign of an IRQ problem.) IRQs are pathways on which hardware devices communicate with the CPU (central processing unit). To determine if this is what’s ailing your mouse, click the Start button, select Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click the System icon, click the Device Manager tab, highlight Computer, and click the Properties button. Selecting the Interrupt Request (IRQ) radio button brings up a list of the hardware on your machine and the setting each device occupies. If your mouse shares a setting with another device, chances are good you’ve found your conflict. Try solving it by switching IRQs for one of the devices (if possible) or disabling one of the conflicting devices. Drivers.
A driver is a program that makes a hardware device work.
Because it plays such a big role in mouse operations, a faulty or old
driver can affect the way your mouse behaves. Error messages such as,
“This pointing device requires a newer version,” usually point to a driver
problem. You might be able to solve it by reinstalling the driver or
installing a newer version. |
To check what type or version of driver you have installed,
double-click the System icon in the Control Panel, select the Device Manager
tab and highlight the mouse installed on your computer. (You may have to click
the plus sign [+] in front of the Mouse icon to see your mouse.) Click the
Properties button, the Driver tab, and The Driver File Details button to see
the location and version of your driver. The Update Driver button will open
the Update Device Driver Wizard, which will help you search for updated drivers
for your mouse. You can also search your mouse manufacturer’s Web site or
a site such as DriverGuide .com (http://www.driverguide.com/) for
a new driver.
Mouse Properties.
If your mouse works fine, but you want to adjust it to fit your
work habits better, you can fine-tune its performance in the Mouse Properties
dialog box. Click the Start button, select Settings, Control Panel, and then
double-click the Mouse icon. The dialog box lets you tinker with many aspects
of your mouse settings, including:
( NOTE: The type of mouse you use will affect which tabs you see in this dialog box.)
Quick Setup. The Quick Setup tab lets you easily view your current mouse button setup. You can also place a mouse icon in the Taskbar to easily pull up the Mouse Properties dialog box. If for some reason your mouse settings get screwed up, you can use the Device Setup Wizard (click Device Setup) to return your mouse to its factory recommended settings.
Pointers. This tab lets you select pointer schemes or set specific pointers for different computer functions (busy, etc.).
Buttons. If you want to change what each mouse button does, this is the place to do it. You can also set the double-click timing here. If you find your double-clicks are only appearing as clicks to the computer, try turning down the double-click speed (available through the Options button).
Motion. The Motion tab gives you many options for how your pointer appears and moves on the screen. You can set the pointer speed and the amount of acceleration it has, as well as whether pointer trails appear after it when it moves (and how long such trails will be). If your pointer jumps to the highlighted button of each new dialog box, and you’re sick of this, you can shut the feature off (or turn it on) by deselecting or selecting the Smart Move radio button.
Orientation. If the pointer on the screen doesn’t correspond with your mouse movements the way you want, you can reset the orientation in this tab. This is a particularly handy function for use with trackballs.
Devices. The Devices tab helps you add new devices and get information on existing ones.
Other Problems. Sometimes
mouse problems aren’t always the fault of the mouse. Other factors can contribute
to your rodent problems.
Mouse pads. A dirty, worn, or warped mouse pad can cause some movement problems. Run the mouse on a book, file, or other flat surface and see if movement improves. If so, clean the mouse pad with warm, soapy water (then dry it with a lint-free cloth or let it air dry) or simply replace the pad.
Static buildup. If your mouse works for a bit and then stops, it could be a result of static buildup. Inexpensive mice in particular can fall victim to this. Solutions include spraying down carpeting and upholstery with a fabric softener to dissipate static and having an electrician check to make sure everything is grounded properly. Alternately, you could invest in a slightly more expensive, more static-resistant mouse.
Normal system usage. If your mouse stops working occasionally when you’re running a large application or two, this may simply be because your system is busy processing information. Before assuming the worst and forcing a reboot, wait a few moments to see if the mouse unfreezes. Short of upgrading your system (with a faster processor or more memory), try running fewer applications at a time.
The next time your mouse acts up, try these problem-solving tips before throwing the mouse or banging it in frustration on the desk. Your mouse will thank you for it.
by Rich Gray
Mouse Properties.
If your mouse works fine, but you want to adjust it to fit your
work habits better, you can fine-tune its performance in the Mouse Properties
dialog box. Click the Start button, select Settings, Control Panel, and then
double-click the Mouse icon. The dialog box lets you tinker with many aspects
of your mouse settings, including:( NOTE: The type of mouse you use will affect which tabs you see in this dialog box.)
Quick Setup. The Quick Setup tab lets you easily view your current mouse button setup. You can also place a mouse icon in the Taskbar to easily pull up the Mouse Properties dialog box. If for some reason your mouse settings get screwed up, you can use the Device Setup Wizard (click Device Setup) to return your mouse to its factory recommended settings.
Pointers. This tab lets you select pointer schemes or set specific pointers for different computer functions (busy, etc.).
Buttons. If you want to change what each mouse button does, this is the place to do it. You can also set the double-click timing here. If you find your double-clicks are only appearing as clicks to the computer, try turning down the double-click speed (available through the Options button).
Motion. The Motion tab gives you many options for how your pointer appears and moves on the screen. You can set the pointer speed and the amount of acceleration it has, as well as whether pointer trails appear after it when it moves (and how long such trails will be). If your pointer jumps to the highlighted button of each new dialog box, and you’re sick of this, you can shut the feature off (or turn it on) by deselecting or selecting the Smart Move radio button.
Orientation. If the pointer on the screen doesn’t correspond with your mouse movements the way you want, you can reset the orientation in this tab. This is a particularly handy function for use with trackballs.
Devices. The Devices tab helps you add new devices and get information on existing ones.
Other Problems. Sometimes
mouse problems aren’t always the fault of the mouse. Other factors can contribute
to your rodent problems.Mouse pads. A dirty, worn, or warped mouse pad can cause some movement problems. Run the mouse on a book, file, or other flat surface and see if movement improves. If so, clean the mouse pad with warm, soapy water (then dry it with a lint-free cloth or let it air dry) or simply replace the pad.
Static buildup. If your mouse works for a bit and then stops, it could be a result of static buildup. Inexpensive mice in particular can fall victim to this. Solutions include spraying down carpeting and upholstery with a fabric softener to dissipate static and having an electrician check to make sure everything is grounded properly. Alternately, you could invest in a slightly more expensive, more static-resistant mouse.
Normal system usage. If your mouse stops working occasionally when you’re running a large application or two, this may simply be because your system is busy processing information. Before assuming the worst and forcing a reboot, wait a few moments to see if the mouse unfreezes. Short of upgrading your system (with a faster processor or more memory), try running fewer applications at a time.
The next time your mouse acts up, try these problem-solving tips before throwing the mouse or banging it in frustration on the desk. Your mouse will thank you for it.
by Rich Gray
| What You Need To Know
Benefits Keeping your mouse clean and in prime working condition will save you time, frustration, and potential system problems. Tools Compressed air, electronics-grade contact cleaner, rubbing alcohol Time 5 to 10 minutes for most of these tasks Skill Level Easy to Intermediate Cost Minimal. The cost of products to clean the mouse generally runs a few dollars |
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