Resolved Controlling Mice [Cursor speed]

Am using a Trackball Optical 1.0 PS2/USB when I boot up to Norton Ghost using a floppy and PC-DOS. I have mouse.com on the floppy and I can use it OK but the cursor speed is very fast and I am very old. How can I control the cursor speed?

 

unless there is either a DOS based utility for the trackball, or a command string for initialization you can add to the autoexec.bat, then I'm afraid you may have to live with it.

Unless you've tried a different pointer and it works fine, I suspect it is not a trackball issue, but rather a PC-DOS issue with regard to running a faster machine than it knows how to manage.

 

Ta

Thanks BilbO. Guess I'll have to upgrade my reaction time.

 

whats the refresh rate of your monitor?
if its higher than 60hz that maybe why its moving so fast

 

Huh???

Please explain how monitor refresh rate can affect mouse speed (or at least provide some links to credible sources of information).

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/832321
there's at least one documentation on the subject.

 

Thank you!

EDIT: Doesn't seem to apply to billf though.

I assume billf's mouse is a Microsoft brand.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/832321

 

No offense intended, but that is clearly not applicable.

Not only does the user not specify the trackball is wireless (assuming it is not), but the user does not indicate he is using a flat panel monitor. However, even if we assume he/she does have a wireless trackball and a flat panel monitor, the problem he/she reported problem is that it moves to fast, not too slow and not irratic.

The article you cite is in reference to the EMI interferring with the RF signals from WIRELESS POINTING DEVICES, and the refresh rate adjustment merely reduces the intensity of the EMI field around the monitor.

Of course, while this Microsoft article only cites applicability to Microsoft wireless devices, in truth, this is a well known issue and potentially relevant to any combination of Flat Panel LCD monitor and wireless devices including keyboards. The larger the panel, and or the closer the proximity of the receiver and or transmitter to the panel, the greater the potential impact.
The problem results when EMI from the monitor causes weak, and or intermittant reception of the RF signal. The computer can only translate the signals it actually receives, and thus, the slow, jerky, and or irratic movement.

The citation is a good thing to be aware of, but clearly not relevant to the topic at hand.

 

Thanks for your detailed explanation, Bilb0. I appreciate it. Makes sense too!

I did a little poking around with Google last night for a possible way to load mouse.com into memory with speed /switches or something like that in DOS. I haven't located such a method yet.

Perhaps there is a newer mouse.com or mouse.exe for DOS somewhere out there that is suited to today's optical mice, CPU speeds, and/or PS/2 ports. I would think die-hard DOS gamers would be aware of such a DOS driver (though they might be less interested in slowing down a mouse as billf wants to do).

During my hunt I did locate an article that contains some URLs for other resources but I haven't checked out those URLs.

• tojumper.net: Maintaining Your PC - Input Devices
  

Perhaps billf would be inclined to investigate.

 

Mice problems

Thanks both of you, I do appreciate it. Yes I have a flat panel monitor and no I don't have a wireless mouse, its USB. The cursor moves smoothly just a bit quick for my reactions. Practice might help.

Once again my thanks.