Windows Vista A Vista drivers rant

I am getting fed up. Not a single mouse or trackball I own seems to be compatible with Vista, even to run generically with a left and right click. Do I have to buy a special mouse just to right click in Vista? Looks that way. Is there a master list of Vista compatible hardware out there? I suppose I will be buying a special mouse just to mess around in Vista. That's right, mess around. I'm not getting any actual WORK done in there yet! (On top of it all, every few minutes the screen blanks out and warns me that I just asked for it to do something, but I'll save that rant for another day.)

Today, I am frustrated with drivers. Perfectly good hardware doesn't communicate because an OS with 10 more gigs of install doesn't have the standard drivers XP had? Grrr...

I am dual booting XP Pro and Vista Ultimate. In XP, everything works fine. Vista has already balked at my printer, my speakers, and my new wide-screen monitor. I have yet to see a right click context menu in Vista, and I'm getting tired of taking the long way around the barn. Before I waste any more money on hardware that isn't going to work, does anyone have a list of compatible hardware available to work with this beast?
TIA
Johanna

 

Hi Johanna,
I would look for software/drivers that runs hardware similar to the mouse. Example, if it was a notebook, I would look at touchpad software/drivers. (Don't rule out some other sort of peripheral).

You can go to Device Mangler and uninstall the mouse. There will be no problem with the reinstall.

Um, how is the mouse connected? If you have it connected via a USB hub, connect it directly to a port on the case.

Vista should install basic drivers for running a mouse "basically ". Something has been modified from basic.

Matt

 

Thank you, PeteC! You know how much I like lists!

Mattman, I have a PS/2 MS Intellipoint trackball. XP knows just what to do. Vista does not recognize the trackball, and it won't right click. (Of course, all the other fancy features are grayed out, too.) I tried uninstalling it and rebooting, I looked for updated drivers, no dice. So I started collecting all the "input devices" in the house and tried them, one by one. I can't seem to get a right click. I guess I'm headed to an office superstore today, armed with my compatibility list.
Johanna

 

Here is the download site for Mouse and Keyboard Software. You may need some updates for your mouse to work properly.

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/Download.mspx

 

Just an idea I was thinking about.
I wonder if during the installation it has identified the trackball as a notebook trackball or maybe some other notebook hardware.

If ordinary mouse devices are not working correctly (I am using a PS/2 ball mouse on this Vista computer) I expect the wrong drivers or software have been installed.

I suggest looking though the Device Manager list in case something "strange" has been installed. In the View menu, you can select "Show hidden devices ".

It may be that Vista is being too clever, whereas Win XP may "see" the trackball, but not attempt to install drivers for it, Vista has installed the wrong ones.

Since it is only a new install of Vista, I would not hesitate to do a repair type reinstall of the system, using an ordinary mouse. Once running and that mouse is working correctly, then attempt to install the trackball mouse. Drivers or software for the trackball may need to be installed even before the mouse is connected.

Matt

 

Have a Right Click Again!

Whiskeyman, the drivers worked a treat. I have a right-click context menu again in Vista, and I really appreciate your help.
Thank you!
Johanna