Intellimouse Optical mouse problems

For quite a while, I've been having what I thought were lockup problems with Internet Explorer 5.5. I'm scrolling through a webpage, and suddenly, the page locks up. The mouse cursor is locked, so I have to reboot. Tonight, it happened again...only this time, I noticed something that I hadn't noticed before. When it locked up, the optics on the mouse went out. When I used the up and down keys on the keyboard, I could still scroll up and down on the page. Has anyone ever had this problem, and if so, were you able to fix it? Help! This has been driving me mad for a long time now...

 

litespd,

Is your optical mouse a usb, or a PS2? In other words which hole is it plugged into.

If it's plugged into a USB port, you could be having problems on the port. If the port somehow got slightly loosened from the Motherboard.

Or maybe your mouse plug is getting pulled slightly tight to one side while using the mouse, making it tweak sideways a little in the plugin. Then when relaxed, it goes back to normal, but the screen has already frozen & usually once frozen, a re-boot is necessary.

Now there is another possibility. If it is a USB mouse, it is just possible that Windows just fails to recognize it sometimes, even while in use. I have had this problem with other things plugged into a USB port of Windows suddenly refusing to operate it for no apparent reason.

If it is a USB mouse, try putting an adapter on the end & plugging it into the PS2 port.

 

Hi Deloris...yes, it IS a USB mouse. The USB port is hardwired to the motherboard, so I'm ASSUMING it's not a loose connection, unless there's an intermittant short somewhere. The thing is, it ONLY does it while I'm running IE 5.5.....any other time, just running applications, etc., it doesn't do it. I also have plenty of slack in the mouse cord, so I don't think that the connector is getting tweaked in the port. I'm guessing there's a software conflict somewhere, but am not sure. I downloaded a new set of drivers for the mouse...not sure if I got the newest ones or not...but I'm going to try and load those. I will also try the PS2 adapter, if the new drivers don't work. Thanks for your advice!

Mike

 

The thing is, it ONLY does it while I'm running IE 5.5..

litespd

What version of Windows are you using ?

I ask this because when I was running Win98 SE I had ALL KINDS of mouse ( USB, PS2 & Serial ) problems when using any version of IE5.

Unless I used ONLY the drivers that shipped with SE. Any other drivers would result in problems with IE. And like yourself NO problems anywhere else.

I have since gone back to 98 FE and NO problems with any drivers.

BillyBob

 

I had the same problem with a recently purchased optical. I was able to rule out connection problem, etc. As I have XP, I assumed a software problem/conflict even though I had downloaded an updated driver from manufacturer's site.

I returned the optical to the retailer and purchased a trackball mouse and use the USB port or PS2. No more problems and I recommend the ball type that uses the thumb. I found the other type with the ball in the middle ackward to use.

 

BillyBob, I'm running Win98, not SE. The thing is, it hasn't always done it. When I first got it, it worked perfectly. Of course, I was running IE 4.01 at the time, too. Perhaps it's the optical drivers and IE 5.5 conflicting. Maybe I should upgrade to IE 6 and see if that makes any difference.

 

Well, we can leave SE driver problems out.

I can not say wheter IE6 would fix things or not as I had no problems to fix when I went to IE6.

No problems in IE4 . Problems with IE5.5 does kind of make one think about incompatabilities.

BillyBob

 

Hi litespd,

I am running the mouse I described above. Programable with five buttons. Running Win 98FE, IE5.01, & I have had absolutely no problems, but I am running mine on the PS2 port, because all of my USB ports were taken with other things.

I installed the mouse software from the disk that came with it too. As I said before, you should have gotten installation software with the mouse. Can you not find any?

If all else fails, try the adapter & use the PS2 port, because with the Optics going out, it sounds to me like an intermitent short to the MB on the USB port.

Many problems can be traced to Hardware, instead of software.

For instance, I had a problem once with the computer not recognizing my old mouse on boot up. I figured it was the mouse, so I bought a new one. Same thing happened. It turned out that my MB needed replacing. I hope that is not the case with you as MB's are slightly expensive. Thank goodness, mine was still under waranty.

 

Thanks, Deloris. I have an update for you. The screen locked up again today while surfing the web, and the light went out on the mouse. I picked up the mouse, and the light flickered. While that one flickered, one lit up in my head. I took the cord for the mouse, and wiggled it. The light would flicker on and off...so I think it's safe to assume that there is a loose or broken wire, or loose connector, in the mouse itself. As it had a 5 year warranty, I checked the Microsoft site for warranty info. Couldn't find a thing. So...with receipt in hand, I took it back to Walmart, where I purchased it about a year and a half ago. They not only gladly replaced it, but they allowed me to go out into their "clearance tent ", where they had the Intellimouse Explorer 3.0, which was a step up from the mouse I had, and take one to replace it with. Not only that...they gave me $21 back, as they are clearing out all of their merchandise as they remodel the store! All in all, a good day...

 

litespd,

WONDERFUL!

Now, does the new mouse work? I surely do hope so!

Sometimes ya "DO" win!

 

So far, so good...knock wood!

 

litespd,

Glad all is well so far. I hope it stays that way!

Before when I recalled the part about the optics going out, it lit a bulb in my head that there was a short somewhere, and since USB ports seem to be bad about developing shorts, I figured it was the port. At least it got you to thinking in terms of a short & playing with the little scudder & watching it wink at you.

Also, it's always nice to end the day with extra money in your pocket too, that you didn't expect to have.

 

You'll find plenty of useful suggestions here.

 

Check the Spring Time

We always see more shorts in the Spingtime. It can be very distracting.

 

After a year and half use of a product, it is difficult to believe a business would replace an alleged faulty product with an updated version of the same plus a $21.00 refund! I don't keep receipts that long unless it is a big ticket item. Most companies would and should laugh at anybody who attempts to return an inexpensive product after a year and half of use with a claim the product is problematic. I don't see how the $21.00 payout can be justified with accounting/audit let alone the replacement. We all need more companies like that.

 

Microsoft clearly stated on the box that the mouse had a 5 year warranty. Of course, try finding anything on how to go about making a claim on that warranty. I scoured the website, looking for something. Not a word, anywhere. So, I did the next obvious thing...I took it back to where I bought it from. I DO keep all my receipts for computer equipment. I keep all the boxes that the items come in, and put all driver disks, documentation, and receipts for purchase in the box, then store it away. That way, I know where everything is, and can go get it if I need it. As far as the company that replaced it....we're talking WalMart here. As much merchandise as they buy, they have quite a bit of pull with the suppliers...even Microsoft. Most of them do whatever it takes to make the customers happy. They are remodeling the local store, and are moving a lot of merchandise out to their clearance tent out in the parking lot to get rid of it while they remodel. Before I went in to exchange the mouse, I checked out the tent. I had the standard Microsoft Optical Mouse, which I paid $49 for. They had the Microsoft Explorer Optical Mouse in the clearance tent, for $28. I went in to the return counter, told them what I had, and what my problem was. I explained that I had tried to find warranty info on Microsoft's website, to no avail, and that the mouse had a 5 year warranty. I had my receipt to back up my purchase date. They said they'd be happy to replace it, and if it was cheaper now, that they'd refund the difference. I thought "what the heck ", and told her about the better Microsoft Mouse for sale out in the clearance tent, and asked her if I could replace it with that one instead, and she said that would be fine. Most people wouldn't ask something like that. I did...I couldn't see taking a lesser mouse that cost more money, when I could have a better mouse for less money. If she had said no, I wouldn't have been out anything...I still would have gotten the same mouse I had before, and still got a refund, albeit a smaller one. Never hurts to ask. I know that they will discount the listed price if you can find it cheaper elsewhere, and I know that the manager of their tire store has told the employees to beat any local price from other stores for the same tires. A little off topic...but just for your information. And yes...we DO need more companies like that!