When Mouses Go Bad

Printable View

June 16th, 2001, 08:10 AM
tigsnort

When Mouses Go Bad

What happens when a mouse starts to fail?

I'm curious, because suddenly I've been experiencing erratic mouse behavior...I'll be scrolling down a webpage using the scrollbar and the pointer will suddenly jump to the center or far left of the page; sometimes as I move the pointer across a page a right-click menu will pop up, or random text will be highlighted, or even more aggrivating, the browser window will close.

I'm sure this isn't a security/hacker issue. I'm on dial-up, there's never any data-transfer activity going on at the time this happens (not sure if that applies), and it's all very erratic and random-type behavior. It's not like someone is manipulating things behind the curtain.

I use the original two-button mouse that came with the 3 year-old Compaq machine. Does this sound like simple mouse failure?

------------------
Snortworld
June 16th, 2001, 08:32 AM
jtdoom

Hi,
can you find out if that particular behaviuor persists while using another?

I seen some mice were a wire in the tail was cracked...

------------------
You help someone with a similar problem if you tell us what worked.
When you do, please post solution in the original thread?
Kind regards, Jaak
June 16th, 2001, 08:51 AM
tigsnort

Thanks jt, I'll do that later today when I can get hold of a second mouse.

I don't know if this relates or not (you never know) but around the same time this started happening, I started getting random pop-up ads while surfing. They all seem to originate from the same place. Here's the source of the javascript window that just popped up now:

Quote:

<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>
Car Prices
</TITLE>
<script language="javascript">
</script>
<body onLoad="begin();" topmargin=20 leftmargin=20 MARGINHEIGHT=0 MARGINWIDTH=0 bgcolor=#FFFFFF>
<A target=992695257 href="http://64.40.40.234/perl/clickthru.pl?21239***10321460***41***http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?bfmid=1351468&siteid=38248251&bfpage=homepage">

<IMG src="http://64.40.40.234/ads/10321460/cp468-3.gif" BORDER=0>
</A>

<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

<IMG SRC="http://service.bfast.com/bfast/serve?bfmid=1351468&siteid=38248251&bfpage=homepage" BORDER="0" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" NOSAVE >

</BODY>
</HTML>

They're all identical to this, save the actual ads gifs themselves. I have the service.bfast.com addressed blocked in my HOST file. It's puzzling because I get these things randomly. I get them here or at other places I surf. Only reason I mention it is because it started happening about the same time as the mouse thing...

------------------
Snortworld
June 16th, 2001, 09:06 AM
tigsnort

Just an update: I experienced a hailstorm of uncontrolled mouse activity just now while visiting my Yahoo mailbox...the pointer started going nuts, right-click menus started popping up, things were getting clicked that I had no control over, all at lightning speed.

I've seen this problem mentioned before at other boards. Known Windows issue?

------------------
Snortworld
June 16th, 2001, 09:17 AM
BIG JOHN

Hey tig, Strange mouse behaviour often signals a conflict between the mouse driver and the display driver. To investigate this possibility, right-click My Computer, click Properties, and select the Performance tab. Then click the Graphics button and slide the Hardware acceleration pointer one notch to the left. If your mouse suddenly works fine, it means you have a driver conflict. BJ https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

------------------
"Cause after all, we are just here to help."
[PS:Post back & let us know the results.]
My Other Hangout
June 16th, 2001, 09:46 AM
spaceman_333

Hi tigsnort...
Have you cleaned your mouse?? Taken out the ball, looked at the rollers, (and in my case) scrapped the pizza sauce--orange juice--dog hair--cigarette butts--and anti-freeze out of the little mouse's nasty body???

A mouse lives a tough life and needs to be pampered.....

spaceman https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

------------------
...more will be revealed.
June 16th, 2001, 10:10 AM
HomerJSimpson

And scan your system for virus .!!!
Try to boot in safe mode , go to device manager remove all mouse driver from there and then reboot to normal , windows will reinstall driver , it may help .

------------------
Post back . Use same thread , don't open new one
_______________________

They have the Internet on computers, now? --Homer Simpson
June 16th, 2001, 11:00 AM
snarkie

I clean mine periodically. I remove the screw holding the two halves together, for easier access. Then you will find three rollers. Two slim and longer ones, probably made of black plastic, and a narrow fat roller usually silver in color. Be careful cleaning these as they can pop out. The longs ones are easy to reseat, however the silver one can be tricky to get back into postion.

I use plain old windex to clean the goo from the rollers, and the same to give the mouse ball a good bath. Don't use any harsh or strong cleaners, as this will wreak havoc with most mouse balls.

If you still get erratic behavior after this, then the answer is probly elsewhere, as this will usually at least rejuvenate the mouse for a few more months.

https://discussions.virtualdr.com/]"

------------------
Your Neighborhood Schlepper
June 16th, 2001, 11:06 AM
Train

Have you cleaned your mouse http://discussions.virtualdr.com/For...ML/030725.html
How to clean mouse instructions http://www.pcnineoneone.com/howto/mouse1.html

------------------
SMILE
and post back
[ Book mark this post to find it again]
June 16th, 2001, 05:41 PM
tigsnort

I guess it was just wearing out...I'm using another mouse now and the behavior has stopped. (btw, I am pretty diligent about keeping my mouse clean).

What do they call that dark crud that collects on the roller bars on the inside of a mouse? There ought to be a name...mudge? https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

------------------
Snortworld
June 16th, 2001, 05:53 PM
snarkie

I think they call it Mustard, or Mouseturds or something like that. Actully it is just rubber mixed with dirt, from the mouse ball, mainly.

------------------
Your Neighborhood Schlepper
June 16th, 2001, 07:27 PM
Lynn Hochwitz

Had a Microsoft Optical mouse that was working fine one minute and the next it just died....no warning or anything....sometimes there are strange things that can happen....
June 17th, 2001, 04:08 AM
J A L

Hi,
Try a Optical Mouse from Logitech or Microsoft. Both can be had now for under 20 bucks. I just bought a Microsoft Two button Optical Wheel Mouse from Best Buy in Southcenter Washington for under 20 bucks. It can be used in ps/2 mode or usb mode. Also make sure your running the latest driver which is 3.2 off microsofts website (under devices). https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

------------------
Some of the good things in life are free! :)