5 FAQ's about Computer Mouse Problems

Question 1: My serial mouse just isn’t getting detected by Windows Plug and Play. What can I do?

Answer: What I'd do is to manually try to add the mouse via Add New Hardware in the Control Panel. Short of that, try to make sure your serial to USB connector is up to date. Older ones may give your serial mouse problems.
 

Question 2: My mouse isn’t responsive to double-clicks. Why?

Answer: Older mice tend to have this problem. Switch out the mouse and try with a newer one to see if the problem is solved. If it works, the first mouse has a problem. If it still doesn't work, then you should go into the Windows Control Panel to slow down the double-click setting, then see what happens.


Question 3: My mouse keeps jumping across the screen in bursts. Why?

Answer: This behaviour happens is your mouse is connected to a serial port using a 16550 chip. Don't worry if that sounds cryptic - what you need to do is to go into your computer BIOS and toggle the FIFO (first-in, first-out) hardware buffer. There should be an option for this. Toggle it, and then see what happens.
 

Question 4: If I move the mouse away and then back, it continues past the sticking point. Why?

Answer: This one is usually due to dirt in the mouse, especially if you have a mechanical one. Remove the mouse ball and clean out any dirt you find.
 

Question 5: So how do I go about cleaning my mouse?

Answer: Here is the procedure. Unplug your mouse from the PC, and then get a soft tissue and some cleaning fluid. Remove the mouse cover, and then clean out the mouse ball to remove all dust and dirt. Also clean out the rollers within the mouse. Once done, pop the cover back and your mouse should be spick and span.
 

Conclusion

That's a list of the most common questions and answers about the computer mouse. The next time you have computer mouse trouble, be sure to check out these answers first. Good luck!