Migrating mouse question

Mine too!

Michael Dresdner

>Mine does that too, but until you mentioned it, I never noticed that it started only after XP. When you find out what it is, please email me to go back to the thread. I don't always get the chance to hit Woodcentral, but I am also curious as to what causes that. Incidently, mine almost always heads to the upper left of the screen.

Re: Mine too!

Rob Stokes in North Vancouver

>It's that dratted Pied Piper again....

I can't remembr the last time I didn't have a PC..

steve antonucci

>with this problem!

I had several IBM laptops with ths issue (well before XP) and my Toshiba (current) have all had this issue. Do you also have an eraser mouse or touchpad? I've heard that there are some sensitivity issues with them. I disabled the touchpad, but my Toshiba still wanders from time to time...

Google it and you'll see it's really not that new...

Steve

Welcome to XP

Dustmaker Mike

>I have 3 different computers running XP and they all do the same thing. My work computer (Dell 610) has done it since I got it I called Dell and they said it was a problem with the (Mighty Fine) Windows XP. I will put up with it until I retire then I will buy a real computer. (Until then I have to put up with the features of Windows because they pay my Bills). It will not be running the Mighty Fine OS Windows.

Watch some times all the ICONS on your Desk Top will Disappear then pop up one at a time after shutting an App like IE or Netscape or? Another feature of the MF OS Windows.

Re: Mine too!

Dan Donaldson

>Mine acts strange sometimes if I use it in the USB port. I use an adapter and plug it into the PS2 port and problem goes away. I am using a Logitech MX Laser, wireless mouse. If you are using the usb version, you might want to try that.

Hmm.

Ellis Walentine

>I use the USB version of a Logitech Laser mouse and it never budges. Wonder what could be going on?

Ellis

Re: Hmm.

Dan Donaldson

>Don't know. It might be something with my usb. It had problems in the older one(usb 1) that was in the original, but still had problems when I installed a usb 2 card. Works fine in the ps2 port. The usb ports seem to work fine with everything else.

I'm glad it's not just me

Neal in San Jose

>Someone on this board mentioned that they had trouble with their mouse when they used it on plain (unfinished) wood, just like the keyboard drawer I use. I put on one of those sticky-backed mouse pads like heavy duty contact paper and it helped, but once in a while, and always at an annoying time, the cursor wanders off.

Re: I'm glad it's not just me

Stuart Hough

>The last time I had that happen the problem was a bit nore sinister. I had unknowingly downloaded a trojan embedded in an email attachment, and whenever the little Korean in Seoul was online he used to browse my computer looking for info he could use. Luckily for me I wasn't doing any banking or purchasing at the time , so he didn't get anything he could use, but it made me a believer in anti-virus and firewall programs.

The reason

Craig in Silverdale

>The mouse moves toward that direction because it is where Microsoft puts the Computer Headquartered External E-mail Sensoring Equipment (cheese)

This will fix it

Mark Goodall - ATL - tooljunkie

>I have supported thousands of computers and have seen migrating mice when the wireless mouse batteries are low or more often (with laoptops) when the touch pad is faulty. In fact most of the time it's the touchpad that causes the problem. Over time the plastic surface gets old and the sensors become inaccurate and sense movement that isn't there. Since most people hate and don't use the touch pad anyways, we just go into the control panel and turn it off.

If you have a laptop, try turning off the touch pad and see if that's the cause. If you have a desktop and a wireless mouse replace the batteries. If that doesn't help, I'll use an inexpensive wired mouse and try it in different USB ports until it stops. That usually proves it a mouse problem.

Oh, and a few times it has been remote control software.... yes, they downloaded remote control software, usually for some online training or something like that, and then discovered someone still was accessing their PC. Unplugged the internet connection and the mouse stopped moving. Looked and found remote control software. Removed and problem disappeared. Very rare, but possible.

Happy Woodworking!

Its the mouse pad.

Virgil Johnson

>I had the same problem until I replaced the mouse pad with one that has a cloth top. The old one had a mylar(?) top that had worn smooth. The current one is neoprene rubber with a fabric one the top surface.

Re: Migrating mouse question

John in Calgary

>I have issues with my cordless mouse on my work computer - occasionally it will fight my motions and every so often I will be sitting at my desk working (not on the computer) when my screen will suddenly scroll like I used the scroll wheel. It sometimes gets worse when the batteries are dying.

My theory has been that, since I'm in an office tower, someone else has the same mouse/frequency/etc. and we are actually controlling each other's mouse actions!

I think the trojan theory above is just as valid, I hadn't thought of that. Next time it happens, I'll plug in my wire mouse and see if it goes away or if it still happens.

This is on Windows 2000 with a Leed's mouse (which might be the real problem) plugged into the PS2 port on my computer.

Re: Migrating mouse question

Jerry Nicholson

>I have two desktop and one laptop machine running Win XP SP2 and I have no problem at all with the mice. One desktop uses a Logitec wireless on the PS2 port, the laptop uses a Logitec wireless on the USB port, and the other desktop uses a corded IBM optical mouse on the PS2 port. The only time I ever had a problem with mouse migration with Win XP or Win 98SE was when I was using corded mice and the cord got against something and physically pushed the mouse when I let go of it. I provide computer support to several somewhat senior (OK - old!) friends and none of them are having any problem with the mouse.

Jerry

The queston is: why?

Mark Goodall - ATL - tooljunkie

>".... a Micro Optical mouse..... It never used to do this on my old computer....... but this new computer........ new Dell Dimension E521....."

Why are you using your old mouse on a new computer? Isn't then an old parable about not putting new wine in an old wine skin? How about using old shoelaces in new shoes?

I know, you are probably more comfortable with your old mouse. I understand.

I think that when you get a new computer, should get and use all new periperals. A new computer means you should use a new mouse, new keyboard, new screen, new printer...... heck, even new software, and why stop there, all completely new data ;) ;) ;)

Happy Woodworking!

Here's why?

Lee Schierer, McKean, PA

>The mouswe that Dell furnished is a ball type mouse and balls tend to get gooped up over time and don't work. The optical mouse has no moving parts and doesn't get gooped up inside.

Lee

More mouse info!

Lee Schierer, McKean, PA

>Mine is a corded mouse not wireless!!!!

Lee

Re: The reason

Falberg saw Co

>Thank you for that Craig, I was beginning to suspect Demonic Posession.

I haven't see a ball mouse......

Mark Goodall - ATL - tooljunkie

>I haven't seen a ball mouse in years. I'm surprized that Dell still ships them. Scrath that, nothing Dell soes surprises me. They must be sittign on an inventory of a million ball mouses and need to get rid of them ;)

Happy Woodworking!

Funny...

Tony - Memphis

>I just installed a new Circuit City HP for my mother in law. Whatever their deal of the week was. One of her big concerns was whether she would be able to use her ball thing since it kept her "from having to move that mouse all around!" I had to laugh. It does take a lot of effort to move that mouse "all around!" Fortunately for her, it was a USB unit and it works just fine. Then I had to try and install all of her favorite software which is so old, XP doesn't like it. The old machine was a Gateway I bought over 12 years ago. Had two 1Gb drives in it. One died, hence the new pc.

Tony

I never noticed that.....

Mark Goodall - ATL - tooljunkie

>I have a few clients who use one of those giant track balls where they move their thumb and fingers and not the hand. I always have trouble when I use their computers because I can't control those.

Now that I think about it, they tend to be the older female users that I have that swear by those track ball devices, saving they hate to use a mouse. On has used the same trackball for about 6 years, on at least two if not 3 computers.

Happy Woodworking!

Ball user here....

David Yoho

>I'm still using a Microsoft Intelipoint wheel mouse with a ball and it never has the problems with crud buildup. I keep my mouse pad clean and cleaning the tracking wheels inside is simple when necessary (not often). My wife and son both use optical mice but I haven't found them to work any better than mine.

Call me stuck-in-my-ways but I always figure if it ain't broke - don't fix it.

David

Mine's optical and...

Jason Roehl in Mulberry, IN

>...does have moving parts that get gooped up. I used a Logitech wired, optical wheel mouse on which the wheel got a little mouse fuzz in it and ceased to work one day. I don't recall if that one wanders--I think it does on occasion when I use it with my Toshiba laptop. The Gateway mouse (similar to the Logi) on my desktop wanders from time to time, so wired/wireless isn't the whole issue.

I'm tired of unknowingly being a beta tester...

Jason

I Cured Mine by

GerryinSurrey formerly Agassiz previously Halfmoon

>operating it on a clean sheet of paper. My problems arose when I started running the mouse (a corded optical) on a woodgrained desk surface. I've bought new mice (mouses?), all with the same problem. I now slide the mouse over a clean piece of paper pulled from the printer and no more wandering mouse.

Gerry