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aarrgggh! is there a good fix for malfunctioning mouse?

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ima_sinnic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 02:49 PM
Original message
aarrgggh! is there a good fix for malfunctioning mouse?
I hate it when a mouse starts getting nonresponsive and I have to swipe it over and over the pad to get the cursor where I want it! Mine is almost 2 years old (20 mo.) and has finally just started acting up. I've cleaned the ball in alcohol and also the white pads on the bottom of the mouse. Also wiped off the mousepad. From my experience, once the mouse starts going like that, it never seems to get any better. Is that true? Should I just bite the bullet and buy a new mouse?
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GOPisEvil Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 02:51 PM
Response to Original message
1. Buy a new one!
You can get an el-cheapo optical mouse for 10 bucks.
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radwriter0555 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 03:43 PM
Response to Reply #1
22. Hell $5 gets a new mouse...
GO FOR IT!
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bamademo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 02:51 PM
Response to Original message
2. Clean the rollers...
Take the mouse ball back out and check the little rollers inside.
They get hair and grunge wrapped around them.
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snooper2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 02:55 PM
Response to Reply #2
10. yep...
use your pointer finger and wipe that gunk off to the sides while spinning and it'll be like new...

Thinking of that, it's been a while since I cleaned mine...
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Ilsa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 02:52 PM
Response to Original message
3. ditto Bamademo n/t
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slackmaster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 02:52 PM
Response to Original message
4. Clean the rollers inside of the body
The things that roll against the ball are crudded up.

Try a pencil eraser, using short diagonal strokes on each wheel so you get the crud off all parts.

Or just get a new mouse. They're cheap.
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Kamika Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 02:53 PM
Response to Original message
5. The rollers...
Check them out they probably have a long layer of dirt
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Caution Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 02:53 PM
Response to Original message
6. Buy an optical mouse
no moving parts, work beautifully and never get dirty. Barring that...clean the rollers as suggested by others.
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GoddessOfGuinness Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 03:28 PM
Response to Reply #6
20. right on...
:thumbsup:
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Pillowbiter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 02:53 PM
Response to Original message
7. There should be a little "access hatch" to remove the ball
then remove the ball and clean it with a dry cloth. Also if you look at the little wheels that touch the ball, clear those of any grime. Your fingernails should be good enough to remove it.

PB
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Old and In the Way Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 02:54 PM
Response to Original message
8. Take another look inside that mouse!
Edited on Tue Aug-19-03 02:57 PM by Old and In the Way
Check the rollers....I'll bet there is a built up band of what I call "crud" on the rollers. Rotate the rollers and scrap it clean until all the crud is lifted off...blow the cavity to remove the crud, and replace the ball and retaining plate.

Should work slick as new.

On edit: wow, looks like a bunch all posted the same solution at once!

If you do spring for a new mouse, get an optical one....I love mine, and you don't need a mouse pad.
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RushIsRot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 02:55 PM
Response to Original message
9. A optical mouse clears up ALL those types of problems.
They have no rollers.
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Twenty3 Donating Member (361 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 02:55 PM
Response to Original message
11. Optical Mouse!!
Edited on Tue Aug-19-03 02:57 PM by Twenty3
seriously!

But meanwhile, you've cleaned the mouse ball, have you cleaned the little rollers the ball rolls around on inside the mouse? There'll be about 3 of them (if I remember right) and that's where the real schmutz builds up. You can scrape it off with your fingernail & then go over it with the alcohol on a q-tip.

on edit: LOL you guys are quick, all those responses in the short time it took to type mine - well just consider this a "ditto" then
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MUAD_DIB Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 02:58 PM
Response to Original message
12. A sdden deceleration against the nearest wall

might make you feel better.

Better go with just cleaning the rollers first.
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Skittles Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 03:00 PM
Response to Original message
13. clean the rollers
lightly with the end of a paperclip. Works like a charm.
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Blue_Chill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 03:01 PM
Response to Original message
14. Are you poor?
Because I don't want to call you a cheap ass if you are poor. :D

(get an optical mouse they are about 20 bucks now)
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ima_sinnic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 03:03 PM
Response to Reply #14
16. I'm a poor cheap ass
--but thanks for asking!
:hi:
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ima_sinnic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 03:02 PM
Response to Original message
15. hey! you guys are great! Thanks!
First I'd heard of the rollers inside the mouse--yup, big ole hairball wrapped around one--undoubtedly because one or another cat likes to station himself almost on top of the mousepad while I'm trying to work. A pair of tweezers helped a lot to unwrap it. I will also be checking out an optical mouse.
Thanks again!
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Blue_Chill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 03:03 PM
Response to Reply #15
17. If you want a cheap mouse I got just the place
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=optical+mouse

If you need any computer stuff go to www.newegg.com they ALWAYS have the best prices.
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ima_sinnic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 03:16 PM
Response to Reply #17
18. thanks for the link BlueChill!
I see the optical mouses start at $1.99 (+ $6 shipping)!
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Blue_Chill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 03:37 PM
Response to Reply #18
21. um
that one says (not an optical mouse) and for that reason was pulled up in my search for optical mouse. Sorry about that. But the real ones are still cheap!



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rock Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-19-03 03:20 PM
Response to Reply #15
19. We know our balls
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