Top Troubleshooting Issues: Mouse
Common Mouse Setup Issues 2
Common Mouse Software Issues 4
Mouse usage 5
Mouse buttons 7
Mouse wheel 8
Magnifier 9
Macros 10
Quick Turn 11
Common Mouse Setup Issues
When I move the mouse, nothing happens.
Try the following:
§ The USB connection may be loose. Try unplugging the mouse and plugging it back in.
§ Plug the mouse into a different USB port.
§ If your mouse is plugged into a USB hub or USB switch box, try removing it and plugging it directly into the computer.
§ Unplug other USB devices that are not in use.
§ If you are using a wireless mouse, see Top Troubleshooting Issues: Wireless & Bluetooth Devices for tips about troubleshooting problems with the wireless connection.
§ Try the mouse on another computer to verify it is not defective.
I logged in as a guest during Setup and received an installation error.
During Setup, you may have to restart the computer one or more times. Logging on as a member of the Guests group during the Setup process may result in an installation error. Setup requires that you are logged on as a member of the Administrators group.
When I install IntelliPoint software, Setup will not continue until I remove a different mouse program.
If you already have mouse software installed on your computer, you may not be able to install IntelliPoint until you remove the existing mouse software. Some computer manufacturers preinstall mouse software that is appropriate for the mouse that came with the computer.
To remove the existing mouse software
- Click Start, click Control Panel (make sure that you are in Classic View), and then double-click Add or Remove Programs.
- Under Currently installed programs, select the mouse software you want to remove, and then click Change (or Remove, if available).
- Follow the instructions on the screen for removing the existing mouse software. If you cannot locate the mouse software you want to remove, see the documentation that was included with your computer or contact the computer manufacturer.
I want to enable/disable automatic software updates for IntelliPoint.
To enable or disable automatic software updates from the Windows Start menu
- Click Start, click All Programs, click Microsoft Mouse, and then click Quality Settings.
- Click Yes to enable automatic updates or click No to disable automatic updates.
I installed a new version of IntelliPoint over an earlier version of IntelliPoint software and lost some customization.
If you are using a previous version of IntelliPoint software and you install a new version of IntelliPoint, you may lose some customizations, such as button reassignments. To fix this problem, you may have to update your mouse customizations after you install IntelliPoint.
Common Mouse Software Issues
Some of the IntelliPoint software tabs are missing.
The IntelliPoint software tabs displayed depend on the mouse you used to open IntelliPoint. For example, if you have a wired mouse and a wireless mouse connected, the Wireless tab is displayed only if you open IntelliPoint by using the wireless mouse.
If an IntelliPoint software tab that is appropriate for your mouse is not displayed, close IntelliPoint and then reopen it using the mouse that you want to configure.
The Buttons tab displays a mouse model that differs from my mouse.
The mouse displayed on the Buttons tab determines the buttons that are listed. The number of buttons and how they are situated may vary depending on the mouse model.
Typically, the mouse connected to the computer is detected and identified during IntelliPoint Setup. If you have more than one mouse connected to your computer, or if you change to a new Microsoft mouse, open the IntelliPoint software by using the Microsoft mouse you want to configure. This action will make sure that the correct mouse is displayed in the list under Connected devices. The product name is listed on the bottom of your mouse.
Some IntelliPoint features do not work in my programs.
Some IntelliPoint software features may not work with some programs. The programs must be designed to use standard Windows functionality for all of the IntelliPoint features to work.
Also, in Windows 7 and Windows Vista, if you open a program using the Run as administrator command, you may not be able to use some IntelliPoint software features.
Mouse usage
I used to rotate objects in a CAD program by pressing the wheel button, but this no longer works.
In earlier versions of IntelliPoint software, the wheel button was assigned to AutoScroll, which let you rotate objects in computer-aided drawing programs. In later versions, the wheel button is assigned to Flip 3D. You can reassign this button (or another button) to AutoScroll (or to Middle Click) if you want to use it for this purpose now.
After I reassign a mouse button, the SHIFT key stays on even though I am not pressing it.
If you reassign a mouse button to a different command, you may experience SHIFT key activation when you press the reassigned button while pressing certain keys on the keyboard. This is the result of the hardware information that is sent by the keyboard interfering with the software codes sent by the customized mouse button. To fix this problem, press the SHIFT key to disable the SHIFT key activation, and then do not press a mouse button while pressing a key on the keyboard.
The pointer does not move smoothly on the screen.
The mouse may be dirty which can impair performance. Try cleaning the mouse.
If you are using a mouse that has an optical sensor, make sure that you are using it on a surface that does not impair performance. The sensor performs best on surfaces with detail to track. It will not function on surfaces without visible detail (such as glass) or surfaces on which it has a reflection (such as mirrors or glossy surfaces). The sensor may also have difficulty tracking on highly repetitive patterns (such as printed magazine or newspaper photographs).
Sometimes I cannot find the pointer on the screen (it seems to be hidden).
§ If the pointer has moved to the far edge of the screen and is no longer visible, try moving the pointer in different directions until you can see the pointer on your screen.
§ Some programs intentionally cause the pointer to disappear when you move it over a certain area. Try moving the pointer into a different area to see if the pointer will reappear.
The mouse does not work correctly with my switch box.
IntelliPoint software is not supported on switch boxes. If you are using a switch box, some of the IntelliPoint features, such as scrolling and reassigning buttons, may not work.
Try the following:
§ Make sure that you install IntelliPoint software on each computer.
§ Do not move the mouse when you switch between computers.
§ If the wheel and wheel button stop working, restart the computer.
§ If you experience other problems with the switch box, contact your switch-box supplier.
Moving the magnetic charging cable near my portable computer triggers standby mode.
Some portable computers use a magnetic field to detect if the lid is closed. If your mouse has a magnetic charging cable, moving this cable too close to your computer may cause your computer to go into standby mode. To avoid this problem, keep your magnetic charging cable away from the portable computer keyboard.
My rechargeable mouse does not charge in hot conditions/direct sunlight.
If a rechargeable mouse becomes too hot while charging, the battery indicator light may still flash green, but may not charge. Refer to the Product Guide included with your device to determine normal operating temperatures.
Mouse buttons
One or more of the buttons do not work when I press them.
The Microsoft mouse buttons have default assignments when you first use them. Some of these button commands may not work in the program that you are using. For example, the default button assignment for the right button is Right-click, but some programs may not support this command. Try pressing the button while you are using programs that you are sure support the button's command. You can also reassign the button to a different command.
The button may also be assigned to a command that you are not familiar with. You can find out the commands that are assigned to each button by using IntelliPoint software.
To determine the mouse button assignments
- Using the mouse that you want to configure, start IntelliPoint.
(Click Start, point to All Programs, click Microsoft Mouse, and then click Microsoft Mouse.)
- Move the pointer over the box for each button. IntelliPoint will highlight that button's location on the adjacent image.
- The command assigned to each button is listed under the button name.
I am having difficulty double-clicking.
§ Modify the double-click speed setting on the Activities tab in IntelliPoint software.
Middle click does not work as expected in my application or game.
§ Reassign the middle button to Middle-Click.
I reassigned a button, and it does not work as expected in my application or game.
§ Some games and programs, such as Windows Terminal Services and Remote Desktop, do not support customized button assignments.
§ Customized button assignments do not work in Windows Safe Mode or when you open a program using the Run as administrator command.
§ Try uninstalling and reinstalling IntelliPoint software.
Mouse wheel
When I rotate the wheel, nothing happens.
If the wheel does not work in any program that has a scrollable document open (such as Microsoft Internet Explorer), make sure that IntelliPoint wheel support is enabled:
- Using the mouse that you want to configure, start IntelliPoint.
(Click Start, point to All Programs, click Microsoft Mouse, and then click Microsoft Mouse.)
- On the IntelliPoint Wheel tab, make sure that the Enable vertical scrolling check box is selected.
If that does not resolve this problem, try reinstalling IntelliPoint, making sure to select the correct mouse during Setup.
Note
If scrolling works in some programs (such as Microsoft Word or Internet Explorer) but not in others, even though they have scroll bars, those other programs might not support the scroll wheel.
When I rotate the wheel, my window sometimes disappears.
You can use mouse wheel to scroll, and you can also use it as a button. Clicking the wheel switches to other open programs on your desktop. Sometimes while scrolling, you might accidentally press the wheel and unintentionally switch to another open program. This is why the active window seems to disappear, but it is actually still open on your desktop. If you want to return to the previous window, click the wheel until that window appears again, or use the Windows taskbar to switch to the window that you want.
To resolve the problem, avoid pressing down on the wheel while scrolling.
You can also disable the wheel button, if you prefer to use the wheel only for scrolling.
To disable the wheel button
- Using the mouse that you want to configure, start IntelliPoint.
(Click Start, point to All Programs, click Microsoft Mouse, and then click Microsoft Mouse.)
- In the Wheel button list, click Disabled.
Magnifier
I want to change the size of the Magnifier, but I do not know how.
To adjust the size of the Magnifier
- Click the appropriate mouse button to display the Magnifier.
- Press and hold the same button, and then move your mouse to change the size of the Magnifier. Move the mouse down and to the right to increase the size of the window; up and to the left to decrease it.
I am having trouble turning off Magnifier.
§ Quickly click the button assigned to Magnifier once, without moving the mouse.
Sometimes the Magnifier turns off automatically.
If a mouse button is assigned to Magnify globally, but you have a different action assigned to that button in a specific program (or vice versa), IntelliPoint might turn off the Magnifier automatically if you switch from a program where the Magnifier is recognized to one where it is not.
The Magnifier does not make the content of all of my windows larger.
The Magnifier may not correctly display images or video in some applications or games.
Macros
I am unable to record/run macros while playing an online game.
§ While playing online games, you may not be able to record or run macros. This is because the security programs you are running, for example, intrusion detection software, may prevent you from using in-game recording and playback.
§ Unplug other USB devices that are not in use.
§ Try the mouse on another computer to verify it is working correctly.
§ If you are using a wireless mouse, see Top Troubleshooting Issues: Wireless & Bluetooth Devices for tips about troubleshooting problems with the wireless connection.
Quick Turn
Quick Turn does not work.
§ Try calibrating Quick Turn again.
§ In Windows 7 and Windows Vista, if you start a game using elevated administrator credentials, many IntelliPoint features, including Quick Turn, will not work.