Help with mouse

[Jelly]

Right, well, on my brothers computer, his mouse isn't working properly. It shows up only on the bar at the bottom (with the start menu) and when there's nothing on the screen, but when he gets windows up, it doesn't actually show up. The mouse works on them, it just doesn't show up, so if he can get it to the cross button and click, it works however the arrow just doesn't show up...can anyone help?

[HoppyQ]

Go to settings, into control panel and in there is an option for mouse.  It gives you the option to change the pointer.  Don't know if that will do any good but try changing it to a different option.

[Shendare]

Yeah, it sounds like the default mouse pointer has gotten itself scrambled or missing. HoppyQ's pointing you to the right place to fix it, the "Mouse Properties" window, and specifically the "Pointers" tab.

 

If changing the "Normal Select" pointer back to the default (with the "Use Default" button) doesn't fix it, you can try changing to a different pointer scheme. "3D-White" is my favorite.

[Jelly]

Thanks you two..It strangely started working straight away when I turned his computer on though..  :-\  :D I'll keep this in mind for when it happens again though.

[Shendare]

Well, I believe we assumed you'd already tried restarting the computer. :P

 

A restart fixes most weird temporary glitches with computers (and many other electronics, too).

[Jelly]

Oh, no my brother had tried that already. I wouldn't have asked before trying restarting it :)

[Alys Kinch]

hmm... we are having trouble with my hubby's new razer death adder mouse. it worked fine until we disconnected everything to rearrange over spring break... now it doesn't work with his keyboard (microsoft ergonomic). they work separately but using them together disables one or both. software was reinstalled for both, restarts and changing to usb and back to normal didn't help, either.

[HoppyQ]

Alys,

 

Have you tried completely removing the razer, software and all and going back to a normal mouse, rebooting and then reinstalling?  It sounds like a lot of extra work but sometimes going back to the beginning is the only way.

[Alys Kinch]

i think he did three times... then threatened to throw the whole computer out the window before i took the razer away. *nods*

[ironcross]

have you tried down loading the latest update from the company that makes it? a lot of times that will fix the problem.

[Karana Majin]

I need computer help too!  *waves hand frantically*

 

Out of the blue everything USB stopped working on my computer.  I had to switch to a serial mouse and move the printer to my hubby dude's computer.  Can't update my ipod, although it DOES charge when plugged in.  I tried looking at the usb drivers, it said I had the newest versions of them all... is the next step uninstalling then reinstalling?  Or does anyone have any other ideas?

[HoppyQ]

So this is about the point where I give up and call the IT guys at work and get them to fix it.

[Shendare]

My thoughts:

 

While it's technically possible (depending on the manufacturer and your guys' level of curious experimentation) that the USB controller has been disabled in the BIOS, it's very unlikely. It's the easiest thing to check, though, so you may as well give your BIOS settings a look first. Restart the computer and watch for the message saying something like "Press F2 to enter Setup" or "Press Del to change BIOS settings", etc., and press it quick. If your computer just shows a graphical screen when it very first starts up, you'll have to quickly tap the Esc key to see the real BIOS POST (Power On Self Test) screen with the prompt. Once you're in, use the on-screen instructions to know which keys to press to browse different areas without changing any settings you're not absolutely sure of.

 

Other than the oddball chance of a BIOS setting, a global USB failure is most likely a corrupted file in the motherboard drivers. If you don't know your motherboard's manufacturer and model number (and you probably don't), you'll have to pop the computer case open and shine a flashlight in to see. The company name (Gigabyte, nVidia, Intel, Asus, etc.) will generally be printed in one location on the motherboard, and the model number (GX406L, 790i, etc.) in another.

 

Once you have the manufacturer name and model number, it's a matter of finding the manufacturer's website and downloading the latest drivers for your model, then performing the install, overwriting your current driver if it asks.

 

Worst case scenario is a Windows re-install. Don't forget to gather all your third-party software CD's and installation codes, and use the "File and Settings Transfer Wizard" (under Start -> Accessories -> System Tools) to save your settings and files to a flash drive or separate folder on the hard drive or something first. For each user account if you've got multiples set up.

 

Weird glitches and corrupted system files are a real pain. I generally wipe my system once a year or so just on principle. Driver and system software developers are simply far from infallible.