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Technical Help & Discussion => Self Building, Upgrading & General Hardware Help => Topic started by: Clive on November 11, 2002, 18:15

Title: Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 11, 2002, 18:15
I have an optical mouse and sometimes when I use the central wheel to scroll down, it causes a total freeze up.  Alt/Ctr/Del seems disabled and all I can do is shut the whole machine down.  Are there any tweaks I can perform to prevent this happening?
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Rodders on November 11, 2002, 18:34
Well Clive, I can't say I've ever had the pleasure of that problem with my optical Intellimouse Explorer, but you could try searching for a driver update.  Also, if it's a mouse that you had before you upgraded, it might be worth checking for a more XP-compatible update to the mouse software, too.

Try it on another machine and see if you can break that one.  :o

If none of the above works, I'm out of ideas.  Good luck!   ;)
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Adept on November 11, 2002, 18:34
Oh heck Clive, that shouldn't happen ??? Especially with XP.

Did I remember to install the Logitech software? If I didn't, it might be worth doing that. In fact even if I did install it, see if there is a later version available on www.logitech.com that you can download and install :)
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 11, 2002, 18:44
Yes, the Logitech software is loaded, but I'll try that download and see if it improves matters.
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 11, 2002, 18:50
There are no updates since May so I probably have the latest one anyway.
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Adept on November 11, 2002, 18:54
Do it anyway Clive, just in case something's been corrupted.
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 11, 2002, 19:05
I've done it!
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Adept on November 11, 2002, 19:14

I've done it!  


But has it worked?  ;)
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 11, 2002, 19:19
I don't know yet!  It only happens about twice a day.   ;D  Ask me Friday!   ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 12, 2002, 08:33
It froze again this morning so the download hasn't worked.
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Adept on November 12, 2002, 09:41
OK Clive. Back to basics time.

Uninstall the Logitech software and try the mouse without it loaded. That will tell you whether it is a software or hardware problem.

Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 12, 2002, 11:15
OK I'll give that a try and let you know the result.   ;D
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 12, 2002, 12:44
I've uninstalled the logitech mouse driver and the mouse still works.  I'll keep you posted on developments.   ;D

Edit:  I've just tried some pretty vigorous scrolling which would have previously guaranteed a crash and so far so good.  Early days though.   ;D
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Simon on November 12, 2002, 13:40
Well, I never installed the software for my optical mouse, and it seems to do everything anyway!!   :)
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Barra on November 12, 2002, 17:20
What sort of broadband modem do you have clive? Is it a  usb one? If so, it's the same as me and sometimes if I'm doing some heavy down or uploading it semms to slow up my mouse.
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 12, 2002, 17:28
It's a wireless router Barra.  I'm positive that it's caused by aggressive scrolling because that's the only time it happens.  Since I've uninstalled the mouse software all seems to be  well, so fingers crossed.
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 13, 2002, 14:47
Another freeze up today whilst scrolling.  I think I might try my old mouse and see what happens with that.
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Adept on November 13, 2002, 19:46

I'm positive that it's caused by aggressive scrolling


Well stop being so aggressive  ;D ;D
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 13, 2002, 19:50
I just can't help myself Adept!  On Friday I will swap the mouse over and plug my digital camera in to see if I can get that to work on this machine.
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Simon on November 13, 2002, 20:23
Clive, can't you configure the mouse to scroll slower?
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 13, 2002, 20:50
Thanks for that Simon.  I just slowed it down a bit.  You just don't stop thinking do you?    ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Simon on November 13, 2002, 21:30
Well, after all this, it'll be bloody funny (but not unusual) if something so simple cures the problem!!   ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 14, 2002, 08:41
That didn't work either.  ;D  I'll change the mouse over tomorrow.
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 16, 2002, 14:37
The old mouse has been installed for over 24 hours now and not a single crash.   ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Mustapha Phagg on November 16, 2002, 15:35
Give your optical mouse a nice big "cheesy" smile Clive, if that don't work do the elaphant dance on it.  ;D ;D
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 16, 2002, 16:08
To be honest with you I was very nervous about the way it used to glow eerily in my hand.  It seemed to be giving off some strange unidentified radiation.   ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Sandra on November 16, 2002, 16:23
If you switch off the lights and get Mrs.Clive one too then you can do your own version of Star wars with them Clive  ;)
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 19, 2002, 17:22
I've established that the fault isn't specific to the optical mouse.  I've also had a few freeze-ups with my old mouse too.  I've run Norton's Windows Doctor and it can't find any faults at all.  It still only happens when I use the scroll wheel.
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Simon on November 19, 2002, 17:34
Clive I wonder if it could be something to do with your graphics card?  Something to do with the rapid screen movement using the scroll wheel?   :-";"xx
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Adept on November 19, 2002, 18:34
That's an interesting point Simon.

Clive you might want to go here (http://www.nvidia.com/view.asp?IO=winxp-2k_40.72) and download & install the latest Detonator drivers.

You never know, it may just work  ;) (at least it'll be one more thing off the list).

Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 19, 2002, 20:58
Thanks for that Adept.  I'll download it.   ;D
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Rodders on November 19, 2002, 21:37
At the risk of being right twice this week, I reckon this will eventually turn out to be a resource conflict, but just to play safe, I've also put a quid each way on 'Woodworm'.  :)
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 19, 2002, 21:42
Are there any downloads to detect resource conflicts?
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Simon on November 19, 2002, 21:48
Does Norton Utilities do it?
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 19, 2002, 22:19
I've just been checking and I don't think it does.  I have however discovered lots of alarm settings which I hadn't realised were there and it advises me to defrag my hard drive.
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Rodders on November 19, 2002, 22:35
That's funny!  Didn't Windows always used to advise you that it wasn't necessary -- regardless of whether you needed to defrag or not?   ::)
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 20, 2002, 12:16
I've downloaded and installed the new driver and it has made an incredible difference to my screen.  The text is larger and much more clear even though it is still on "medium" setting.  Whether it will fix the mouse problem remains to be seen but I'm very glad I did it anyway.  ;D
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 21, 2002, 15:45
Now I have a new problem but obviously related.  This has taken 24 hours to develop.  ;D  When I use the scroll wheel, the screen goes completely blank for a few seconds, just as if the plug has been pulled.  It then returns as if nothing had happened.  Why this didn't start happening yesterday I don't know.  I haven't had a mouse crash yet but this new problem, must be something to do with the way I have my video card or drivers set up.
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Simon on November 21, 2002, 16:10
I wonder if your motherboard has on board graphics, and this is fighting for supremacy with your graphics card?
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 21, 2002, 16:15
Gulp!
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 21, 2002, 16:20
Panic over!  A reboot seems to have solved it.  ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re:Optical mouse crash
Post by: Clive on November 21, 2002, 19:47
I'd like to congratulate Simon for figuring out what caused my scrolling problem.  Since I updated the video card driver I haven't had a single crash.  Thanks to everyone who helped me solve this one.