PC Hardware Annoyances

MOUSE ANNOYANCES

MAKE MOUSE TRAILS EASIER TO FOLLOW

The Annoyance:

I may be getting older, but other people must also find it hard to follow the mouse zipping across the screen. How can I make it easier to see?

The Fix:

You can tweak the mouse using a couple of simple tricks. Open the Mouse control panel, and then click the Pointers tab (see Figure 1-4). Use the drop-down menu and select a large or extra-large scheme. A bigger pointer is easier to see, right? If you still need help, click the Pointer Options tab and check the “Display pointer trails” box. Adjust the trail length until you can follow it easily.

Figure 1-4. Larger mouse pointers and trails can make the mouse much easier to see.

MOUSE HELP FOR SOUTHPAWS

The Annoyance:

Is there a law against left-handed discrimination? If so, I plan to sue every mouse manufacturer on the planet. How am I supposed to use this right-handed mouse?

The Fix:

Work with me here-this is an easy fix. Open the Mouse control panel and click the Buttons tab (see Figure 1-5). Check the “Switch primary and secondary buttons” box to reverse the left and right mouse buttons. This at least gets the buttons right.

Figure 1-5. Reversing the mouse buttons is a big advantage for southpaw users.

Manufacturers sell a lot of mice in an ergonomic shell tailored to the right hand. You can switch the mouse buttons, but using a right-handed mouse in the left hand stinks. Instead, use an ambidextrous mouse for a more comfortable grip.

STOPPING MOUSE STALLS AND SKIPS

The Annoyance:

My cursor seems to jump and stall a lot lately. I need to run the mouse all over my desk just to move the cursor anywhere.

Come Over to My Pad

Optical mice use LEDs and photo sensors (rather than balls and rollers) to distinguish mouse movements. This means the surface and texture of your mouse pad plays a role in cursor sensitivity. Smooth, featureless mouse pads (such as a glassy or shiny surface) can potentially “blind” an optical mouse. Instead, use a mouse pad with a fabric or finely textured surface.

The Fix:

Take a second and check your mouse connection. Also, look for any suspicious cuts or kinks in the mouse cable. If the cabling looks all right, it sounds like you need to do a little cleaning. The rubber ball in your mouse picks up all the dust, pet hair, and other general crap from your mouse pad. From there, the debris coats the little rollers inside the mouse and the rollers slip. The ball continues to move, but the X and Y rollers do not, so the cursor just sits there.

The fix is easy, but it takes a minute. Power down the PC and turn the mouse over. Turn the little plastic ring around the ball counter-clockwise to unlock it, and the ring and ball will fall right out. Clean the rubber ball with a paper towel and some light glass cleaner. Use a Q-tip to wipe any gunk from the rollers, and blow out any crap. Now put the ball and ring back in the mouse and lock the ring into place.

Warning

Never use acetone or any other harsh chemical on plastic PC parts. Chemicals will melt the plastic and ruin your parts. Stick with light glass cleaner, such as Windex.

Troublesome Extension Cables

Most keyboard and mouse cables only measure a meter long. Unfortunately, some PC users use extension cables to add extra distance between the PC and the keyboard and mouse. Poorly made extension cables can pick up excess electrical noise and cause flaky keyboard or mouse behavior. Always remove any extension cables and connect input devices directly to your system as part of any troubleshooting process. If you must use extension cables, pony up and buy a well-shielded cable.