do optical mice work in dos?

[Dr_Watson]

simple question i think...

anyone with an optical mouse know if it works in dos? (i refuse to buy a mouse that has no dos capabilities)

[skuz]

Yes.

As long as you have a DOS driver loaded, DOS doesn't care how the mouse works, all that matters is that the movement data is received on the expected door (serial, PS/2...).

[NDD]

Yep, DOS doesn't care about the sensor, but beware of USB mices, you'll have to have (?!) USB Legacy support in BIOS to use it in DOS ...

Best Regards ...

[Dr_Watson]

thanks for the replys...
so far 99% of people i've talked to about optical mice don't even want to think about dos...

i was always courios to know if they reported to the driver the same way mechanical mice do.. the whole technology behind opticals seemed like they would need some hardcore big and hoggish mouse driver to work at all in dos...

here's an even more delicate question... do they need a propriatary driver for dos or does cutemouse work?

[NDD]

Dude, every mouse driver works with optical, this part is not important for software, as long PS2/USB connector is there. More than this, in few times I have to run DOS prompt, I'm using mouse driver I wrote back in 1994 (!) http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Best Regards ...

[AuraEdge]

How do you think your supposta install the driver for Optical mice without a mouse? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Don't forget that normal ball and wheel mice also have a optical sensor in it, except that its inside next to the wheel's rails. (Crack open an old mouse and you'll see what I mean)

On the other hand, if you use any USB mouse, wheel or optical, it wont work in DOS unless you have specific support for it in the BIOS. Some boards have it, some dont (MSI K7T Pro2a has support for it, Abit KT7 doesnt).

Then again, I'm pretty sure that all USB mice come with a USB to PS2 converter (MS Optical and Explorer does at least), so if you find yourself in DOS alot, just keep your mouse on the PS/2 port and you'll have no problems.

[This message has been edited by AuraEdge (edited 05-03-2001).]

[1Old Fart]

Well said AuraEdge
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Dr_Watson]

welp... that question has been pretty significantly answered...

How do you think your supposta install the driver for Optical mice without a mouse?

ummm... load the driver out of the config.sys
i'm curious where in any dos universe you would need a mouse to install a mouse... especially since you can't use the mouse until the mouse driver is installed... nice catch 22 there mate.

if you were talking about windows... the keyboard can carry out all functions of the mouse, even right clickin...