Mouse failure, gets stuck around perimeter

[msbrown2]

Lately my mouse has been doing some funky stuff. At what seems like random times the mouse will all of the sudden be "stuck around the perimeter of the screen. The pointer will only move around the outside edge of the desktop and little menus (like from left and right click) pop up continuously as it moves. It seems to happen more often when coming out of Suspend, monitor shut off, or a game. Any ideas? I just use a normal Microsoft mouse and my graphics card is a Diamond Viper v770 TNT2 (latest drivers).

[daveleau]

First thing I usually try when I get mouse errors is to replace the mouse.drv file from a system with a good working mouse (I can email you a copy if you need one). You have to xcopy it in windows using this command:

xcopy a:\mouse.drv c:\windows\system

This takes care of most of my problems. You have to reboot to a DOS prompt to do this as the file is constantly in use by Windows.
Dave

[Axel]

Have you installed a game recently?

Several games make modifications to the mouse driver during install to enable some of the features of the game. Sometimes these drivers bleed out and you get what you are seeing.

If that's the case, what Dave suggests will fix it most of the time.

Next - IRQ conflict. - you might be seeing an interrupt conflict between your mouse and some other piece of hardware in your system.

Open up your device manager ( my computer w/ a right-click - properties - device manager ) then double click on "computer" at the top of the list and find the interrupts for your mouse - look for something else with the same number - change it if you can.

Done a virus sweep lately? - update your anti-virus definitions for your program - install them - and start your anti-virus program going -

reboot your system in safe mode ( reboot - the second you see "starting windows 9x" on the black screen - hit the "F8" key at the top of your keyboard. - select safe-mode from the list - take a break - come back in 5 to 10 minutes as the system starts - click on OK to the safe mode screen - go into device manager as I taught you above - go to mouse - if you see multiple listings under mouse - remove them all with remove at the bottom of the screen - i.e. you can't tell which one's hot for sure and the system will re-detect and install the mouse when you reboot again - now - reboot....Every so often, multiple bad mouse installs/detects can do this to a system....

That should cover everything but a bad mouse - clean it lately? - checked the cable for bad kinks and worn wires?

If you have an AT form factor motherboard, chances are the mouse port is not soldered on-to the motherboard, but has a cable and plug connecting it to the motherboard - have you un-plugged and re-seated that connection to ensure a good contact?

Okay - I'm tapped now - go try all that and let us know what worked.....

[msbrown2]

Ok, well I tried the new mouse driver. It worked for about 5 hours ( i was having the problem atleast twice an hour the last day or so) but its acting up again. The last game I installed was Everquest. Did a reinstall on that last week (originally 2 months ago). I checked all the IRQs and nothing else was at 12 where the mouse is. I have no device conflicts that I can see. The mouse doesnt have any problems in itself that I can tell. It works fine on another pc. Havent done a virus scan in awhile (the software seems to hurt me more than help). I'll try the Safe mode and look into McAfee Virus Scan that I have.

Thanks for all the help guys
Mike

[eagle1]

Did you tried another mouse?
Well, I had a similar problem with my mouse the last couple of weeks and I went from updating drivers to cleaning the mouse and...nothing! Finally I just bought a new mouse and voila it works perfectly!

[daveleau]

Something is corrupting your mouse driver. I would unistall anything you instlled since the problem began and cleant he registry and reinstall the apps.
Good luck
Dave

Then do the mouse drv thing again.

[Axel]

I've seen 4 things cause a mouse driver error in my experience -

1) virus
2) game install
3) direct X install
4) mouse driver stored on bad / damaged sectors on the hard drive - I.E. bad hard drive sectors.

You've got a very specific problem with the pointer going to the outer edge....

Work on the anti-virus definition update and system sweep.

[msbrown2]

Well I reluctantly installed McAffe to check for viruses. After about 30 minutes of update after update for the **** thing I finally got it installed. The first full scan was run at startup behind the big Windows bitmap so I dont know if it found anything or not. startup takes like 15 minutes with Scan being done =( THe good news is that in the last 24 hours I have had no mouse problems yet so its looking good. knock on wood. thanks for all the help. and i'm sure i'll see you shortly =)

[Vampiel]

Have you tried cleaning the mouse http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[msbrown2]

Just wanted to let everyone know that its been 2 days and no more mouse problems. Looks like it must have been a virus. THank for the help.