Why is my mouse unresponsive at times?

Answer 1

This sounds like a problem with the mouse. More than likely, there is a problem either with the cable and/or with the logic board in the mouse itself.

If you have tried replacing the mouse, then check the USB port that you are using to see whether it is damaged. The easiest way to do this is just to plug a known-good mouse into the current USB port and see what happens and then plug it into another port that seems to work fine (such as one currently used by another device, maybe a printer) and see if that works.

If this is a wireless mouse and what you meant by unplugging and replugging the mouse was the wireless receiver for the mouse, then you should try relocating the receiver (often referred to as a dongle) to someplace else that has better reception. For example, frequently people will put the dongles on the backs of their desktop computers because they are long and "ugly" but with all the cables and especially the power supply being back there, interference quite often is present and the mouse works poorly. You can also try getting a USB extension cable and relocate the dongle to someplace more free of obstructions or other interference. As a great example, I have my wireless dongle located out of the way at the top of my hutch at the end of a 3-foot extension cable. That allows both my wireless keyboard and trackball to work without any problem whatsoever.

Also, just to play it safe, if this is a wireless mouse with which you are having problems, remove the battery and test it with a volt meter. A brand new AA or AAA battery will typically read at 1.65V while a battery that is completely "dead" will read at 1.2V. (A battery is no longer viable once its voltage reaches 80 percent of its nominal voltage. In the case of AA, AAA, C, or D batteries, that nominal voltage is 1.5, so dead is 1.2V.) I have had various clients change out batteries in their devices with no improvement in use, only to find when replacing the batteries that they were using equally dead cells instead of something newer. (In one particular case, the gentleman replaced a battery reading at 0.8V with one that read 0.05V.)

For recommendations regarding equipment, I have found that the cheaper brands and "no-name" brands tend to have many more problems than the known companies. Out of the most well known names, I find that Logitech is the most reliable and robust in any environment in which I have installed their products for clients. You might consider a Logitech device the next time you replace whatever you are using now.

I hope all this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to drop me a line. If you are in the northeast Kansas area and would like professional assistance, let me know and I will schedule an appointment with you through my company.