Erratic mouse behaviour

[Carl Douglas]

Just recently my Microsoft Trackball Optical started behaving completely
erratic.

It just so happens that for the last several months I had this trackball
mouse and an ordinary Intellimouse simultaneously plugged into my computer.
This had never caused any problems but thinking it could be now I unplugged
the Intellimouse. Still the trackball would remain very difficult to control
with the cursor jumping over the screen even when the mouse wasn't in use.

Discovering this article;
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;321122 I tried the
steps but I know I hadn't any Intellipoint software installed previously.
The only explanation could perhaps be some sort of hardware conflict.

Oe of my later attempts was to install the latest Intellipoint software on
the off-chance there were some updated drivers in there that might fix
things. No luck there. Obviously I've also tried removing the device and
letting Windows re-detect it to no avail.

I have, however, now discovered the ordinary scroll mouse; the Intellimouse
works ok when plugged in on its own. I find it very difficult to believe a
Microsoft product would die on me after what must be only a year of use.

Now here comes the current problem. I've also tried the Trackball Optical on
my girlfriend's notebook. It didn't work. I have no proof of purchase of the
mouse other than the eBay records which show when I purchased it off someone
else *in boxed, brand new condition* some 12 months ago tomorrow ironically
enough. Can I go to Microsoft for help? Who/where would I contact for help?
It seems highly annoying and near hard enough to believe that a great mouse
would stop working while the ancient scroll mouse stills chugs along. Is it
realistically going to have to be time for a new mouse again?

Thanks to all who reply,

Carl

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Carl,

Silly question, but have you pulled the ball out and cleaned the sensors
yet?

To contact Microsoft, try 1-800-426-9400 - no guarantees on whether or not
they will support it as it was a private purchase. However, they've been
generally good about replacing hardware that has known defects (I'm not
saying yours does, but if they determine that it does, they generally go
good for it).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"Carl Douglas" > wrote in message
...
> Just recently my Microsoft Trackball Optical started behaving completely
> erratic.
>
> It just so happens that for the last several months I had this trackball
> mouse and an ordinary Intellimouse simultaneously plugged into my
computer.
> This had never caused any problems but thinking it could be now I
unplugged
> the Intellimouse. Still the trackball would remain very difficult to
control
> with the cursor jumping over the screen even when the mouse wasn't in use.
>
> Discovering this article;
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;321122 I tried the
> steps but I know I hadn't any Intellipoint software installed previously.
> The only explanation could perhaps be some sort of hardware conflict.
>
> Oe of my later attempts was to install the latest Intellipoint software on
> the off-chance there were some updated drivers in there that might fix
> things. No luck there. Obviously I've also tried removing the device and
> letting Windows re-detect it to no avail.
>
> I have, however, now discovered the ordinary scroll mouse; the
Intellimouse
> works ok when plugged in on its own. I find it very difficult to believe a
> Microsoft product would die on me after what must be only a year of use.
>
> Now here comes the current problem. I've also tried the Trackball Optical
on
> my girlfriend's notebook. It didn't work. I have no proof of purchase of
the
> mouse other than the eBay records which show when I purchased it off
someone
> else *in boxed, brand new condition* some 12 months ago tomorrow
ironically
> enough. Can I go to Microsoft for help? Who/where would I contact for
help?
> It seems highly annoying and near hard enough to believe that a great
mouse
> would stop working while the ancient scroll mouse stills chugs along. Is
it
> realistically going to have to be time for a new mouse again?
>
> Thanks to all who reply,
>
> Carl
>
>

[Carl Douglas]

Hi Rick,

No it's a perfectly sensible question and yeah I have, frequently since the
problem first started. There was a fair amount of dust but removing it has
had no effect.

I've just about given up on any hope of this mouse ever working again
because although the scroll wheel and buttons appear to work fine (they even
did when I tried the mouse on my girlfriends notebook) it's almost as if the
optical sensors have died or are on their way out. The problem isn't present
when the Trackball Optical is unplugged which suggests to me the problem
must be within the piece of hardware itself. I've even tried using just my
finger to navigate around the screen but there are times when the cursor
won't move at all. Other times it will go flying to the right of the screen
for no reason!

Looks like my best bet might be to ring Microsoft then. Looking at that
number I'm guessing it's an American one so to be awkward for one final time
I don't suppose you can point me in the direction of the UK alternative?

Much appreciate your time,

Carl

"Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Carl,
>
> Silly question, but have you pulled the ball out and cleaned the sensors
> yet?
>
> To contact Microsoft, try 1-800-426-9400 - no guarantees on whether or not
> they will support it as it was a private purchase. However, they've been
> generally good about replacing hardware that has known defects (I'm not
> saying yours does, but if they determine that it does, they generally go
> good for it).
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
> Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
> www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>
> "Carl Douglas" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Just recently my Microsoft Trackball Optical started behaving completely
> > erratic.
> >
> > It just so happens that for the last several months I had this trackball
> > mouse and an ordinary Intellimouse simultaneously plugged into my
> computer.
> > This had never caused any problems but thinking it could be now I
> unplugged
> > the Intellimouse. Still the trackball would remain very difficult to
> control
> > with the cursor jumping over the screen even when the mouse wasn't in
use.
> >
> > Discovering this article;
> > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;321122 I tried
the
> > steps but I know I hadn't any Intellipoint software installed
previously.
> > The only explanation could perhaps be some sort of hardware conflict.
> >
> > Oe of my later attempts was to install the latest Intellipoint software
on
> > the off-chance there were some updated drivers in there that might fix
> > things. No luck there. Obviously I've also tried removing the device and
> > letting Windows re-detect it to no avail.
> >
> > I have, however, now discovered the ordinary scroll mouse; the
> Intellimouse
> > works ok when plugged in on its own. I find it very difficult to believe
a
> > Microsoft product would die on me after what must be only a year of use.
> >
> > Now here comes the current problem. I've also tried the Trackball
Optical
> on
> > my girlfriend's notebook. It didn't work. I have no proof of purchase of
> the
> > mouse other than the eBay records which show when I purchased it off
> someone
> > else *in boxed, brand new condition* some 12 months ago tomorrow
> ironically
> > enough. Can I go to Microsoft for help? Who/where would I contact for
> help?
> > It seems highly annoying and near hard enough to believe that a great
> mouse
> > would stop working while the ancient scroll mouse stills chugs along. Is
> it
> > realistically going to have to be time for a new mouse again?
> >
> > Thanks to all who reply,
> >
> > Carl
> >
> >
>
>

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Carl,

Sure, try this link:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=cntactms

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"Carl Douglas" > wrote in
message ...
> Hi Rick,
>
> No it's a perfectly sensible question and yeah I have, frequently since
the
> problem first started. There was a fair amount of dust but removing it has
> had no effect.
>
> I've just about given up on any hope of this mouse ever working again
> because although the scroll wheel and buttons appear to work fine (they
even
> did when I tried the mouse on my girlfriends notebook) it's almost as if
the
> optical sensors have died or are on their way out. The problem isn't
present
> when the Trackball Optical is unplugged which suggests to me the problem
> must be within the piece of hardware itself. I've even tried using just my
> finger to navigate around the screen but there are times when the cursor
> won't move at all. Other times it will go flying to the right of the
screen
> for no reason!
>
> Looks like my best bet might be to ring Microsoft then. Looking at that
> number I'm guessing it's an American one so to be awkward for one final
time
> I don't suppose you can point me in the direction of the UK alternative?
>
> Much appreciate your time,
>
> Carl
>
> "Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi Carl,
> >
> > Silly question, but have you pulled the ball out and cleaned the sensors
> > yet?
> >
> > To contact Microsoft, try 1-800-426-9400 - no guarantees on whether or
not
> > they will support it as it was a private purchase. However, they've been
> > generally good about replacing hardware that has known defects (I'm not
> > saying yours does, but if they determine that it does, they generally go
> > good for it).
> >
> > --
> > Best of Luck,
> >
> > Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
> > Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
> > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> > Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
> > www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> > Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
> >
> > "Carl Douglas" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Just recently my Microsoft Trackball Optical started behaving
completely
> > > erratic.
> > >
> > > It just so happens that for the last several months I had this
trackball
> > > mouse and an ordinary Intellimouse simultaneously plugged into my
> > computer.
> > > This had never caused any problems but thinking it could be now I
> > unplugged
> > > the Intellimouse. Still the trackball would remain very difficult to
> > control
> > > with the cursor jumping over the screen even when the mouse wasn't in
> use.
> > >
> > > Discovering this article;
> > > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;321122 I tried
> the
> > > steps but I know I hadn't any Intellipoint software installed
> previously.
> > > The only explanation could perhaps be some sort of hardware conflict.
> > >
> > > Oe of my later attempts was to install the latest Intellipoint
software
> on
> > > the off-chance there were some updated drivers in there that might fix
> > > things. No luck there. Obviously I've also tried removing the device
and
> > > letting Windows re-detect it to no avail.
> > >
> > > I have, however, now discovered the ordinary scroll mouse; the
> > Intellimouse
> > > works ok when plugged in on its own. I find it very difficult to
believe
> a
> > > Microsoft product would die on me after what must be only a year of
use.
> > >
> > > Now here comes the current problem. I've also tried the Trackball
> Optical
> > on
> > > my girlfriend's notebook. It didn't work. I have no proof of purchase
of
> > the
> > > mouse other than the eBay records which show when I purchased it off
> > someone
> > > else *in boxed, brand new condition* some 12 months ago tomorrow
> > ironically
> > > enough. Can I go to Microsoft for help? Who/where would I contact for
> > help?
> > > It seems highly annoying and near hard enough to believe that a great
> > mouse
> > > would stop working while the ancient scroll mouse stills chugs along.
Is
> > it
> > > realistically going to have to be time for a new mouse again?
> > >
> > > Thanks to all who reply,
> > >
> > > Carl
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>