Mouse, laptop and running XP for the first time

[Observer3]

Hello. I have a rather trivial question about XP, mice and new
laptops.

I may get a new laptop later this year, running XP Home Edition.
Among the extras I would purchase is a USB optical mouse. Question: before
I turn on the computer for the very FIRST time, is it okay to plug in the
mouse? Or should I let the computer boot up first, answer XP's
configuration questions, and then plug it in?

If this was a desktop, the mouse would have to be plugged in
beforehand, but I don't know about laptops.

[Donald Link]

If you purchase the laptop make sure they install all hardware prior to
pickup or delivery. Unless you are going to buy from 2 different sources.



"Observer3" > wrote in message
...
> Hello. I have a rather trivial question about XP, mice and new
> laptops.
>
> I may get a new laptop later this year, running XP Home Edition.
> Among the extras I would purchase is a USB optical mouse. Question:
before
> I turn on the computer for the very FIRST time, is it okay to plug in the
> mouse? Or should I let the computer boot up first, answer XP's
> configuration questions, and then plug it in?
>
> If this was a desktop, the mouse would have to be plugged in
> beforehand, but I don't know about laptops.
>
>
>
>
>

[Ray Taylor]

According to windows, a mouse is a mouse no matter what it looks like or how
it works.
This will mean that if a touchpad can send the same signals to the computer
as a hand held mouse, which it does, then windows will not have any
different reactions on a notebook computer (no longer named laptops in most
places) compared to a desktop pc.

Because you are using a USB mouse, this will mean that you get plug n' play
capability. You can plug in the mouse and it will work in a matter of
seconds while running windows. You may have a balloon popup by the task tray
saying windows has found your new hardware to let you know that the USB
mouse is now functional. If you plug in the mouse before windows has booted,
when windows does boot, the drivers and hardware will be loaded
transparently to the user.

Ray Taylor



"Observer3" > wrote in message
...
> Hello. I have a rather trivial question about XP, mice and new
> laptops.
>
> I may get a new laptop later this year, running XP Home Edition.
> Among the extras I would purchase is a USB optical mouse. Question:
before
> I turn on the computer for the very FIRST time, is it okay to plug in the
> mouse? Or should I let the computer boot up first, answer XP's
> configuration questions, and then plug it in?
>
> If this was a desktop, the mouse would have to be plugged in
> beforehand, but I don't know about laptops.
>
>
>
>
>

[Rob Schneider]

I don't really know the "right" answer, but I would do the latter ...
let the machine startup, get it working, it. No real reason to confuse
it. *Then* install add-in's, one at a time.

The USB optical mouse should work out of the box with not additional
software, but it will have additional software on a CD which makes all
the "bells and whistles" work which are not provided automatically by XP.

Observer3 wrote:

> Hello. I have a rather trivial question about XP, mice and new
> laptops.
>
> I may get a new laptop later this year, running XP Home Edition.
> Among the extras I would purchase is a USB optical mouse. Question: before
> I turn on the computer for the very FIRST time, is it okay to plug in the
> mouse? Or should I let the computer boot up first, answer XP's
> configuration questions, and then plug it in?
>
> If this was a desktop, the mouse would have to be plugged in
> beforehand, but I don't know about laptops.
>
>
>
>
>