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optical mouse fixable?



 
 
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  #1  
Old June 1st 11, 04:55 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Jo-Anne[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,101
Default optical mouse fixable?

The expensive optical mouse I used with my WinXP laptop started jumping. I
detached it and used the touchpad for a while. No more jumping. I then
installed a new optical mouse (same brand, same model), and it seems to be
fine.

Is there anything I can do to fix the old mouse?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne


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  #2  
Old June 1st 11, 05:13 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
VanguardLH[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 10,881
Default optical mouse fixable?

Jo-Anne wrote:

The expensive optical mouse I used with my WinXP laptop started jumping. I
detached it and used the touchpad for a while. No more jumping. I then
installed a new optical mouse (same brand, same model), and it seems to be
fine.

Is there anything I can do to fix the old mouse?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne


Clean out the lint and hair that's inside the case but in front of the
LED sensor. Use a tweezers and bright light.
  #3  
Old June 1st 11, 05:16 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Jo-Anne[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,101
Default optical mouse fixable?

"VanguardLH" wrote in message
...
Jo-Anne wrote:

The expensive optical mouse I used with my WinXP laptop started jumping.
I
detached it and used the touchpad for a while. No more jumping. I then
installed a new optical mouse (same brand, same model), and it seems to
be
fine.

Is there anything I can do to fix the old mouse?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne


Clean out the lint and hair that's inside the case but in front of the
LED sensor. Use a tweezers and bright light.



Thank you, Vanguard! I thought this kind of mouse didn't collect anything
inside (the opening is tiny), but I'll check it out.

Jo-Anne


  #4  
Old June 1st 11, 05:32 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Tester[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 341
Default optical mouse fixable?



VanguardLH wrote:

Clean out the lint and hair that's inside the case but in front of the
LED sensor. Use a tweezers and bright light.



De toute évidence vous êtes un maniaque du contrôle anal de rétention.
Nous avons trolls aussi des sentiments.


  #5  
Old June 1st 11, 05:35 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Tester[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 341
Default optical mouse fixable?



Jo-Anne wrote:

Thank you, Vanguard! I thought this kind of mouse didn't collect anything
inside (the opening is tiny), but I'll check it out.


Don't waste your time listening to that nutter. He hasn't seen an
optical mouse yet.


There is nothing you can do except to get a new one.
  #6  
Old June 1st 11, 09:44 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Paul
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 18,275
Default optical mouse fixable?

Tester wrote:

Jo-Anne wrote:

Thank you, Vanguard! I thought this kind of mouse didn't collect anything
inside (the opening is tiny), but I'll check it out.


Don't waste your time listening to that nutter. He hasn't seen an
optical mouse yet.


There is nothing you can do except to get a new one.


It never hurts to inspect your hardware.

I had to clean out an *optical* mouse the other day, because
so much material had collected inside, it was actually
preventing the mouse buttons from depressing properly.
One of the plastic surface pieces was binding on the stuff
inside.

The screw holding the mouse together, may be protected by
a sticker. In some cases, the sticker has a cross shaped
pattern in it, making it easier for screwdriver to perforate
the sticker and reach the screw.

Years ago, they used to hide screws under the rubber feet,
but I don't have any mice like that here now. Check for
a sticker instead.

Once the screw is removed, you may be able to separate the
two halves. There could be a "hinge" near one end of the
housing, and the screw holds the other end together. That
only costs them one screw, in terms of the design.

Possible things you may find inside.

1) Dust buildup underneath or along the edge of the buttons.
2) A broken mouse cord. That could make a mouse jump. That
is difficult to inspect for, because there may be no
visible signs of damage.
3) Scroll wheel coated with whatever. Take particular care
here. If you touch the scroll wheel, it can jump out of
place, and all sorts of small pieces fall off it. When I
cleaned up the scroll wheel, it felt like a new mouse.
Dust, hair, and food debris does degrade operation a bit.
3) The optical sensor itself, may be relatively free of
debris. If you want, you can try cleaning the surface
with alcohol and a tissue, as isopropyl won't
hurt it. I didn't need to clean mine, as part of my
last maintenance procedure. The dirt was elsewhere. The
sensor was clean.

Optical mice require not nearly as much care, as the old
rubber ball mice required. I used to clean the rubber ball
mouse at work, on a weekly basis. But if your optical mouse
is mis-behaving, try opening it up, and cleaning out the obvious
cruft. My guess would be, the optical mouse needs to be opened up,
every three to five years or so. Or whenever the buttons begin
to bind, or the scroll wheel feels funny.

To be clear, the optical sensor is a chip. This is an example,
but not the only format. My current optical mouse sensor chip,
looks nothing like this one.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Mouse_Chip.jpg

The chip may have a transparent lens assembly over top of the
chip. You'd be cleaning the outer surface of the lens assembly.
There is no need to take it apart to the level of the chip
itself. Mainly, because it may not be protected as well as
that one in the example is.

HTH,
Paul
  #7  
Old June 1st 11, 08:08 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Jo-Anne[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,101
Default optical mouse fixable?

"VanguardLH" wrote in message
...
Jo-Anne wrote:

The expensive optical mouse I used with my WinXP laptop started jumping.
I
detached it and used the touchpad for a while. No more jumping. I then
installed a new optical mouse (same brand, same model), and it seems to
be
fine.

Is there anything I can do to fix the old mouse?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne


Clean out the lint and hair that's inside the case but in front of the
LED sensor. Use a tweezers and bright light.



Addendum: I followed your directions, and the mouse is working just fine.
Thank you again!

Jo-Anne


  #8  
Old June 1st 11, 08:10 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Jo-Anne[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,101
Default optical mouse fixable?

"Paul" wrote in message
...
Tester wrote:

Jo-Anne wrote:

Thank you, Vanguard! I thought this kind of mouse didn't collect
anything inside (the opening is tiny), but I'll check it out.


Don't waste your time listening to that nutter. He hasn't seen an
optical mouse yet.


There is nothing you can do except to get a new one.


It never hurts to inspect your hardware.

I had to clean out an *optical* mouse the other day, because
so much material had collected inside, it was actually
preventing the mouse buttons from depressing properly.
One of the plastic surface pieces was binding on the stuff
inside.

The screw holding the mouse together, may be protected by
a sticker. In some cases, the sticker has a cross shaped
pattern in it, making it easier for screwdriver to perforate
the sticker and reach the screw.

Years ago, they used to hide screws under the rubber feet,
but I don't have any mice like that here now. Check for
a sticker instead.

Once the screw is removed, you may be able to separate the
two halves. There could be a "hinge" near one end of the
housing, and the screw holds the other end together. That
only costs them one screw, in terms of the design.

Possible things you may find inside.

1) Dust buildup underneath or along the edge of the buttons.
2) A broken mouse cord. That could make a mouse jump. That
is difficult to inspect for, because there may be no
visible signs of damage.
3) Scroll wheel coated with whatever. Take particular care
here. If you touch the scroll wheel, it can jump out of
place, and all sorts of small pieces fall off it. When I
cleaned up the scroll wheel, it felt like a new mouse.
Dust, hair, and food debris does degrade operation a bit.
3) The optical sensor itself, may be relatively free of
debris. If you want, you can try cleaning the surface
with alcohol and a tissue, as isopropyl won't
hurt it. I didn't need to clean mine, as part of my
last maintenance procedure. The dirt was elsewhere. The
sensor was clean.

Optical mice require not nearly as much care, as the old
rubber ball mice required. I used to clean the rubber ball
mouse at work, on a weekly basis. But if your optical mouse
is mis-behaving, try opening it up, and cleaning out the obvious
cruft. My guess would be, the optical mouse needs to be opened up,
every three to five years or so. Or whenever the buttons begin
to bind, or the scroll wheel feels funny.

To be clear, the optical sensor is a chip. This is an example,
but not the only format. My current optical mouse sensor chip,
looks nothing like this one.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Mouse_Chip.jpg

The chip may have a transparent lens assembly over top of the
chip. You'd be cleaning the outer surface of the lens assembly.
There is no need to take it apart to the level of the chip
itself. Mainly, because it may not be protected as well as
that one in the example is.

HTH,
Paul



Thank you, Paul! I used Vanguard's suggestion first, and the mouse is
working fine for now. If it starts jumping again, I'll do what you
suggested. I've printed out a copy.

Jo-Anne


  #9  
Old June 2nd 11, 04:11 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
VanguardLH[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 10,881
Default optical mouse fixable?

Tester wrote:

Jo-Anne wrote:

Thank you, Vanguard! I thought this kind of mouse didn't collect anything
inside (the opening is tiny), but I'll check it out.


Don't waste your time listening to that nutter. He hasn't seen an
optical mouse yet.

There is nothing you can do except to get a new one.


Obviously Tester hasn't bothered to ever turn over an optical mouse to
notice the sensor is INSIDE the case, not attached outside the case.
The sensor is also not hermetically sealed inside the case. There is a
gap and that's where lint and hair get inside. Looks like Tester thinks
an optical mouse is sealed and will never have anything get inside. He
obviously has never worked on this hardware and probably anything else.

Consider Tester's "advice" the same as Dan C's who always responds with
"format your hard disk" to anyone asking for help. Tester isn't here to
help you.
  #10  
Old June 2nd 11, 06:00 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Jo-Anne[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,101
Default optical mouse fixable?

"VanguardLH" wrote in message
...
Tester wrote:

Jo-Anne wrote:

Thank you, Vanguard! I thought this kind of mouse didn't collect
anything
inside (the opening is tiny), but I'll check it out.


Don't waste your time listening to that nutter. He hasn't seen an
optical mouse yet.

There is nothing you can do except to get a new one.


Obviously Tester hasn't bothered to ever turn over an optical mouse to
notice the sensor is INSIDE the case, not attached outside the case.
The sensor is also not hermetically sealed inside the case. There is a
gap and that's where lint and hair get inside. Looks like Tester thinks
an optical mouse is sealed and will never have anything get inside. He
obviously has never worked on this hardware and probably anything else.

Consider Tester's "advice" the same as Dan C's who always responds with
"format your hard disk" to anyone asking for help. Tester isn't here to
help you.



And of course the obvious response, Vanguard, is that I followed your
suggestion, and it worked. As I mentioned earlier, I had no idea there was
an opening in the mouse. Now I do, thanks to you.

Jo-Anne


  #11  
Old June 2nd 11, 02:46 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Twayne[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4,276
Default optical mouse fixable?

In ,
Jo-Anne typed:
"VanguardLH" wrote in message
...
Jo-Anne wrote:

The expensive optical mouse I used with my WinXP laptop
started jumping. I
detached it and used the touchpad for a while. No more
jumping. I then installed a new optical mouse (same
brand, same model), and it seems to be
fine.

Is there anything I can do to fix the old mouse?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne


Clean out the lint and hair that's inside the case but
in front of the LED sensor. Use a tweezers and bright
light.



Addendum: I followed your directions, and the mouse is
working just fine. Thank you again!

Jo-Anne


The wheel if you have one and any switches are also places for junk to get
in, especially the wheel.

HTH,

Twayne`


  #12  
Old June 2nd 11, 09:42 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Jo-Anne[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,101
Default optical mouse fixable?

"Twayne" wrote in message
...
In ,
Jo-Anne typed:
"VanguardLH" wrote in message
...
Jo-Anne wrote:

The expensive optical mouse I used with my WinXP laptop
started jumping. I
detached it and used the touchpad for a while. No more
jumping. I then installed a new optical mouse (same
brand, same model), and it seems to be
fine.

Is there anything I can do to fix the old mouse?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

Clean out the lint and hair that's inside the case but
in front of the LED sensor. Use a tweezers and bright
light.



Addendum: I followed your directions, and the mouse is
working just fine. Thank you again!

Jo-Anne


The wheel if you have one and any switches are also places for junk to get
in, especially the wheel.

HTH,

Twayne`


Thank you, Twayne! If I run into more trouble, I'll check those places too.

Jo-Anne


 




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