[MRSO]

Hi. Can anyone please advise me how to get my mouse working. I have an Inspiron 6000 running Windows XP. The USB wheel type mouse actually came as an accessory with the computer a few years ago but, until now, I have only used the touchpad. I have downloaded and updated the driver and, according to the control panel,the mouse is recognised and functioning correctly. The mouse light up and works on another computer - but on mine it has no effect at all. Any advice please ? The mouse does everything but actually move the cursor.

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Welcome to Geeks To Go!

You don't normally need to, but try "disabling the touchpad when a mouse is connected". There should be a setting for that in the touchpad driver software (usually made by 'Synaptics'). Look for the touchpad icon in the system tray and double-click it to open the settings interface.

On my laptop, the touchpad and mouse can be used simultaneously but yours may be different.
Also, try plugging mouse in to a different usb port.

[phillipcorcoran]

Welcome to Geeks To Go!

You don't normally need to, but try "disabling the touchpad when a mouse is connected". There should be a setting for that in the touchpad driver software (usually made by 'Synaptics'). Look for the touchpad icon in the system tray and double-click it to open the settings interface.

On my laptop, the touchpad and mouse can be used simultaneously but yours may be different.
Also, try plugging mouse in to a different usb port.

[MRSO]

Thanks very much for this advice. Although I can find various controls in the control panel for the touch pad - some under "system" and some under "mouse", I cannot find one to disable it. (I`ve been searching for an hour). I have a feeling you may be onto something - but I do not know how to find out !


I have tried running a diagnostic check using the computer`s original "drivers" CD. Strangely, the mouse works while in the diagnostic mode but as soon as I exit it (which automatiacally restarts the computer)it stops functioning.

Thanks again.

[phillipcorcoran]

In Control Panel (Classic view)>> Mouse

Click the "Device Settings" tab

There should be a 'Disable' button which disables the touchpad for all future Windows sessions.

Alternatively, tick the option to "Disable internal pointing device when external one is attached"

[MRSO]

Thanks again.........but there is no "Device Settings" tab in the "mouse" part of the Control Panel. I have checke all the other tabs repeatedly and there is no option to disable in any way.

However, I think I can remember seeing this option there in the past. Could an update to the driver or something have removed this option ?