USB Mouse Sometimes Failing

anonprivate · Jul 19, 2012

OS is Windows Vista, 32 bit
BIOS is Dell Inc. 2.2.1. 23/03/2007
SMBIOS ver 2.3

Hi,

On occasions my optical mouse (USB connected) fails. If I pull the USB connector from the tower and then reconnect, the mouse works well. This happens occasionally.

Would an updated BIOS help?

If not, any other suggestions.

Thanks

wither 3 · Jul 19, 2012

You could always install your mobo drivers and the BIOS from the Dell support site. However, since this only happens occasionally, I don't know if it's worth the trouble.

anonprivate · Jul 19, 2012

Would installing just the BIOS be insufficent?

Could there be any problems involved after installing these firmwares.

Thanks

Ps. the keyboard is USB connected, and is unproblematic (mind you, it is not a mouse).

I assume that if one USB is affected then the others will be similarly affected.

wither 3 · Jul 19, 2012

I think the BIOS has nothing to do with it. I would consider reinstalling the motherboard drivers in case it's a USB issue and the mouse driver.

townsbg · Jul 20, 2012

I also doubt the bios and yes a bios upgrade can be dangerous. If it goes wrong or is the wrong update it could completely ruin your motherboard.

Have you tried the mouse on other computers? Does the receiver seem hot? I use a wireless mouse on my work laptop and I had the receiver fail on me. At the time when I'd pull it out of the laptop after only a few minutes it was burning hot.

anonprivate · Jul 20, 2012

Hi,

No, I have not tried the mouse on another computer. The problem is that the fault is intermittent.

My mouse is wired (no receiver), nothing is hot. The red light on the mouse goes out when the fault arises.

Best wishes.

Ps. Would all USB ports have the same effect if it was a driver problem? The problem only manifested over the last week.

wither 3 · Jul 20, 2012

As far as I can tell, most of the USB controllers use the same driver so, if that's what you're talking about, I would say yes to your question.

If the mouse didn't come with the computer, I'm guessing it's using a Windows driver. In other words, there is no software that came with the mouse. Is that true? Point is that I have a Logitech wireless mouse that came with it's own software and it periodically prods me to let it look for a new driver and software. I usually say no because, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Logitech confirmed that approach to me.

townsbg · Jul 20, 2012

The best thing that you can do would be to try it for a while in another computer. If you aren't having any blue screens considering that it is intermittent I doubt that it is the driver. Perhaps the mouse is failing. With the exception of gaming mice the rest aren't that expensive so it shouldn't be a big deal to replace it. Hopefully it isn't your motherboard.

anonprivate · Jul 20, 2012

wither 3 said:
As far as I can tell, most of the USB controllers use the same driver so, if that's what you're talking about, I would say yes to your question.

If the mouse didn't come with the computer, I'm guessing it's using a Windows driver. In other words, there is no software that came with the mouse. Is that true? Point is that I have a Logitech wireless mouse that came with it's own software and it periodically prods me to let it look for a new driver and software. I usually say no because, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Logitech confirmed that approach to me.

Hi,

The mouse came with the system (DELL Mouse)

anonprivate · Jul 20, 2012

townsbg said:
The best thing that you can do would be to try it for a while in another computer. If you aren't having any blue screens considering that it is intermittent I doubt that it is the driver. Perhaps the mouse is failing. With the exception of gaming mice the rest aren't that expensive so it shouldn't be a big deal to replace it. Hopefully it isn't your motherboard.

Hi,

Thanks for the advice.

Best wishes.

wither 3 · Jul 21, 2012

Since the mouse came with the Dell, you would look for it's driver at the Dell support website and reinstall it. Note that the driver page will list maybe four or five drivers but there's another tab that shows all drivers.

townsbg · Jul 21, 2012

Really you would only need dell drivers if there are extra buttons or some other special features or if it is bluetooth. Otherwise the standard mouse drivers native to Vista would work. It is best to go with manufacturer's drivers.

anonprivate · Jul 21, 2012

I could re-install the original driver, if I can identify it. I think the mouse knows that I am taliking about it because it hasn't frozen since I began this discussion.

I have had a look at the DELL site.

I see

(Input devices)

Applies to: Premium Optical Mouse

Dell Premium Optical Mouse(Nala)

Both mention XP, but I use Vista 32 bit.

The description of my mouse is: 'Mouse Dell Optical (not wireless) USB (2 button scroll)' Black. I put the item number (from order confirmation) into their search facility, but found nothing. I gained the above information from inserting my 'Tag Number': Identifies my system).

Any idea which of the above is the right file? I think they may refer to the same file.

If the mouse driver had become corrupted wouldn't I have a constant problem?

Thanks

townsbg · Jul 21, 2012

Nope. XP drivers won't work. Like I posted if there isn't anything special about the mouse (extra buttons, programmability, blue tooth, etc.) then the Vista drivers will work.

anonprivate · Jul 22, 2012

I think that I have now identified the DELL drivers suitable for Vista.

Applies to:

Premium Optical Mouse

Dell Premium Optical Mouse(Nala)

Any idea which of the above is the right file? I think the links may refer to the same programme.

If the mouse driver has become corrupted wouldn't I have a constant problem?

Thanks

wither 3 · Jul 22, 2012

They're both the same. Follow the installation instructions.

anonprivate · Jul 22, 2012

I have just looked in the C:\DELL\drivers folder and note that the current folder is R150193 (5/4/2007).

The driver on the DELL site is R141725 (release 23/1/2007). Seems to be an earlier version?

Ps. While I was in the C folder I scanned R150193, seems to be clean.

wither 3 · Jul 22, 2012

There's something wrong if the installed driver is newer than the one available at the Dell support site. Makes one wonder where it came from. You might try just rolling back the driver and see what it comes up with and if it does anything for your problem. You might want to make sure you retain the one you say is installed if a roll back doesn't do anything for you.

anonprivate · Jul 23, 2012

Are you saying that I should save the current driver folder to another location, then install the driver form the DELL site. If this solves the problem, all well and good. If not, I could copy the folder back, run the setup.exe in this folder, and then delete the driver I installed from the Dell website. I must retain the use of the mouse.

Would this be the procedure in practice. If not, please suggest a better method.

Regards.

Ps. I don't understand roll back.

wither 3 · Jul 23, 2012

In Device Manager, there is a roll back feature for all drivers.

The answer to your other question is yes exactly for the reasons you mentioned.

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