Windows Updated Caused my Mouse to Not Work...Now it happened to my son too...
By brokentia
@brokentia (10389)
United States
June 29, 2007 1:37am CST
OK, I really drove myself crazy with this one.
Have you ever done that? Ran into a problem with your computer and worked for hours and days trying to figure out what the heck is wrong? You swear you didn't do anything different to it the day the problems started. But then...the only thing you remember that was different was a Windows Auto Update.
Hmmm...that must be the problem!
Well, for some reason, this time my mouse just stopped working. No wait, a few minutes later, it worked again and I didn't do anything different. Oh crap! It stopped again! I pick up my mouse thinking that it must not be the update but the mouse its self. Nope, little red light came on and pierced me right in the eye! Mouse works! Now let's see if it will move the cursor on the screen again. It works!!!
Two minutes later...it doesn't work again.
Fine. Maybe it is my USB port. (I am working on a laptop. For those that don't have a laptop, the mouse is plugged into a USB port.:)
I try a different USB. Nope...that didn't work.
Then I try the one in the back. Hey! That worked! The cursor moved! Wait...the cursor just stopped moving again and I am now cursing instead!!!!
So I opted to try to roll back the mouse driver. It had to be something with the update...I already went through Device Manager and USB ports are "working properly".
But when I rolled back the mouse driver...all those special scrolling functions on my touch pad/finger pad stopped working and my mouse is STILL not moving the cursor!!!
I just remember at this point that I have a wireless Microsoft Mouse.
And guess what...when I plugged it in, It Worked!!!! Problem fixed, right? Except I still can't get those great functions back on my finger pad. :( I guess I might as well stop driving myself crazy with it. The mouse works...that is the point.
Well, my eldest son just bought himself a laptop. He has been working Mickey D's for a year and finally saved up his money.
With the laptop, he also bought a wireless mouse. :)
Four days later...Windows does some sort of Vista Update and his mouse stopped working too!!! My partner was at it for hours. I was jumping up and down and doing cartwheels to get him to believe me that this is what happened to my laptop!!! "I swear! This is what happen!"
He told me "it has to be a bad USB because it works intermittently".
Me: "No! That is what happened to me also after that update!!! Why won't you believe me???"
Well, after him messing with it for 3 hours, he decided to take the mouse that works on my laptop and try it on my son's.
Guess what....it worked!!!!
So my partner tells me that it is a incompatibility issue with Vista and he will have to get a new mouse. My thought is though....'But I don't have Windows Vista.'
Fine. He knows all. I know nothing.
I swear it is an update issue of some sort...and maybe it does have something to do with Vista because my computer is Vista compatible.
Has anyone else had this problem?
If not...please tell me that you believe me. :( I know I am not the person that has spent 4 years in college learning about computers. But I can hold my own pretty good.
Care to share any computer problems that has made you feel like this?
I swear...Microsoft is trying to drive us all crazy!!!
6 people like this
13 responses
@mummyofthree (2715)
•
29 Jun 07
LOL! I believe you!! I haven't had this particular problem but I am fequently having others!
Only yesterday and the day before.... My computer refused to connect to the intenet. I have a wireless connection so presumed the settings had mucked up AGAIN! No luck. I connected it with the wire to the modem... Still nothing. Ok maybe the network is down.... A whole day I was like this.... Checked the connections.. All plugged in.... My 5 year old lad asked what was wrong with the computer, told him I had no idea.... An hour later he comes running in telling me he knows why it's broken..... The cat had chewed through the wire!!!! So all connections were still in place... but the wire was broke between the phone socket and the modem!!!! I felt rather silly not to have even checked it!!!!
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Oh man! I would have wanted to bang my head on the table. LOL
But I am sure that I probably would have not thought about that either.
I am glad to see that you got it fixed. :) Welcome back!
1 person likes this
@morgandrake (2136)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Cat chewed wires--sounds like a problem I need to watch my little darling for. It is bad enourgh that he crawls under the desk and turns off the button for the power strip. Don't feel bad, I won't have thought of looking for that one either.
@cloud_kicker_32 (4635)
• United States
29 Jun 07
hahahahah!! omg!! Girll!~ you had me rolling on the ground laughing!! Ihave had so many issues with microsofts updates im to the point wher i wont download them anymore,,seriously!! I havent had the mouse problem but mine uses a USB and ever since i updated to this XP package thing..my pc has been crappy..and my mouse acts weird..like it will be sitting on the desk and the mouse moves on the screen itself..but its not moving on the desk? hahah..and my oc freezes all the time..i mean all the time now..i now cant download yahoo messenger either ..it rejects it..why oh why do they have to mess with a good thing? they say they make it better but they dont...just worse..and i have had my pc looked at by professionals..and they are just as scratchy headed as i am!! I have sen them letters and emails..just complaining..of course no one writes back..but maybe if we all get together and keep complaining things wil change..well hun..im sorry your having such probs..and i hope u get it fixed soon and your son..keep me updated if ya will have a good one1!
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I am glad that I was able to give you a good laugh. That was really intended as I use humor to vent often. :)
I could not agree with you more!!! Microsoft needs to learn to stop changing a good thing. And if they didn't try to pump out a new program every year, then maybe they would really work when they were released.
Best of luck with you computer problems. :)
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
29 Jun 07
This is why my next computer will probably be a Mac computer as I am considering a Apple Macbook laptop. I am so tired and annoyed with Microsoft and their Windows operating systems. I have been having problems with my desktop computer at home, though not with my mouse. I can not even download the updates. Some of the students computers at work are having issues as well. I have not had a problem with using my mouse though.
1 person likes this
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I seriously think that Microsoft should NOT release a program unless it is bug free. Why do they get away with releasing programs when they know that it is going to take another year to work out all the kinks and make people download patches. And then some patches that mess up things.
Remember Service Pack 2 from XP being a mess? Now that XP is running smoothly, they have to muck it up with Vista. Seriously, they need to get their head into the game and realize they are going to start loosing business.
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
2 Jul 07
Weird! I was/am having problems with my wireless mouse on my laptop too. But I just figured it needed it's battery changed and I keep forgetting to buy batteries for it. Now you've made me wonder if it was an update instead that started the problem.
On our desktop though we haven't had any problems...humm...who knows?!
But I do understand your frustrations!! My wireless internet has been acting a fool for the last several times I've tried to get online on the laptop. I keep having to go shut the desktop down completely and then turning the power strip off and then all back on again. Then my laptop connection works! And you know I haven't been online much in the last week...
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
4 Jul 07
It's not the laptop I have to restart. It's the desk top. No matter what I do to try to repair the connection (even doing what you suggested) it still won't connect. I don't know why it does it. I think it's got something to do with the wireless router box.
Thanks for trying to help me though :)
My laptop is actually always left off except for when I'm using it.
@SpitFire179 (2536)
• Canada
29 Jun 07
Well since the windows update (and i have windows xp) it's been shutting down my computer into sleep mode every so often. And it always happens at the worst possible time when I'm working, i absolutely hate it.
Anyway i decided to play around with the settings, and it hasn't done it's stupid little shut down thing for a couple of days, now i'm crossing my fingers it's fixed, stupid thing, i'm getting sick of windows all together!
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Wow! I have never had mine go into sleep mode by its self unless it was my laptop that did it because my battery was too low.
Hope you got it fixed. I will have my fingers crossed for ya.
1 person likes this
@SpitFire179 (2536)
• Canada
29 Jun 07
the stupidest part is, the only way i can get it out of sleep mode is to shut the computer down by unplugging it, which is a big pain in the but!
But, it's stopped since i played with my settings...
I hope your mouse works still and all that, it must be a pain right in the but to not have it work.
I dunno, i think i might go get a mac hahaha, i like those commercials.
@morgandrake (2136)
• United States
29 Jun 07
It didn't even occur to me that might have been an update problem. I was having the same bloody problem. I also ended up playing with the settings--instructing it not to sleep for seven hours--to fix the issue. I thought it was something weird that I did.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Hehehe---Oh, when I hear stories like this it makes me feel SO good that I have a Mac computer--LOL--not that we Macs don't have some gripes also...Macs come with TextEdit and/or Pages..I have both and suck as a word processor...Macs are great for graphics and photography, music..but not as a word processor...so you PC users with Word win there..I have both Safari and Firefox browers...no Windows/IE --I have heard so many problems with Vista, and it's predecessor Media...seemed they took that off the market real fast
Ever consider though switching and becoming one of the elite group of computer users...and get a Mac?? hehehe
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Would you believe that m first computer was a Mac? :)
I did love my Mac but I had such a hard time finding programs for the Mac.
Back then, one had to go to a "Mac Store" to actually have more programs to choose from. But that was a long time ago.
I have gotten used to PCs since then. Maybe one day I will switch back.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
4 Jul 07
I have word for my Mac...it is more stable then WinWord. If you are not happy with Pages try Openoffice.org. You can get a reason imitation of a word processor that is word compatible for free.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Jun 07
That's is one problem too..there's just not as much software for Macs---I actually can have windows related software since I have a duo core Intel processor....but alas, my fellow Mac user friend says to avoid at all costs...once you get Windows related software you're opening up to viruses...I avoid like the plague any kind of freebie software even if it is Mac compatible--sounds a bit too good to be true
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
• United States
3 Jul 07
I've not had the money to buy Vista but when I downloaded IE 7 it played havoc with my computer. I still don't have it back to where it was. It slowed it down terribly. I had to install the Firefox browser and with it there are some programs - like my Tupperware program to send marketing and thank you emails (kind of important) that it won't allow me access to (turns off rich text editor) - therefore, I am stuck with only a very sloooooow Internet Explorer to do those tasks with. Again, Tia, I think it's because the CIA lives in my computer; but you know what a paranoid old hippie I am. ~Donna
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
1 Jul 07
OMG--- I just went out and bought a new mouse because I could not get mine to work- It was last week- It worked all along and then stopped- But when I unplugged it and changed USB cables still nothing- But the light came one and everything- But I was like I'm not wasting anymore time- I bought a new one- The new one works fine- I would love to think it was updating and windows- Drives me crazy- I hate computer problems- I'm going to take my old mouse to work and see if it works there- and then I'll keep it in case it decided to work again-
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
2 Jul 07
Well, if your computers at work had that update too...then the mouse will not work there either.
I would say keep the mouse. ha ha Just in case they have another update that will include those that were suddenly made not to work. ha ha
Ouch...I think I am confusing myself not.
Or it could be that my son insists on continuing to talk to me and asking me if I am listening. ha ha
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
2 Jul 07
I have had far too many problems over the years with Windows computers. When in doubt...try powering it off and starting again. See if you can remove the update.
I personally never have any problems with Windows...I switch over to Apple 2 years ago, and not a problem since them.
@filmbuff (2909)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Call me stupid (everyone else does) but wireless mice run on batteries that die and need to be recharged or replaced to work correctly again. Are you sure that wasn't the problem with your son's mouse?
For the record, yes microsoft updates do mess things up. I work in the IT field (some of the time) and have witnessed this all too often which really sucks in a corporate envinronment.
My best advice is not to install the updates the instant that they come out, wait and see if others have problems first. Also it's wise to read about them first to see what problems they may or may not cause.
The problem though, is that security updates and ones for vista you almost have to install because you're opening yourself up too many other serious problems if you ignore them.
For issues with mice like that though, the very first thing I would do is check to make sure they have a charge. After that, run to do not walk directly the manufacturer of the mouse's website and download the very latest driver for it. That will often solve the problem.
If that doesn't work, remove the mouse, uninstall the mouse software. And reinstall it all. It could just be a corrupted file causing the problem.
Hope that helps, and no you're not going crazy. When Microsoft updates Operating Systems, they change system files which may corrupt other files, device drivers, or a file that your mouse (or anything else for that matter) needs to operate correctly.
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
29 Jun 07
While that could have been the initial problem for my son. It was not my problem because the mouse that I was using first was not wireless. But yes, I thought about the battery thing too when my son's mouse first stopped working.
Would you believe there is no driver's with the manufacture to download?
I went to Targus thinking if I could get the driver, it should fix it. Nope. They don't have one there for download either. And the manual just says to let the computer download the default mouse driver...I guess they are meaning the HID (Human Interface Device) mouse driver.
I should really take the auto updates off the computers. ha ha
Thanks for your help. :)
1 person likes this
@senthil2k (1500)
• India
29 Jun 07
I think the windows update you have done, might have spoiled the driver of your mouse, if you have installed one. I cant think of anything else as the problem.
The solution can be to, just try to check for the latest driver of your mouse from their website and install it. This should definitely help you out. This has been a common problem whenever some Windows update is available.
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I tried to find a driver for this mouse online...but I couldn't find one.
My partner found something and downloaded it...but it still did not work.
He is still saying it is not compatible and we will have to return it for another mouse.
@morgandrake (2136)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Oh, I believe you. I hate updates; they seem to be nothing but trouble. The reason that microsoft releases software before it is ready is because they use us as their beta-testers, or so it seems. At times, I think we would be better off banging a couple of rocks together. I am afraid of Vista, though it can't be worse than Millenium edition (I lost a lot in that final crash), but it is not a real issue I can't afford to update my computer memory and cards for that one. I have yet to have mouse problems, but I know what I will suspect first if they do occur.
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Well see...the most interesting thing is...I don't have Vista and my son does.
But my computer is "Vista compatible". So, does that mean I get some of the same updates that Vista would and that is what caused us both to have the same mouse issue?
You are right on use being the beta testers. Grrr. I think if we choose to be Beta testers, we should not have to pay the full price until all the kinks are worked out.
1 person likes this
