Top 5 Computer Mouse Problems And How To Fix Them

By Ryan James Smith

This guide will take you through the 5 most common mouse problems along with a quick fix for each problem.

First Things First

Before even attempting to resolve your problem you'll need to do a few initial checks. They are all very easy and take but a few seconds.

1. Change batteries - If your mouse is wireless then change the batteries. Just because the bottom of the mouse is still glowing red and its lights are on and flashing doesn't necessarily mean that it's running low on juice and causing other problems.

2. Clean the mouse - Give your mouse and mouse mate or mouse surface a quick once over with a clean cloth to make sure there are no dust particles affecting it's performance.

3. Unplug and plug back in the mouse - It could be a case of simply replugging in your mouse. This usually fixes most problems.

If you have taken all of these steps and the problem persists then below are the 5 most common computer mouse problems along with the viable solutions.

PROBLEM: Mouse Cursor Doesn't Move Smoothly

SOLUTION: If your mouse cursor does not move smoothly then the most likely cause will be either dust in the mouse sensor or dust on the mouse surface, be it a mouse mat or desk. Ensure that you give the mouse a thorough cleaning making sure just to use a clean cloth and no chemicals which are likely to cause more problems.

Another factor which may be causing this malfunction is that a glossy mouse surface is being used. Some mice, especially optical and laser, have difficulties in tracking movement on high gloss surfaces such as glass. Try using a mouse mat instead.

PROBLEM: Mouse Pointer Freezes

SOLUTION: The most likely cause of this problem will be due to your computers CPU (Central Processor Unit) usage. In this case you may be running more programs than necessary or simply have a lot of background applications open without even realising it. This can potentially be the most annoying as this may mean that your PC is due an upgrade but before committing to this purchase then try these options.

i) Wait a few seconds - The simplest solutions are most often the best. Simply wait a few seconds to see if the problem resolves itself. If the problem persists or repeats itself then further investigation is required.

ii) Close some programs - Some computer programs will keep themselves open in the background without you realising. Look at the bottom right of your Windows Desktop to see if there are any programs still running which you could potentially close.

iii) If all else fails then power off and then power back on to completely clear any unwanted and troublesome background applications or programs.

PROBLEM: Mouse Not Working At All

SOLUTION: Your mouse not working at all could be from a variety of problems. Some may be software related and some will be hardware related. The mouse not working may be as a result from a loose connection, faulty wiring, a faulty USB or PS/2 port or a faulty IR wireless receiver. Make sure to double check the integrity of your ports when troubleshooting to ensure they are working as expected. Some wireless devices (and some wired) will require a mouse driver to be installed for proper use. Refer to the manufacturer's driver's guideline to make sure it is installed and up-to-date.

If all of this fails then, as usual, unplug and power up your mouse and PC.

PROBLEM: Mouse Pointer Too Slow Or Too Fast

SOLUTION: There's only really one solution for this and it's a software configuration issue. This can easily be fixed by going to Control Panel > Mouse > Pointer Options Tab. Change the pointer speed to the desired level by moving the slider up or down until it feels more comfortable.

PROBLEM: Problem With Double Click

SOLUTION: As above this will most likely be a software configuration issue and can be fixed by going to Control Panel > Mouse > Buttons tab. Change the double click speed and test it to a comfortable click speed level.

If all of these solutions fail for your mouse fix then the final option is to purchase another mouse. You can buy a variety of computer mice for many different uses. If you're not sure whether it's the actual hardware (the mouse) or your software then you can pick up a cheap mouse for a few dollars and testing it with this before making a more substantial purchase.

Ryan Smith is the chief author and editor of Computer Mouse Reviews. For help in fixing your computer mouse problems.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7504390

Amazing Firsts in the History of Computers

By Gary Klingsheim

A modern computer user accesses video, email, and spam every single day; it's an accepted part of a connected life. The Internet is now a vital part of business, social relationships, and politics; it's impossible to imagine how we ever got along without it. But computer and Internet technology as we know it is still quite new, on a historic scale. While many things are ubiquitous now, they were invented by someone who made the first leaps ahead. Here are some of those firsts in computer history.

The First Webcam

Webcams have revolutionized how we interact with others online, putting a human face onto a medium that was historically confined to text-only communications. Dial-up web connections couldn't possibly handle a live video stream; web browsers didn't gain the ability to display images until 1993. The first web cam was installed at the University of Cambridge in 1991. It showed a still image close-up of the laboratory's coffee pot in the hallway just outside of the "Trojan Room"; the image would display three times per minute and reduce the users monitor resolution to 128X128 grayscale color.

Like many inventions, the webcam was born out of necessity; employees working in other areas of the building would often take a break to get some coffee, only to arrive and find the pot totally empty. Frustrated at having to make frequent and pointless trips, some of the engineers set up a camera, pointed it at the coffee pot, and connected it to a video capture card on an Acorn Archimedes computer. The camera was connected to the Internet in 1993, making it visible to thousands of people online; the Trojan Room coffee pot became an early web celebrity until it was disconnected in 2001 when the computer department moved to a new building on campus.

The First Message

The Internet as we know it today would not exist without ARPANET, the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network. It was the first operational packet switching network, laying the groundwork for how the Internet works today. It launched in 1969 with a network of four small computers called Interface Message Processors, located at University of California Los Angeles, UC Santa Barbara, the University of Utah, and Stanford Research Institute.

UCLA was the first node; Stanford got the second. On October 29, 1969, project leader Leonard Kleinrock supervised UCLA student Charley Kline as he sent the very first host-to-host message from UCLA's SDS Sigma 7 computer to Stanford's SDS 940. The message was intended to be the word 'login', so that UCLA could access the Stanford host. However, the system crashed after sending just the L and the O, one letter at a time; Two simple characters "L & O" ushered in a new era of global communications that would ultimately become part of everyday modern life.

The First Virus

John von Neumann theorized the possibilities of self-reproducing automated programs in 1949, and even designed a theoretical self-replicating computer program. The first true virus, Creeper, was written in 1971 by a BBN Technologies employee named Bob Thomas. BBN was a major player in the field of early computer science, including implementing ARPANET and developing an early operating system called TENEX. Creeper would infect computers running TENEX, then use ARPANET to copy itself into remote systems and display the message, "I'm the creeper, catch me if you can!" This challenge inspired the first piece of anti-virus software, a similarly self-replicating program called Reaper, whose goal was to remove Creeper from infected systems.

Together with his design team, Gary Klingsheim on Facebook, is dedicated to providing distinctive web design services for clients from all areas; creating stunning Social Network, Mobile, E-Commerce websites and more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7523471