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All you ever wanted to know about your mouse
Driving your mouse
Buried in the software on your computer is a piece of software that tells
it how to interpret the clicks and movements. These are known as
'drivers'.
If you delve, you will discover you can control its sensitivity, the size
of the pointer it leaves on the screen and what the buttons do. If you don't
like the look or find the pointer is too sensitive, then you can adjust it.
If you have added a mouse you might have some extra buttons as well as a
roller-wheel. These can be programmed in ways that could save you a great
deal of time
so they are worth investigating.
Health & safety |
Mouse cleaning
Mice and tracker-balls get dirty
They pick up dust and crumbs from the mat or surface over which they roam.
When grease, sweat and skin-flakes are added it produces a ‘concrete’ compound
inside the mouse. The buttons on the mouse are also vulnerable to hairs and
other bits of debris that can stop you ‘clicking’.
The symptoms
If you find you need to apply pressure or wiggle the mouse about in order to
get the pointer on the move, then the mouse needs cleaning.
Keyboard maintenance |
What follows applies to the conventional mouse. Newer mice employ optical,
rather than mechanical technology. The former are not as vulnerable to the
build-up of the debris that reduces the effectiveness of your mouse.
Preventative measures
 | Avoid putting drinks on your mouse-mat. The minor deposit on the mat will
slowly be transferred via the mouse-ball onto the rollers inside the mouse. |
| Especially avoid sweetened drink spills which coat the dust and can turn the
accretion in the mouse to concrete. |
| Keep the mat clean so that there is little dust to find its way into the
mouse. |
| Do not use the mouse with wet or grimy hands. Both ingredients will
accelerate the build-up inside the mouse. |
| Avoid hand-cream just before using the mouse. Let any cosmetic dry before
touching the mouse. |
| Buy a mouse or tracker-ball with optical technology. |
The cause of the problem
As the mouse is moved about it rotates 2 shafts inside the body of the mouse.
| These shafts can be identified. They sometimes have a disk attached to them – The
rotation of this disk tells the computer the amount the mouse is being moved -
but the shafts are about the only moving parts inside the mouse-house. |
| The 2 shafts are set at right angles. They very slowly build-up a
ring of detritus. The precise nature of this deposit depends on the operating
environment. |
| The shafts normally have a grooved surface that helps ensure traction with
the mouse-ball. But this rough surface makes them attractive to dust and dirt. |
| The build-up reduces the contact between the ball and the shafts, and so
gradually makes the mouse less accurate and less responsive as the shafts start to
‘skid’ instead of moving in a predictable way. |
Cleaning
There is no need to switch the computer off but it is a wise precaution
- If you were having a bad day, you might accidentally move the pointer to
‘delete files’ or ‘format disk’ and click to accept as you concentrated on
the cleaning. So it is best to carry out the work with the computer switched
off. An alternative is to unplug the mouse. There are no dangerous voltages
inside the mouse even when its inner workings are exposed.
- First, remove the ball. The mouse has a retaining ring which will be marked
to indicate how to open or close (sometimes both) the retaining ring. Invert the
mouse and the ball, plus the retaining ring, should drop out.
- Next, find a sharpened pencil. Identify the shafts and see if you can see a
ring of build-up. If this is not present, this is not the problem.
- Gently work at the build-up with the tip of the pencil. After a few moments
it will break away.
- If you are lucky you can lift the material away with the pencil but there is
every chance that it will fall into the mouse. Do your best to extract it but
don’t worry if it chooses to lodge inside the mouse.
- Rub the pencil along the shaft and rotate it in order to remove the final
traces of the build-up. You should be able to sense when the surface is smooth
through the pencil.
- Now repeat the process for the other shaft and the roller (if
fitted).
- Finally, give the mouse-ball itself a good rub. If it has become polished it
will slide over the mat and the shafts so a good rough rub will do it nothing
but good!
- With the mouse upside down, replace the ball and then the retaining ring,
giving it a twist to lock it back in place and the mouse is ready for action.
- Give the mat a wipe before replacing the mouse.
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For tracker-balls, the process is even easier. Push, or pull, the ball out of
its socket. There are a few pins which will have a little build-up of debris.
This can be quickly removed, the ball polished and replaced. Depending on the
amount of use and the environment, the process only needs to be carried out every few
months in a dusty environment and every year in a clean place.
Mouse terminology
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Pointing: Moving the mouse to place the pointer over or next to an item. |
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Clicking: Pointing to an item on the screen and quickly pressing and
releasing the mouse button. For example, you may click on the name of the menu
you want to select from the menu bar. |
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Double-clicking: Pointing to an item on the screen and quickly pressing and
releasing the left mouse button two times. You may need to practice this before
you get the timing of the pressing and releasing just right. |
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Left-clicking: All mice have at least 2 buttons. The left is the
'normal' button to select anything. The role and function of buttons can
often be reset to cope with disabilities, preferences or for left-handed people. |
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Right-clicking: This button normally brings up some valuable
shortcuts. |
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Dragging: Holding down the mouse button while you move the pointer. |
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Dropping: Releasing the mouse button after a dragging operation. |
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Selecting text: While editing text, holding down the mouse button while
moving the cursor over the text you want to select. Selected text will become
highlighted. |
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