Wireless Optical Mouses Problems

Adding a wireless optical mouse to your PC can eliminate hassle from your day-to-day computing experience. With a wireless optical mouse, you no longer need a mouse pad and are no longer confined to your office chair. But, with unique advantages come unique problems. Many veteran PC hardware technicians are unfamiliar with the advanced optical and wireless technologies used in a wireless optical mouse, making repairs expensive or impractical when problems arise.

Optical Problems

· In dealing with optical wireless mouses, problems with the optical tracking portion (the bright red laser-like light emitting from the bottom of your mouse) are rare.

One potential problem you may encounter with heavy use is that your mouse tracking may become inconsistent over time due to a buildup of dirt and grime on the optical sensor. (The cursor jumps around or doesn't move where you want it to.) In this instance, it is safe to clean the underside of your wireless optical mouse with some rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab. If mouse tracking is still inconsistent after cleaning, you may try reinstalling the mouse drivers; this may clear up problems in the mouse's software interface.

If the light underneath your mouse seems to have "burned out", check the batteries first. All wireless mouses require some sort of battery to operate. Most wireless mouse batteries are internal and rechargeable, but some low-end or older models may need to be replaced like any traditional battery-operated device.

If the batteries are good, check that it isn't a problem with the USB port rather than the mouse itself. Perform a mouse test by plugging the mouse in to different USB ports, or even different computers. Conversely, perform a USB test by plugging a different mouse or other USB device into the suspect port. If you can verify that the USB port is good and the optical light is truly dead, consider replacing the mouse. (See "Repair or Replace?")

Wireless Problems

· Although more common than optical problems, issues with a mouse's wireless communication are also becoming less frequent due to constant advances in technology.

As with optical issues, the first thing you should check are the batteries in the mouse. If those are good, move on to checking the USB ports (See "Optical Problems".)

If the batteries and USB ports are confirmed good, begin moving the mouse, electronic devices near the mouse or wireless receiver, and the computer itself to see if performance improves. You could be getting interference from a nearby television, cell phone or another computer peripheral. Most modern optical wireless mouses have hardware or software to limit electronic interference to and from other devices, but it is worth checking into if other elements have been ruled out.

Repair or Replacement?

· Before trying to repair a mouse yourself, or shopping for a new one, make sure your broken mouse isn't still under Warranty. Reputable hardware manufacturers like Logitech and Apple will include warranties even on small peripherals like mouses.

Assuming you aren't under warranty, unless you are an experienced electronics engineer, the effort and cost involved in repairing optical hardware or wireless transmissions systems is significant. Replacement is a much better option than repair for most consumers.

The consistent improvements in technology and decreases in retail prices for consumer electronics are also good reasons to shop for a new wireless optical mouse rather than trying to repair an old model. You may be surprised to find that you can get a better wireless optical mouse now for significantly less than what you paid for your old mouse.

Other Issues

· Because of the new technology involved in a wireless optical mouse, it may be easy to misidentify a navigation problem as being related to your mouses hardware. It is worth noting that in extreme cases, a cursor that is unresponsive or behaves inconsistently could indicate an attack on your system. There is a potential that your cursor is behaving strangely because an outside attacker is controlling your desktop. To avoid this, make sure you keep your security software up to date.