Sticky mouse

Message

MartDude · #1 Post by **MartDude** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:11 pm

Or rather, cursor

It's started 'pausing', if that's the right word - move it to another part of the screen , and, en route, and seems to stop to have a think for, sometimes, half a second, or sometimes perhaps two seconds.

When playing Age of Empires (I know, old hat but I like it) part way through a game it'll freeze up altogether, although the game's still running, and the only way to get out is to switch off the pooter at the mains.

The only change I've made recently was to uninstall AVG and install Avast.

The mouse is a Microsoft optical mouse, a replacement about a year ago for the original mouse.

Pooter is a Dell PC, running Vista; about 3 years old, I think.

Help, please

Samray · #2 Post by **Samray** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:27 pm

Try a diff mouse? if only as the first step of elimination.

Dalemac · #3 Post by **Dalemac** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:56 pm

is it wired or wireless? connect it to a different computer/laptop and see if the cursor pauses then.

First thing i would do ia go to device manager and see how many mice your system is recognising. Sometimes dublicate devices can cause similar problems.

BikerGran · #4 Post by **BikerGran** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:39 pm

Just as with bikes, check the simple things first - check that it's plugged in tight! (Had the same problem recently and it turned out the cats had been playing behind the computer!)

randomsquid · #5 Post by **randomsquid** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:02 pm

Is the hole in the bottom crudded up?
Have you changed the surface you're mousing on? They sometimes get confuddled by shiny.
Are you getting hard drive thrashing, fans spinning up or similar evidence of the PC working hard when the pointer stops playing?

Firestarter · #6 Post by **Firestarter** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:44 pm

randomsquid wrote:Is the hole in the bottom crudded up?
Have you changed the surface you're mousing on? They sometimes get confuddled by shiny.
Are you getting hard drive thrashing, fans spinning up or similar evidence of the PC working hard when the pointer stops playing?

+1 for the computer, sounds like the AV software might be causing a bit of a stutter

MartDude · #7 Post by **MartDude** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:51 pm

randomsquid wrote: Are you getting hard drive thrashing, fans spinning up or similar evidence of the PC working hard when the pointer stops playing?

Somewhat.

However, having just found a spare, new mouse - can't remember why I had it - and plugged it in, everything's working fine again. Out of curiosity, I'll try & cleean the old one & see if works ok.

Thanks, everybody.

randomsquid · #8 Post by **randomsquid** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:51 pm

Firestarter wrote:
randomsquid wrote:Is the hole in the bottom crudded up?
Have you changed the surface you're mousing on? They sometimes get confuddled by shiny.
Are you getting hard drive thrashing, fans spinning up or similar evidence of the PC working hard when the pointer stops playing?
+1 for the computer, sounds like the AV software might be causing a bit of a stutter

That'd be my guess. Far too intrusive some of it.

MartDude · #9 Post by **MartDude** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:53 pm

Went over to Avast largely 'cos of recommendations on here.

Not being that au fait with IT stuff, I rely on heavily on the advice of such as your good selves.

randomsquid · #10 Post by **randomsquid** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:00 pm

Glad you've sorted it, plug in bits can be a pain sometimes for no good reason. I had a keyboard that kept falling out with the PC until I plugged it in a different hole.

BikerGran · #11 Post by **BikerGran** » Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:51 pm

I love these technical terms

plugged it in a different hole

randomsquid · #12 Post by **randomsquid** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 6:24 pm

BikerGran wrote:I love these technical terms
plugged it in a different hole

That's what the judge said too.