Microsoft Optical USB Mouse quits randomly

cmvanbrunt · n00b Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 31

Has anyone else seen an MS Optical Mouse randomly stop working? By that I mean the light goes out and the mouse ceases working, until it is disconnected and reconnected. My Synaptics touchpad continues to work, and the MS mouse resumes working once it is reconnected. Would that be a problem with my X configuration, or something to do with my kernel configuration?

If it is useful, here is the mouse section from my xorg.conf file:

Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"

Thanks in advance,

Chris VB.

kiksen · Guru Joined: 24 Jun 2002 Posts: 401 Location: Denmark

I have an MS Optical too. No problems. My protocol is set to "auto" - dunno if that will help.

/kiksen

cmvanbrunt · n00b Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 31

Thanks, but that didn't help.

[EDIT] It only seems to happen with my MS mouse, I use a Kensington Studio Mouse with no troubles when I'm set up at my desk, I also borrowed an IBM optical, which had no issues...

Could it be a problem with my USB support? Missing something in the kernel?

Thanks,

Chris VB.

dh3rm3 · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 26 Aug 2003 Posts: 101

I've had the exact same problem / symptom, but I realized that it was simply the mouse that was dying on me for I plugged it into a friend's computer running windows, and it does exactely the same thing, freeze, red light went out, stop working, then light goes back, works again when usb detects it again etc..
It was an almost 3-4 years old Intellimouse Explorer. I just bought myself an Intellimouse Wireless, and it works now flawlessly.
Maybe yours is also geeting a little bit old or tired after years of good services... Try to plug it into another computer and see what happens, it the symptoms remains, then you know what to do.
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dh3rm3's place

bilbravo · Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 4:22 pm Post subject:

maybe another issue, but i had the same problem with my logitech iFeel. i never tried another mouse though.

my problem was that i didn't have dma enabled on my disks, so it was locking the mouse up (weird). maybe that is the problem?
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me

cmvanbrunt · n00b Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 31

I have tested that mouse on other machines, running both windows and other Linux distros... I haven't had any problems elsewhere. I've even tested it on this same computer using Suse 9.2 (which I used to install Gentoo back in the day).

As far as DMA on my disks, assuming that option is located under device drivers > ATA/ATAPI devices, I have already enabled it. I beleive I have a VIA82CXX chipset. Should I compile that directly into the kernel, or should I load it as a module. Also, should I remove the other chipsets which are selected by default? (Intel PIIXn, AMD and nVidia)

_pF_

The OP is experiencing a well-known problem with this bit of Microsoft junk called an "Intellimouse".

Mine has never worked properly - either on Linux or XP. Usually it wakes up after a while or if inverted.

If you use the PS2 adapter you can work around the problem, otherwise unplug and replug the USB connector. I trashed one of my USB sockets doing this all the time.

I stumbled upon this thread because I wanted to ask whether there is any command to reset the USB device, obviating the need for a physical disconnect.

Bushwack · n00b Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 14

The exact same thing started happening to me a couple weeks ago, my mouse (first generation IntelliMouse Explorer) would "go out" untill I unpluged and pluged the usb connection back in. At first I thought it must be a software problem (how could my trusty mouse do me wrong), but then I figured out I could turn the mouse back on by pushing the cord back into the mouse. I think my mouse is dying

I've had this thing for years, I hate to have to replace it (although logitech's mx series look pretty nice).