I hate to ask a tech support question, I really do, but the MS “community newsgroup” won’t answer me, the product manufacturer won’t answer me, and because there’s “OEM” in my Windows product ID, Microsoft renounces all responsibility. I’m going crazy, and craziness = ask the SDMB.
The matter is simple. I received a wireless mouse for the Winter Non-Denominational Gift-Giving Holiday. It requires no software; it simply instructs you to delete all your mouse drivers, plug in the new mouse, and reboot, and the computer will find the correct driver and install it.
This is on Windows ME, by the way.
The only problem is, Microsoft has hidden a mouse driver in the registry, so even if you delete every driver you find, the registry driver remains, and the computer always ends up installing that. Basically, it’s Gates’ way of discouraging you from using a non-MS mouse (God forbid that $20 goes to a competitor).
So, my question is, how do I remove this hidden mouse driver?
It’s January 16th, so you can understand how frustrating it’s been trying to enjoy this holiday gift.
If anyone can help me, I will be incredibly grateful.
You will never be able to delete all the mouse drivers. Windows won’t let you, because they are protected system files to keep you from shooting yourself in the foot.
What the hardware likely meant was uninstall software like Logitech’s Mouseware and Microsoft’s Intellipoint, which DO interfere with other mice, since they replace the control panel options. It will use those default Windows mouse drivers you are trying so hard to delete.
So your installation problem is somewhere else. Exactly what is the screen showing you, and why won’t the mouse work?
I have spoken to a manufacturer who makes wireless mice, and he says he hears this problem all the time. MS has Intellipoint or Intellimouse pr whatever it is hidden in the registry, and therefore even though I’ve done a search for “mouse”, found all the files, and deleted them all, MS still finds IntelliWhatever and installs that, which won’t work with the non-MS wireless mouse.
The screen isn’t showing me anything; the new mouse simply won’t work. Plugging in the old, scrolling mouse, and rebooting the computer, makes everything fine.
How, Zagadka, can I make this mouse work? All the instructions say to do is “go into the Device Manager and remove the mouse driver under Mouse.” Very simple.
Are both the mice USB? Your new mouse could be broken. The batteries are good I will assume. Try leaving the old one and the new one plugged in at the same time. Thats what I do but I’m a bit odd.
Wireless mice have ALL KINDS of problems. My mother bought a wireless mouse (despite my warnings to her on the phone not to - she couldn’t tell from the box O_o) that connects and is recognized fine, but the signal is so screwed up even under optimal conditions that it skips and you often have to click the button 5 times to have it go through - and this is a Microsoft mouse. I don’t know if the mouse is broken or what, but I hear problems like these all the time.
The easiest setup is with MS or Logitech mice, since they just go right on ahead and change the system to their liking, forcing every other mouse to clean up their mess (and making it impossible to use a Logitech mouse and a Microsoft mouse on the same system).
How updated is your system? Being ME, it might not have updated drivers to use a generic wireless mouse. XP has this built in, but ME may not. ME lacks a lot.
Does your mouse show up under the Device Manager > Mice and other pointing devices?
Does another mouse show up there?
If there is no mouse present, plugging in the USB connector with the computer on should trigger Windows to query the device and pop up the wizard to search for drivers. It would be best to find drivers automatically, and use whatever generic driver it pulls out of the Windows dlls - but this may not work on ME.
What brand is the mouse? Does the company have a website with drivers or updated instructions?
Do understand that I have the old mouse plugged in right now. The new mouse has working batteries, and a little light to indicate that the sensor is receiving the mouse movements. That appears to work fine.
Under Mouse, in Device Manager, I have TWO mouses.
One is HID-compliant mouse.
The other is good ol’ Microsoft PS/2 Intellimouse.
I have gone through the whole sequence of Add New Hardware, or letting Windows find the best driver for the new mouse and install it, and nothing has worked.
I have spoken to PCConcepts on the phone, and they said it’s not them; Windows is to blame. They said this happens all the time, Microsoft is evil, but if you speak to MS, they’ll be happy to tell you how to delete the driver in the registry.
Microsoft has not done that, and to be fair – neither have you or dead0man.
PCConcepts has no software to download because theoretically the driver is already inside Windows, and just has to be “awakened.”
Though I didn’t ask for this mouse, it was gift from my mother, and I feel a filial duty to make the damn thing work.
Is the fact that I seem to have 2 mice in Device Manager a clue? I could really use a clue right about now.
Thank you for your patience and your efforts.
JasonG
I told you, you can’t remove the MS default drivers, and doing so would be counterproductive, since that is what your mouse will be using.
Just to be sure, check under Add/Remove Programs to make sure there is no IntelliMouse installed. If there is, do the next step and then uninstall it.
Enable MouseKeys under the Accessibility control panel, and familiarize yourself with how they work. When you are, unplug all mice from your system and delete them both from the Device Manager.
Reboot.
Follow the instructions form the mouse installation guide (plug in mouse, go through hardware wizard, reboot).
Should work. No guarantees. Tech support is an art, not a science.
Really? I’ve bought and installed at least 3 wireless mice and have never had any problems. Of course, none of them are Microsoft; all are Logitech. And I’ve never had any problem switching from one of them to wired mouse (manufacturer unknown) and back again. I’ve just plugged it in; I haven’t even had to address the driver issue. Maybe I’m just lucky.
I think we’ve had a breakthrough here – which is NOT to say the problem is solved.
I followed Zagadkan’s instructions – deleting the mice in Device Manager, unplugging all mice, rebooting, and going through the hardward wizard when I plugged in the new, wireless mouse.
Here’s what I got when Windows tried to install the driver for this new mouse:
“This device is either not present, not working properly or does not have all the drivers installed.”
And it suggests I update the driver.
When I select Update Driver, all the PC finds is the Microsoft PS/2 Port Mouse, which it says is the best available for the device, and is already installed.
I select it, reboot as prompted, and…
Still nothing.
Personally, I think the driver Windows wants is NOT the best driver, or the mouse would work. But what IS the best driver? Even when I choose, “Browse” or “Find Mouse from a List,” I can’t find any other driver but Mouse.INF. When I look at a list of manufacturers, PC Concepts isn’t an option. Does anyone know of a company whose mouse is similar? Perhaps that will work.
I leave this in your capable hands while I try yet again to get the computer to start in Safe Mode, so I can try Number’s suggestion.
I recently installed the Logitech M-RM67A cordless USB mouse and had zero problems doing so. I am also using WinME. Under the Device Manager, I see “HID-compliant cordless mouse”. Originally, I installed the software. Shutdown the computer. Unplug the old mouse and plugged in the mouse receiver and turned the computer back on. When the system came up, I hit the “connect” button on the receiver and the mouse. Voila! The only problem I had was that the “connect” button on the mouse was not as large as pictured in the instructions. Instead a button, it’s one of those tiny indented buttons that looks like a “reset” button you might find on an older remote control.
OH! PC Concepts! I had a infrared wireless keyboard from them once. OK, that was totally random, but I’m a bit more familiar with the company. They’re pretty sketchy, but the products work.
This should all be done.
It SHOULD be getting the “Microsoft PS/2 Port Mouse”, since you are using a PS/2 mouse with default Microsoft-compatible drivers.
What is the date/version on your mouse.inf? Do you Windows Update and get the proper service packs etc?
The first tech support job I worked was windows 2000 set up support at roll-out. In SR 1, logitech wireless mice were a MAJOR problem. I understand that they were a lot better in SR2 and that MS had some updates for it in SP2 for both SRs. I understand that they finally got that right with windows Xp, but added a gazillion services & process in the background.
Zagadka, your cite is almost exactly the same directions you gave me, and which I have been doing for weeks now, long before I ever posted.
You delete the drivers, unplug the old mouse, plug in the new mouse, reboot, and the computer will do everything.
That’s what’s supposed to happen, what PC Concepts says will happen, and what you and the other Dopers said would happen.
If it happened December 28 (remember, this was a holiday gift), I wouldn’t be posting. As I said in the OP, I only posted because the situation is desperate.
My mouse driver – actually VMouse.vxd, not INF – is from 6/8/2000. Perhaps the problem lies there. Should I go to Microsoft.com and try to find an update?
And as for pressing the connect button… well, the receiver does have a little button. Could pressing that button make all the difference? Only one way to find out…
yea, but my instructions were just guessing at the procedure. I posted the cite for reference.
Always Windows Update and get service packs when they are available.
One of the big problems you may be having is that your mouse is PS/2. USB products (in general) are much easier to get working.
At this point, my advice would be to return it for a more functional Microsoft or Logitech wireless mouse, if you want. I understand you want to get THAT mouse to work, but life’s a bitch, sometimes.
Please forgive my absence. I have been attempting to follow your instructions, while attending to my other priorities like work, acting, girlfriend, the Super Bowl, etc.
Nothing has worked.
My dearest mother – who gave me the mouse for the Winter Gift Holiday – has read this thread and conceded defeat. She has allowed me to buy another wireless mouse at her expense. I plan to buy a Logitech, which people seem to think is the best/easiest. If Microsoft makes one, I may buy that instead.
Thank you for your help. Despite the OP’s title, Microsoft won.
To paraphrase “Quiz Show”:
“I thought we were gonna get Microsoft. Microsoft’s gonna get us.”
JasonG
