# What's up with my mouse? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 18, 2002, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-mouse/124472 "2002-08-18T14:49:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-mouse/124472/1 "2002-08-18T14:49:07Z")
I have a Microsoft mouse – IntelliEye? One of the non-ball, light-tracking ones. The light can be seen through the translucent bit at the back, I suppose that you will know that the tracking light on the bottom is working (I think they’re the same light) Up until yesterday, the light would dim after about a second of non-movement. Now it’s bright all of the time. What’s up with that? Yesterday I disconnected all of the computer’s components so that I could move it. I didn’t change any settings. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-mouse/124472/2 "2002-08-18T18:50:12Z")
Does it dim when you turn it upside down? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-mouse/124472/3 "2002-08-18T19:17:56Z")
IIRC the light will dim/brighten to better read the surface that you are moving it on. If the optics are going or need cleaning it might be brighter to compensate. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-mouse/124472/4 "2002-08-18T19:18:12Z")
IIRC the light will dim/brighten to better read the surface that you are moving it on. If the optics are going or need cleaning it might be brighter to compensate. ---
**Author:** ![buckgully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@buckgully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buckgully)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-mouse/124472/5 "2002-08-18T19:24:22Z")
Is there a hair or dust near the lens? My logitech cordless optical had a hair near the optics that waved around a bit and made the mouse think it was always moving, which wore out the battery in short order. I dusted it off and it worked fine after that. Or, possibly, if there’s vibration in the surface that it’s being placed upon, it might be skittering around enough to keep the light on. Are there speakers or something with a motor on the desk it’s being used on? I’ve had problems with the Microsoft Optical Explorer mice, but it’s usually the opposite of what you’re experiencing. Mine (and a lot of other people’s) had a wire break internally which made the whole thing crap out, or sometimes just the buttons. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-my-mouse/124472/6 "2002-08-18T20:45:30Z")
Apparently there are two lights in the mouse. The “reader” light (by the lens) does dim – I’ve just noticed it thanks to **Violet** ’s suggestion. But the one in back doesn’t dim. Could it be that the rear light never did dim, and I’ve only just noticed it after a year? Before, I noticed the “reader” light dimming because my tower was right in front of the mouse. Since I’ve rearranged, the only light I now notice is the one in back.