Help with laptop mouse

[Holly_Hobby]

I have worked on this for two days now...I normally can figure out the problem, but not this time.

I have a newer Twinhead Durabook with XP SP3. I'm using Firefox with the Ad Block Plus add on. I've run two scans using AVG, no viruses.

My mouse isn't working properly. I have to either tap or click countless times to get something to close or open. I downloaded the latest driver, no difference. I used IE and Opera, no difference.

I went to both Firefox and Ad Block Plus forums, no one has reported a problem with a laptop mouse.

Is there anything else I can do? At this point, I don't know if it's hardware or software.

Thanks so much!

On edit, I have disabled Ad Block Plus with no difference either. Device Mgr. says it's working properly.

[david13]

1. Sounds like a sensitivity issue. I don't know if you can adjust the

sensitivity. I know on mine sometimes I have to use a real good whack. And scrolling is sometimes a problem as I have to get the edge just right, or it won't scroll.
dc

[canetoad]

2. Is it an old mouse?

They sometimes just give up the ghost. Try another usb mouse and see what happens.

[Dead_Parrot]

3. Laptop mouse?

I might be barking up the wrong tree, but from the way you said "tap or click", I'm guessing you mean the touchpad. As far as I can make out Twinhead uses Synactics pads (hell, who doesn't?) so you could try a generic driver from http://www.synaptics.com/support/drivers - you might loose some functionality like scrolling or gestures, but clicking should be OK. Reloading the Twinhead drivers will restore anything lost if there no difference to the clicks.

If that doesn't make any difference, I suspect it might be a hardware issue - hopefully just a loose connection, they usually have their own little port on the motherboard that you could try re-seating. I'd recomend trying a plug-in mouse before getting the screwdrivers out, though.

(And apologies for useless info if you're not talking about the touchpad!)

Incidentally, does swapping the left & right buttons over in Windows make any difference?

[Holly_Hobby]

4. Yes, Touch Pad

I'm sorry, it's a mouse to me :)

Actually, I found the problem. It was AVG Free version 8.5, I upgraded to free 9.0 and viola! Everything works except:

a. Firefox will not boot on start, although it's pinned to start menu. But when I look at start up in msconfig, it's not there

b. Ad Blocker Plus add on making sites look like safe mode, so it's shut off

Thanks so much for the help!

[Dead_Parrot]

5. That's... weird

Glad you figured it out, that would have been way down my list! Thanks for letting us know, though.

This might be another "separated by a common language" thing, but items 'pinned to the start menu' (in my terms, fixed to the top left of the menu that pops up when you hit the start button) don't run automatically: you need to add them to the "Startup" folder, which should be under "programs". Just drag a copy of the icon into it and off you go.

If it is in the startup folder, try putting a copy in the "all users" startup folder instead ("C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" for most people). I vaguely remember some problems which needed that workaround, but it's going back a while.

Not familiar with Ad blocker, I'm afraid... :(

[david13]

7. Can I say touchpad mouse? Is that ok? People say "where is the

mouse?", and I always say, right there, (point at touchpad, read mouse).
dc

[Dead_Parrot]

8. I can't see why not, if they understand

Talking on the user's terms is one of the keys to being helpful. :)

And if that was the only difference between US and NZ English, life would be so much easier... Excuse me a minute while I shove some gum in the wetback. :o

[david13]

9. Dead. Or is it Parrot? Oh, DP, AdBlockerPlus is a fab program

from Firefox. Oh, it is so wonderful. It takes banner ads out of almost any website totally. And just leaves wide open stretches to the sides where other people have ads. Did I mention I hate ads? I do.
I never buy anything based on an ad. Frequently I boycott the advertised product. So.
I mean, imagine NZ defaced with billboards all over all the scenic sites. Ugh. Well, many a computer is like that, unless, it has AdBlockerPlus.
dc

[CK_John]

6. On my laptop I switch the right and left buttons around when I only use the touch pad. n/t