Re: mouse woes

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

Adalbert Goertz <goertza@fatalerr.com> wrote:

>  
> Mouse woes 
>  
> Hi: 
> The mouse in my //GS no longer moves horizontally. 
> I suspect that an electrostatic spark entered the mouse 
> into the computer. 
> How can I diagnose where the damage is located? 

Is the mouse connected to the Apple Desktop Bus, or is it an older Apple
II mouse connected to a card in a slot?

If it is an ADB mouse, then failure to move horiontally must be a fault
within the mouse, not the computer.

If it is an older mouse, then the fault could be with either the mouse
or the interface card.


However the most likely explanation is that the roller which senses
horizontal movement in the mouse is gunged up and isn't turning any
more.

This is easy to check:

1. Turn the computer on, and get into any program which has the mouse
cursor visible (Finder, for example).

2. Flip the mouse over, unlock the mouse ball cover (anticlockwise turn)
and remove the mouse ball.

You should be able to see three rollers inside the cavity: one at the
bottom, one on the right and one in the diagonal top left corner (or
some similar combination).

The roller at the bottom centre senses vertical movement, and the roller
at the centre of the left or right side senses horizontal movement.  The
diagonal one is spring loaded, and is only used to hold the ball in
place.

Using your finger, try turning the centre right (or left) roller.  If it
has no effect on the on-screen mouse cursor (it should move
horizontally), then the problem is elsewhere.  If the mouse cursor does
move, then the roller is probably just dirty and needs to be cleaned.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand