MS Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 periodically becomes slow, jerky and unreliable

Anonymous
2010-08-30T03:34:12+00:00

Just in the last couple of days, my mouse - a Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 that I've owned for about a year and have until now been very happy with - has developed some strange, intermittent problems. Every so often, for no obvious reason, pointer movement becomes slow and jerky and it starts ignoring the majority of my clicks - I typically have to click the button three or four times to get it to register even a single-click. The one thing that works pretty much as expected at such times is the scroll wheel.

The problem is intermittent and unpredictable. One moment it will be as smooth as I could ask, the next it's an exercise in frustration to do the simplest tasks, then eventually the problem vanishes, as suddenly and mysteriously as it appeared. I'd say this happens about once an hour, maybe a little less, for anywhere from about 3 to about 20 minutes at a time.

I changed the batteries, then (several hours later) installed the software from Microsoft's site rather than just using the driver that comes with Win7 (the latter advice was from a similar thread from this site). Neither has helped; the problem still comes and goes as it pleases, not noticeably more or less often than before. At times when this happens, the wireless signal is (according to the aforementioned software) very good, and CPU activity is usually not particularly high, so neither of those things is the problem either.

Any ideas?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-08-30T05:05:49+00:00

    A few comments/responses before I dig into this:

    First of all, I just downloaded Intellipoint today, so I had better have the latest version already.

    Second, I currently use Avira. I found Avast to be a HUGE resource hog, though that was a few years ago on a much less powerful system than I use today so it may not be true anymore. I have not used any other antivirus programs since upgrading to Windows 7. (The same machine has had Trend Micro on it, but before I upgraded the OS. I found it buggy and intrusive and replaced it with Avira on advice from a well-known antimalware site.)

    There is no system maker as I built the computer myself.

    Having said all that, I'll give your suggestions a try. I may not get to some of them for a couple of days, though.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-08-30T03:45:04+00:00

    Hi,

    Here is what I use and recommend : (These are all Free versions and very effective.)

    Avast and Prevx have proven extremely reliable and compatible with everything I have

    thrown at them. Microsoft Security Essentials and Prevx have also proven to be very

    reliable and compatible. Use MSE and Prevx or Avast and Prevx however not all 3.

    Avast Home Free - stop any shields you do not need except leave Standard, Web, and

    Network running.

    Prevx - Home - Free

    Windows Firewall

    Windows Defender (not needed if using MSE)

    IE - Protected Mode

    IE 8 - SmartScreen Filter ON  (IE 7 Phishing Filter)

    I also have IE to always start with InPrivate Filter active if IE 8.

    (You occasionally have to turn it temporarily off with the little Icon on LEFT of the + bottom

    right of IE)

    Two versions of Avast are available 5.x and 4.8x

    Avast 5.x - Home - Free - Stop the Shields you do not use (except File, Web, Network, &

    Behavior) - double click the Orange Icon in Notification Area - Real Time Shields - click the

    Shield you want to stop - STOP. To stop the Orange Icon from showing an error indicator -

    click the Orange Icon - Upper Right - Settings - click Status Bar - uncheck the Shields you

    disabled - click OK

    http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

    Avast 4.8x - Home - Free - stop any shields you do not need except leave Standard, Web,

    and Network running. (Double Click Blue icon - details next to OK. - upper left Shields -

    Terminate those you do not use.)

    http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download#tab4

    Or use Microsoft Security Essentials - Free

    http://www.microsoft.com/Security\_Essentials/

    Prevx works well along side Avast or MSE

    Prevx - Home - Free small, fast, exceptional CLOUD protection, works with other security

    programs. This is a scanner only, VERY EFFECTIVE, if it finds something come back here

    or use Google to see how to remove. 

    http://www.prevx.com/   <-- information

    http://info.prevx.com/downloadcsi.asp  <-- download

    PCmag - Prevx - Editor'a Choice

    http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2346862,00.asp

    Also get Malwarebytes - free - use as scanner only. If you ever suspect malware, and that

    would be unsual with Avast and Prevx running except for an occasional low level cookie

    (no big deal), UPDATE it and then run it as a scanner. I have many scanners and they

    never find anything of note since I started using this setup.

    http://www.malwarebytes.org/

    Hop this helps.

    Rob Brown - MS MVP - Windows Desktop Experience : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-08-30T03:44:52+00:00

    Hi,

    Make sure you have the latest version of Intellipoint.

    Intellipoint - Free

    http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/download/download.aspx?category=MK

    Control Panel - Mouse - check the settings there - be sure it is set to the correct

    rodent and check the other settings for anything unusual.

    Definitely suspect the antivirus/antispyware/security programs. I would totally remove the present

    ones of those to see if that helps. They must be uninstalled as even disabling will allow them to

    install pieces of themselves. Even remnants of them can cause bizarre issues. Use the system

    maker's Removal Tools and/or special instructions to be sure they are totally remove. Next

    message will be some replacements I recommend while testing though I would use them all the

    time.

    What antivirus/antispyware/security products do you have on machine? Include any you have EVER

    had on this machine including those you uninstalled (they leave remnants behind which can cause

    strange issues).

    List of anti-malware program cleanup/uninstall tools

    http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/msestart/thread/407bf6da-c05d-4546-8788-0aa4c25a1f91/

    Do these :

    Try these to clear corruption and repair/replace damaged/missing system files.

    Start - type this in Search Box ->  COMMAND   find at top and RIGHT CLICK  -  RUN AS ADMIN

    Enter this at the prompt - sfc /scannow

    How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

    How to analyze the log file entries that the Microsoft Windows Resource Checker (SFC.exe) program

    generates in Windows Vista cbs.log

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228

    Also run CheckDisk so we can rule out corruption as much as possible.

    How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

    ==========================================

    After the above :

    How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista orWindows 7

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

    Use Advanced Tools to Troubleshoot Performance Problems in Windows 7

    http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/6152/use-advanced-tools-to-troubleshoot-performance-problems-in-windows-7/

    Problems with overall system speed and performance

    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/gp/slow\_windows\_performance?p=1

    How to troubleshoot performance issues in Windows Vista

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950685

    Optimizing Microsoft Windows Vista Performance

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/959062

    To see all that is loading bootup - wait a few minutes without doing anything - then Right Click

    TaskBar - Task Manager - take a look at Appplications - Processes - Services - this is a quick

    reference (if you have a little box on Lower Left - Show for All Users then check that).

    How to Change, Add, or Remove Startup Programs in Windows 7http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1401-startup-programs-change.html

    A quick check to see which are loading is Method 2 there - using MSCONFIG then post a list of

    those here.

    Tools that should help :

    Process Explorer - Free - Find out what files, registry keys and other objects processes have open,

    which DLLs they have loaded, and more. This uniquely powerful utility will even show you who owns

    each process.

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

    Autoruns - Free - See what programs are configured to startup automatically when your system boots

    and you login. Autoruns also shows you the full list of Registry and file locations where applications can

    configure auto-start settings.

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

    Process Monitor - Free - Monitor file system, Registry, process, thread and DLL activity in real-time.

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx

    There are many excellent free tools at Sysinternals

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/default.aspx

    WhatsInStartUP - Free - This utility displays the list of all applications that are loaded automatically

    when Windows starts up. For each application, the following information is displayed: Startup Type (Registry/Startup Folder), Command -Line String, Product Name, File Version, Company Name,

    Location in the Registry or file system, and more. It allows you to easily disable or delete unwanted

    programs that runs in your Windows startup.

    http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/what\_run\_in\_startup.html

    There are many excellent free tools at NirSoft

    http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/index.html

    Window Watcher - Free - Do you know what's running on your computer? Maybe not. The Window

    Watcher tells all, reporting every window created by every running program, whether the window

    is visible or not.

    http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptwinwatch.asp

    Many excellent free tools and an excellent newsletter at Karenware

    http://www.karenware.com/

    ===========================================

    Consider this an absolute must - manually updating your drivers.

    Vista and Windows 7 love updated drivers so here is how to update the major ones.

    This is my generic how to for proper driver updates :

    This utility makes it easy to see which versions are loaded :

    DriverView - Free - utility displays the list of all device drivers currently loaded on your system.

    For each driver in the list, additional useful information is displayed: load address of the driver,

    description, version, product name, company that created the driver, and more.

    http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/driverview.html

    For Drivers check System Maker as fallbacks and Device Maker's which are the most current.

    Control Panel - Device Manager - Display Adapter - write down the make and complete model

    of your video adapter - double click - Driver's tab - write down the version info. Now click UPdate

    Driver (this may not do anything as MS is far behind certifying drivers) - then Right Click -

    Uninstall - REBOOT this will refresh the driver stack.

    Repeat that for Network - Network Card (NIC), Wifi, Sound, Mouse and Keyboard if 3rd party

    with their own software and drivers and any other major device drivers you have.

    Now go to System Maker's site (Dell, HP, Toshiba as examples) (as rollback) and then Device

    Maker's site (Realtek, Intel, Nvidia, ATI as examples) and get their latest versions. (Look for

    BIOS, Chipset and software updates at System Maker's site while there.)

    Download - SAVE - go to where you put them - Right Click - RUN AD ADMIN - REBOOT after

    each installation.

    Always check in Device Manager - Drivers tab to be sure the version you are installing actually

    shows up. This is because some drivers rollback before the latest is installed (sound drivers

    particularly do this) so install a driver - reboot - check to be sure it is installed and repeat as

    needed.

    Repeat at Device Makers - BTW at Device Makers DO NOT RUN THEIR SCANNER - check

    manually by model.

    Manually look at manufacturer's sites for drivers - and Device Maker's sites.

    http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht/driverdlmfgr.htm

    Installing and updating drivers in Windows 7 (updating drivers manually using the methods above

    is preferred to ensure the latest drivers from System maker and Device makers are found)

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43216-installing-updating-drivers-7-a.html

    If you update drivers manually then it is a good idea to disable Driver Installations in Windows

    Updates, this leaves Windows Updates ON however it will not install drivers which will usually be

    older and cause issues. If Updates suggests a new driver then HIDE it (Right Click on it) and then

    go look for new ones manually if you wish.

    How To Disable Automatic Driver Installation In Windows Vista - Drivers

    http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-to-disable-automatic-driver-installation-in-windows-vista/

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730606(WS.10).aspx

    ===========================================

    Refer to these threads for many more excellent tips however be sure to check your antivirus

    programs, update major drivers and BIOS, and also troubleshoot with the cleanboot method

    first.

    Problems with overall system speed and performance

    http://support.microsoft.com/gp/slow\_windows\_performance/en-us

    Performance and Maintenance tips

    http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7performance/thread/19e5d6c3-bf07-49ac-a2fa-6718c988f125

    Windows Explorer has stopped working

    http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7performance/thread/6ab02526-5071-4dcc-895f-d90202bad8b3

    If needed check your mouse for warranty.

    http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/default.mspx

    Wireless Mouse 5000 - 3 year Warranty I believe is the correct one

    http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=012&active\_tab=systemRequirements

    Microsoft Hardware Warranty Info.

    http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/Warranties.mspx

    The mouse comes with 90 tech support from day of 1st incident which would start when

    you contact Microsoft at the below number.

    If the mouse is defective check with the seller or Microsoft.

    MS Hardware Support and Warranty Claims

    Tech Support 1-800-936-5700 for MS Hardware.

    Rob Brown - MS MVP - Windows Desktop Experience : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

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