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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?
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
This probably sounds obvious, but nobody else has said it! I had the exact same problem, and it got worse and worse over time. I tried updating the BIOS, updating drivers, etc. Then realised the obvious. It was a signal strength problem! It's WIRELESS, remember?! this is how I fixed it..
doh!
I support GilesConstant.
Having spent about two months trying to fix the Wireless Mouse 5000 problem, much of that time with Microsoft support. Before contacting Microsoft I tried all the obvious mouse specifics, batteries, interference and drivers. Then I tried many other tests.
The problem proved to be independent of operating system, security software, batteries and other USB hardware. At one stage I had a marked improvement by installing a completely different architecture graphics card, within seven days the problem re-emerged.
The problem has been finally solved. I had been very misled by the Microsoft claim of a 30ft wireless rangeand therefore did not consider there would be an issue in this area. WRONG, by moving the receiver from the back of the Desktop computer to the front the problem disappeared. This move removes the case metal shielding of the receiver, raises the signal level to the receiver above a marginal level which in turn will reduce the prospect of interference.
The two batteries in the mouse are connected in parallel to double the battery life, removing one will simply halve the life, as to why this might improve the mouse operation one can only guess that somehow this changes the RF signal level/pattern by a small amount and thus moving away from an otherwise marginal signal condition that will result in variable operation.
I have now discovered others who have moved the receiver to the front get the same result, therefore my advice is that this should be the first move in correcting the problem.
My last post indicated the problem was solved by moving the receiver from the rear of the Desktop computer to the front. NOT QUITE. Yes there was a big improvement. However every now and again the intermittency would appear and each time after banging down the mouse down on the desk,on one side, the problem would go. That indicated some poor connection. The most likely area of bad contact is at the batteries. I tried silver conductive paint on the contact springs, no real improvement. I dismantled the mouse (four screws hidden under the two slide strips) All the wire battery connections to the printed circuit were resoldered. Had great performance since.
Running on one battery is not the answer.
Software can cause problems but in general a jerky /intermittent movement can be considered as an unreliable wireless link, low or momentary loss of signal.
To summarise
Keep the signal strong with the receiver close to the mouse (reduces risk of interference)
Check for an internal intermittent connection as above and fix if necessary.
MICROSOFT take note.
Running on one battery is not the answer.
Nice opinion, but 4 different PCs running successfully with this mouse on one battery for almost two years says otherwise. I explained this in a review on Amazon and several people replied saying it now worked for them as well, one person stating it worked, as odd as it sounds (which I do agree). RF mice are enough of a headache, but there's a design flaw somewhere in the circuitry of the 5000. I can't prove it obviously, I can only offer consistent repeatable examples, but several mice over two years all working properly on one battery is enough for me. Who's going to actually troubleshoot the design on a $40 mouse? No one, so it is what it is. Glad your resoldering trick worked, I may explore one of mine just for kicks. But don't discount a potential fix based on textbook knowledge, it solves nothing. Cheers.
Hi,
Well I have 3 5000 mice one of which failed after 1 1/2 years and the other two are
4+ and 2 1/2+ years old with constant use (and abuse). My thinking is there must
have been a bad productioon run or two, or possibly part of some several production
runs are failing.
If you have one that does not work properly exercise the warranty if it is still in place.
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
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.
Hope this helps.
Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle <- Mark Twain said it right.
