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
    2012-05-31T00:22:16+00:00

    Everyone:

    Some months ago, I posted a solution that is still working for me. The mouse that I have works flawlessly as long as I have at least one non-rechargeable alkaline battery in it.

    If I put two rechargeables in it, the movements are jerky, slow, and unpredictable.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-05-31T00:43:29+00:00

    Everyone:

    Some months ago, I posted a solution that is still working for me. The mouse that I have works flawlessly as long as I have at least one non-rechargeable alkaline battery in it.

    If I put two rechargeables in it, the movements are jerky, slow, and unpredictable.

    Rick I don't doubt that your work-a-round does exactly as you state. I have seen a few others

    claim that it worked for then. However it does not work on either of my present 5000, my

    3000, or a TouchMouse. So I suspect your mouse has an issue which is not the usual

    norm. If it is still under warranty I would get it replaced.

    Hope this helps.

    Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle <- Mark Twain said it right.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-05-31T10:00:46+00:00

    Rob:

    Thanks for the idea about replacing it, but I bought it on 01.28.07.

    It is showing no signs of impending failure, and I am extremely pleased with it.

    It's the best pointing device that I have owned to date.

    I might purchase a Penguin-like pointing device in the future because it is even more ergonomic than the 5000 but not until this one dies.

    However, I prefer Microsoft products. I have had the best results with them. Perhaps MS will soon have a Penguin-like device.

    Here's the url for the Penguin: http://www.alimed.com/penguin-mouse-24264.html?gclid=CJPQ9OvLmK4CFRLGKgodslKPHw

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-07-18T14:13:44+00:00

    I started having this problem using a Gyration mouse - as it was old thought mouse was dying. So replaced with Logitech wireless mouse and same thing happend - thought maybe interacting with the Gyration wireless keyboard - so have just bought and installed the MS mobile wireless mouse 6000 2.4 Ghz.Same problem but worse.

    My PC (Win 7) is forever working my hard drive (I wish the PC would just lay dormant for once in a while)

    I have Mcafee anti virus and I have told it to stop scanning but still problem exists. Thing I may have to take your advice and delete it from my PC to see if that cures the problem. If that does cure the problem then what do I do about preventing a virus?

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  5. Anonymous
    2012-07-19T23:01:58+00:00

    Jeff's comment was posted 2 years ago.

    I have the same problem, but it is a brand new installation: 2012.  I suspect that the communication between my mouse and the receiver is running into interference with/from my HP 7510 priunter when it is on the network. 

    An hour ago I took the printer offline and operating it by hardwire.  The problem seems to have cleared up.

     Has anyone seen a clear explanation or a solution?

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