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Monday, August 20, 2007

Clean and Fix a Mouse

Introduction
Computer mice have been around longer than personal computers, and the basic design doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon. When your mouse starts acting up or stops working altogether, it may just need some simple maintenance.

Instructions
Cleaning the mouse
Steps

Step One
Unplug your mouse and flip it over to see what kind it is. The most common type is mechanical; it has a small rubber ball on its underside that rolls on the desk or mouse pad. These kind of mice are notorious for attracting and retaining crud. If your mouse has no ball but a small light, it's optical, so you can skip ahead to step 6.

Step Two

If your mouse has a rubber ball, you can probably release it by rotating a locking ring that holds it in place. Look for an arrow telling you which way to push or twist the locking ring (see A).

Step Three
Remove the ball and carefully clean it with a lint-free cloth or soap and water. Dry it carefully.

Step Four

If you find crud in the mouse case too, scrape it off with a toothpick (see B) or, if you're desperate, a fingernail.

Step Five
Put the mouse back together.

Step Six
Clean your optical mouse occasionally with distilled rubbing alcohol and a paper towel. This type of mouse stays clean longer.

Other possible mouse problems

Steps

Step One
Check the mouse connection at the back of the PC. Is the cable plugged firmly into the correct port? Most newer PCs have a port labeled for the mouse.

Step Two
If the mouse cable looks damaged, borrow a mouse from someone else's computer and see if it works with yours. If it does, then your mouse needs to be replaced.

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