Thinkpads Forum

Could someone please tell me how or what I need to connect an external mouse to the T42 NB? I don't know if I need to buy an adapter of any kind, or just be sure to get one that's USB? And why wouldn't the mouse from my desktop be interchangeable with the laptop?

Thanks,
Sand

Hi Sand

I assume that your laptop doesn't have any PS2 ports (all new IBM ThinkPads have NO PS2 ports). If you want to connect your PS2 mouse (the connector is round), you need to get yourself a PS2>USB adapter. The cheaper option will be to get a USB mouse (the connector is rectangular). Ordinary USB mouses sell for about $10.

Or if your laptop has Bluetooth, you can check out Bluetooth mouses. There are a lot of threads in this forum about them.

HTH

Hi Sasha,

It's a T42, DXU, so it's not with the PS2 ports. Until now I didn't know what the difference was. Thanks for explaining that.

I do have Bluetooth, but it doesn't need to be that. Just something for a pointing/scrolling device.

My new notebook is sitting there all setup but I keep going to my old crt because the laptop is not user friendly to me. I can't figure out how to do mundane things like stretch the windows with the little arrows, move the window with the top frame; it freezes up when multiple documents are open and ctrl-alt-delete does not work, etc. There was no instruction manual with this computer, so I have spent hours online, in IBM Access, google, and everywhere, to find answers and am getting most of my questions answered here on this forum.

I guess in time I will figure it all out, but in the meantime I will get the mouse and maybe that will help some of the smaller problems go away.

thanks,
Sand

Hey Sandy

It takes time for everybody to be comfortable using a laptop...I took nearly three months to get used to the touchpad and then switched over to an external mouse.

Ever since I got the ThinkPad, I have not used an external mouse. I know it's difficult without an user manual, and sometimes stuff at the IBM website is not so easily accessible, but that's why forums such as these are so GREAT.

While it takes some time, you get all the help one needs and the some more.