Thinkpads Forum

Hi everyone,

I've finally had a chance to put my 365x to good, full-time use; I know many forum members here were very helpful in helping me to get it up and running, but I had a few projects for it that did not pan out.

The 365x is as follows:

P1 120mhz, 72MB RAM, 780MB hard drive, Xircom REM56G-100 NIC, running Windows 98 SE.

My question: I have an external PS/2 mouse connected to the laptop, but the scroll wheel does not work. The scroll options do not appear in the Control Panel under "Mouse", and are grayed out in TweakUI.

It's nothing special, just a generic Dell ball mouse. I tried installing Microsoft IntelliPoint 2.2 drivers, but they did not seem to help. I also tried a different scroll mouse which was confirmed as working on another PC, but the scrolling on that one did not work either when connected to the 365x.

I use the 365x mainly to manage and surf the web on my file server which is running Windows XP Pro SP2 through the use of Remote Desktop (RDP). Scrolling does not work when I'm running 98 locally or in remote desktop.

I'm getting the feeling that this is a hardware limitation of the PS/2 port on the 365x

Any help is appreciated.

Thank you,

Jawadali

Do you have "Thinkpad Configuration" installed? The trackpoint may be overriding the PS/2 mouse if the trackpoint doesn't disengage. The trackpoint doesn't have a scroll function otherwise it might actually work with an external mouse. Other than that I would say that you need to find the driver for the mouse. I know it's not a limitation of the PS/2 port.

Thanks for the reply; I didn't think of that.

I do have the ThinkPad Utility installed. Currently, the trackpoint is also enabled, so it and the mouse can both be used.

I'll try disabling it like you suggested and see if it works.

Update; I just tested it, and it works (at least in 98). I haven't had a chance to test it in remote desktop, but it'll probably work now that it is working on the client computer.

Ok, the scrolling seems to work even in the remote desktop.

However, whenever the system goes into standby (if I close the lid or let it sit for the time that I have configured it), the mouse does not work when the PC resumes from the standby state.

Since the trackpoint is also disabled, I am left with no pointing device. I tried unplugging an re-inserting the mouse into the PS/2 port after the computer has woken up, but it does not help.

This previously did not occur when the trackpoint was enabled (the mouse and the trackpoint both worked when the computer resumed from standby).

I'll search to see if there is a Windows 98 fix for this, or see if some drivers fix the issue. If not, then I guess I get to choose between scrolling and power management.

If I remember right, removing and reinserting a device on the PS/2 port *can* cause the port to short out with power still applied. Be careful with that one....

Jawadali wrote:I'll search to see if there is a Windows 98 fix for this, or see if some drivers fix the issue. If not, then I guess I get to choose between scrolling and power management.

Lol, it sure is fun stuff..... it's an APM issue more than likely. I have an idea that I'll try on one of my systems. If it works I'll fill you in..... I'm glad that you are able to use your scroll wheel finally. Makes a big difference, I know......

Thanks for the reply. I'll be careful when trying that out again (Luckily, the mouse still works).

I also remembered that I had a PS/2 to Serial adapter somehere in the basement that I may also try when I get home.

I think the Dell mouse is a Logitech OEM, so I may try some old Logitech drivers/software (the model number is not listed on thier site, most probably cause it's a ball mouse ).

Just an update to this issue:

I did find the mouse cable adapter in my basement, but it seems that it is to enable Serial mice to use the PS/2 port (basically the opposite of what I needed).

While searching, I came across a helpful thread on Google Groups and Annoyances.org:

http://groups.google.com/group/microsof ... 28c284ca47


http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winme/t1025741237


Since this Dell mouse is a Logitech OEM, I downloaded and installed the Logitech Mouseware software/driver for Windows 98. (I think it was version 9.79.1):

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/428/9 ... ,en?osid=5

Pretty much all of their mice have the same software. I went ahead and installed it.

It detected a 3 button scroll mouse upon restart, and went though some basic reconfiguration.

I tested the Standby mode, and it now works!

The mouse is fully functional after standby. The software even adds a few features, like mouse acceleration.

Maybe I was lucky because the Del mouse was OEM Logitech, but I don't think you need a Logitech mouse for the software to work, so give I encourage anyone who is having similar issues to give this a shot.

Sure beats hot plugging a PS/2 port.........? WinDers 98 kinda needs a little finesse to be coaxed along. Not as much bloatware as XP so not many native drivers back in the day.......scroll mouse was cutting edge stuff back then........ try a trackball and see how much that puts you on the edge of your seat........ wooo doggy....lol.

You should take a look at some of the apps in 98. You may find one that says WINPOPUP.EXE....... that little gem was used for intranet shenanigan's back in the day, way before Jabber was a gleam in the eye. We even shelled them to look like error messeges.....lol. True intranet insecurity......