External Mouse

[peedee]

I am using a Z60t with a 32-bit WXP system. I do not use any docking system. As a pointing device, I have the Ultranav activated and the touch-pad de-activated. I have loaded the software and driver for a Microsoft optical mouse 3000 connected by wire to a USB port. However, the external mouse is not functioning and I cannot seem to 'turn off' the Ultra nave and choose the mouse as my pointing device (the system just jumps back the the Ultranav). The 'Help' file suggests that the external mouse should work with the ultranave and/or the pad functioning. Do I have to turn of the Ultranav (and turn on the touch pad!) to have the external mouse work?
Thanks for any suggestions.

[GACrabill]

Have you tried re-booting ?

[peedee]

Yes, many times with no results. I keep thinking that a ThinkPad running Ultranav does not permit an external mouse.

[mgo]

Yes, many times with no results. I keep thinking that a ThinkPad running Ultranav does not permit an external mouse.

I run a Microsoft cordless USB mouse on my four ThinkPads and everything works just fine, even with UltraNav turned on.

My mouse is a Microsoft model 1007. Not sure if it is still for sale, as it is two or three yeas old by now.

I have also run two or three other brands of USB mouse with no problems. You might also want to consider a Bluetooth mouse if you have that installed on your machine.

-regards

[ErikD]

The problem isn't with having UltraNav or the touchpad enabled. You can have as many pionting devices attached and working as you want. Personally I leave the touchpad and UltraNav enabled as I see no reason not to.

Is this a USB mouse? Have you tested the USB ports at all, they might be bad.

[peedee]

Yes, this is a USB mouse and my USB ports are all working. As you suggest, I had assumed that this mouse would work with the other pointing device. It works fine with my wife's Toshiba, and along with her touchpad! Perhaps it is something that IBM doesn't allow with a Microsoft product.

Thanks.

[ErikD]

I never had a problem using different brands. What else have you used in the USB ports? Might not be getting enough power to run it.

Is the mouse recognized and go through the Found New Hardware Wizard? Anything in device manager with an exclamation point?

[peedee]

Erik, thanks for your patience and continuing support. I discovered the reason why the external mouse wasn't responding. Last night, I went over to the Microsoft support site and read a couple of messages about problems with a USB-connected mouse. One of them suggested that the user try running the mouse across another surface. Well, I had been using the mouse directly on my desktop (which had been the case when I tested the devise on my wife's laptop - but on her desktop!). When I put a piece of paper under the mouse on my desk, the mouse worked perfectly. My desktop has a Melamine-like surface and, when I look at it closely, I realized that it has a slightly pebbled surface and is not truely smooth.
So, the answer is that the optical mouse must be used on a truly flat surface. This had not occurred to me since I hadn't used a mouse-pad at work for some time and didn't know how critical a smooth surface could be for using an optical mouse. This should be stated on the box!
Thanks again.