Why does my mouse just stop working? I have to restart pc and then it's fine for little while.?

Question

My mouse will start going crazy like opening up the start menu, when I not even close to it. just clicks on things when I not even touching it and then just freezes up!!! UGH what do i do to fix it??

It's not cordless, I have unplugged it and even taken it apart cleaned it with duster and it moves better but still same BS. I have Earthlink protection control ceneter it found no virus.

Answer 1

Is it a cordless mouse? If so, replace the batteries.
Some go through them every two weeks or so.

Answer 2

Poor battery, if wireless. Otherwise you might want to try a new generic mouse-driver: MS-IntelliPoint (microsoft.com) or Logitech Mouseware (logitech.com).
There's also a Windows-bug: sometimes the mouse does things like that. I have seen on many PC's. I then try to open the mouse in the config-screen, adjust something, click on apply, and then it's gone. There's nothing much you can do about that other then try an other OS or other drivers, it's just a bug. Typically, the movements are then very fast.
You can 'simply' try another mouse on the same PC. If that mouse has the same symptons, then you know it's a software problem.
If it's an USB-mouse: try using a USB-port at the front instead at the back or the other way round.
There could also be some dust/dirt-buildup at the optical sensor (underside of mouse) or at the rollers (inside) if you have a mouse with a ball, but that can't have an effect on the clicking (so, then you have still another problem with the mouse). But i reckon you don't use a mouse with a ball anymore, they are old (and you have to clean them regularly). If so, ditch it.
A (very) small chance is that you have malware. Check it with: http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan .

The PC might be freezing because of a problem with something that runs in the background. Start / Run / Msconfig.exe (download it somewhere if you don't have it), then disable all things at 'startup programs' (you can always re-enable them) to see if that helps.

Edit:
If you're SURE that the mouse does better since your cleaning job, then surely it's a problem with the mouse itself. More cleaning or repairing is required, or you might need a new mouse. If you spilled a liquid over the mouse, especially if it had sugar in it, some simple dusting won't do. You might want to clean it with hot water (at own risk and of course, disconnect it first :)). Although i think most parts are, not every part of the mouse might be resistent to water, though (depending on the model). Right after that, use a blowdryer until it's fully dry.
Earthlink protection control might be ONLY some anti-spam thing (if you don't have paid for the optional Attack Shield), that's not enough. If so: try some other anti-malware, here's a list: http://www.ewido.net/en/compatibility/
BTW, you need 512MB memory with Earthlink.
Earthlink is, IMHO, not a good ISP: 'In August 2006 EarthLink teamed up with Yahoo and Barefruit to redirect web browser users accessing nonexistent domains to a page containing sponsored search results, ads, and a Yahoo search form.'. That's just plain stupid and very disrespectful (if not illegal). This alone, might be reason to distrust Earthlink's own security software. The fact that it's not compatible with Ewido, might be a bad sign (although it also might be another problem).
Also, they aren't even ashamed to admit that they have a very poor helpdesk.

Answer 3

The ball of your mouse could be dirty and even though the cursor is moved around the actual mouse is frozen so when you click on something it catches the freeze as well. Try cleaning it. To do that you have to take the cover off, it has arrows on which direction to turn it. Take the ball out and clean it with rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and use the paper towel to lightly clean out the socket and cover. Replace the ball and cover and it should be fine, if not then you might need a new mouse all together but there are so many new styles out there that the change could be fun. Also do a virus scan just to be safe and if you don't want to replace it try like many have said and unplug it with your computer turned off and then back on after you plug it in. Check with another mouse if you want to, that helps to determine computer from mouse. Something should work out of that! Hope I helped.

Edit: How did you clean it exactly? Did you use rubbing alcohol? Sometimes that can make the difference. And also, have you checked or can you check another mouse on your computer? If all else fails ... get a new mouse and try it, if it doesn't work either you know it's not your mouse and you can return the new one if you want to. Good luck ...

Answer 4

Sounds like you might have a device conflict or your mouse might have sticky buttons. If it's a USB mouse, try using an adapter to plug it into a PS2 port (should have been a green adapter that came with your mouse). If you're already using it in a PS2 plug, you might check the manufacturer's web site for updated drivers.

If the mouse has had something spilled on it you can try opening it up to clean it, but in that case you're probably better off to spend the $20 or so to get a new mouse.

Answer 5

I'm sure the problem is in Yahoo Mail. Sometimes it happens to me, but it fixes after restarting the computer. Then works fine for about 5 minutes and then - again, it crashes. One day Yahoo even turned off my computer... Try to preinstall Google Chrome and I'm almost sure it will work, because it worked with me! Hope I helped, Martin

Answer 6

its probably a virus that your anti-virus software isnt picking up or it could be someone attaching to your computer through a "remote connection".
To see if this is happening go to "Control Panel" then "network connections" and see if there is more than one in that list follow these steps
Go to "control panel" -> administrative tools (if its not there hit "performance and maintenance" then "administrative tools")-> "services". scroll down a little bit until you see the R's. Then right click on "remote access auto connection manager", "routing and remote access" and "remote desktop help session manager". click properties and change startup type to "disabled". Also right click on "remote registry" and click "all tasks" and then "stop". That should fix the problem, if not go to the help and support center on your computer(in any window hit "help" then the "help and support center" and see if there is anything that says how to stop remote connections, you can also try to use google or yahoo on how to stop remote connections

Answer 7

well could be a few things... but my guess is software... but try these...

1. check the connection
2. if its optical/lazer check the lense
3. if its optical, lazer or wireless check the software
4. You might need to change the batteries (for those that use them)
5. And of course it could just be time for a new one.

now... if its just a standard old ball mouse, open it up... holy smokes you see the rollers in there, should be a white one and two black rollers... see all the black stuff on the rollers... that's dirt, dead skin, hair, dust... crud, that has collected on it... get a pocket knife out and gentel like, scratch that crud away...

good luck

Answer 8

For starters, try a different mouse to be sure it's the problem. Borrow one if you have to, but realize that mice are extremely cheap these days.

However, if this is an office PC, make sure that it's not a system administrator taking control of the desktop!

Answer 9

run the following two menus of ccleaner, that will help a little
cleaner > Analyze > Run Cleaner
Issues > Scan For Issues > Fix Selected Issues

Read Howto and Download free CCleaner from the link below
http://bestofrest.blogspot.com/2006/11/ccleaner.html

Answer 10

I used to have a virus that did that a while back. Try scanning your PC or use the system restore feature to restore our pc to an earlier time when the mouse was working fine.