Why can't I get an external mouse to work on my laptop?

Question

I bought a connection but it keeps rejecting it!

Answer 1

If visiting the control panel didn't do any good, try visiting the BIOS, but do so with caution. There should be an option to disable the integrated touch pad when an external mouse has been connected, use both or ignore the external mouse.

Answer 2

First answer makes a good point. This something I not do everyday, but, I have connected a few over the years to Laptop for people. If, I remember correct. I fumbled around in Control Panel > Mouse? There a way to set this up and may not require software if it the old plug type mouse. USB as mentioned above may need the software. Then Re-Boot and it should work.

One thing I will warn about; if you mess up! Write down what you had and what you change to. You get both the Touchpad and Mouse not working to will have to Navigate to Control Panel with the Keyboard and get something back like it was! It good to know how to do this.

Answer 3

You gave precious little to go in in your question.

I am going to guess that you bought a USB mouse.

Were there drivers that came on a disk with it, and if so do you install the drivers before plugging in the mouse?

Have you checked to make sure the USB is enabled in your BIOS. It may be turned off.

You may have to turn off the onboard mouse pad to allow Windows to use the external one. Look for a control setting for the mouse pad in Control Panel. Or check with the Manufacturers support site on how to disable the on board setting. My IBM will only switch automatically from on board to external, if the setting is selected in the setup program for the laptop.