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Mouse keeps disappearing.

By Raymond Danner ·
This problem is really driving me and my client both wild. We both have the same mainboard in one of our computers, and I managed to duplicate his problem exactly.

The problem is this: For no apparent reason, the mouse "vanishes" with a Code 24 error showing in System->Device Manager->Mouse->Standard Serial Mouse.

What is so weird about the whole thing is this: Uninstalling the mouse (via Device Manager) then turnng off the system and unplugging the mouse, then restarting with the mouse disconnected fails to gain us anything. Windows thinks there's a mouse connected...and then fails (every time!) to detect the mouse when we plug it back in. This persists despite the fact that the comm ports all work flawlessly (Tested with loopback plugs and Norton Diagnostics).We're both using MouseKeys right now to emulate the mouse, and I must say that it is a very non-optimal solution..

Reinstalling Win98 (client) and Win98se (my machine) helps; the mouse works for up to three weeks, thenthe problem reappear

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Mouse keeps disappearing.

by Todd O. In reply to Mouse keeps disappearing.

It seems that you have a conflict with a phantom mouse. Without knowing the details of the problem, I'll suggest a couple of steps that might shake it loose.

First, uninstall any mouse management software and uninstall all mice in Windows. Next, remove the com port the mouse has been using from Windows. Shut down the computer.

Remove the mouse from the port. Restart the computer and enter CMOS setup. Disable the com port from within CMOS setup.

Restart the computer and enter Windows. Run Norton WinDoctor and remove any problems that seem to be related to the missing mouse or mice.

Restart the computer and enter CMOS setup to reenable the com port.

Boot into Windows and reestablish the com port if it doesn't happen automatically.

Shut down. Attach the mouse. Reboot and load the mouse management software after the mouse is detected.

Hope that helps.

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Mouse keeps disappearing.

by Raymond Danner In reply to Mouse keeps disappearing.

Thanks a lot! This seems to have solved the problem, for the most part. I also turned off the unused COM port, while I was at it.

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Mouse keeps disappearing.

by McKayTech In reply to Mouse keeps disappearing.

I had a similar problem once that appeared to have been related to the PS/2 port on the motherboard. The CMOS didn't have an option to disable it and that system never did like serial mice so I finally gave up and just installed a PS/2 mouse and lived happily ever after. But it always has kind of bugged me...

The underlying problem sounds like a BIOS issue - have you checked to see whether there is a BIOS upgrade for the motherboard?

The other answer given also has merit and may work but I just have this gut feeling that the problem will be back eventually. I also assume that you've also tried swapping with another serial mouse to see if that makes any difference.

Best wishes with this interesting problem!

paul

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Mouse keeps disappearing.

by Raymond Danner In reply to Mouse keeps disappearing.

Yes, I've checked for a BIOS update; there is one available, actually, but the mainboard manufacturer itself advises against applying the patch. Go figure. I'd tried two other serial mouse controllers before I tried Todd O.'s solution, and none of them worked. That should have told me what the REAL problem was. <shrug> Pobody's Nerfect.

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Mouse keeps disappearing.

by Duong beo In reply to Mouse keeps disappearing.

Hi,

If you use CPU converter card to change PGA370 to plug in CPU slot then sometimes this may happend. Think of changing an other converter card.

Good luck,

Duong beo

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Mouse keeps disappearing.

by Raymond Danner In reply to Mouse keeps disappearing.

Neither machine has a CPU converter card. Thanks for the tip nonetheless. Noted it down in my tip-book. :)

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