Can't connect mouse to my laptop, please help

[N8N]

Please be kind, because I'm far from a computer expert - I have an old
Gateway laptop, model 7330GZ if it matters. I am trying to set it up
so I can work at a desk using a full sized keyboard and mouse.
Unfortunately I am having trouble with the mouse portion of this
exercise - I bought a Logitech cordless mouse and tried to connect it
and that didn't work. I then dug out an old mouse that I had laying
around (so old that it still has a ball in it, if you can believe
that) and connected it using a PS/2 to USB adapter. Still doesn't
work! Here's what happens - I plug the mouse into the computer and I
get the following:

- found new hardware USB composite device
- found new hardware USB human interface device
- found new hardware Mouse

(all the above in "speech bubbles" at the bottom of the screen)

then the "found new hardware" wizard opens and asks if I will allow
the computer to connect to Windows Update to search for software. I
allow it and click "next" and it says "this wizard helps you install
software for HID-compliant mouse." I leave it on "Install the
software automatically" (as I don't have a driver disk) and click
"next" and then I get the following error message:

There was a problem installing this hardware - Mouse - An error
occurred during the installation of the device - The data is invalid.
- Click Finish to close the wizard."

When I go to Control Panel and try to manually add hardware it
recognizes that the mouse has already been connected to the computer,
it comes up with a list of "hardware already installed" and "Mouse" is
at the top of the list with a yellow exclamation point. When I click
on it, it says "the drivers for this device are not installed (Code
28)"

Ummm.... so what do I do now? I really could use a real mouse on this
computer, reaching over my keyboard to play with the touchpad isn't
really convenient, although that's what I'm doing to compose this
message.

thanks for any help you can offer.

Nate

 

[Dirk T. Verbeek]

N8N schreef:

Please be kind, because I'm far from a computer expert - I have an old
Gateway laptop, model 7330GZ if it matters. I am trying to set it up
so I can work at a desk using a full sized keyboard and mouse.
Unfortunately I am having trouble with the mouse portion of this
exercise - I bought a Logitech cordless mouse and tried to connect it
and that didn't work. I then dug out an old mouse that I had laying
around (so old that it still has a ball in it, if you can believe
that) and connected it using a PS/2 to USB adapter. Still doesn't
work! Here's what happens - I plug the mouse into the computer and I
get the following:

- found new hardware USB composite device
- found new hardware USB human interface device
- found new hardware Mouse

(all the above in "speech bubbles" at the bottom of the screen)

then the "found new hardware" wizard opens and asks if I will allow
the computer to connect to Windows Update to search for software. I
allow it and click "next" and it says "this wizard helps you install
software for HID-compliant mouse." I leave it on "Install the
software automatically" (as I don't have a driver disk) and click
"next" and then I get the following error message:

There was a problem installing this hardware - Mouse - An error
occurred during the installation of the device - The data is invalid.
- Click Finish to close the wizard."

When I go to Control Panel and try to manually add hardware it
recognizes that the mouse has already been connected to the computer,
it comes up with a list of "hardware already installed" and "Mouse" is
at the top of the list with a yellow exclamation point. When I click
on it, it says "the drivers for this device are not installed (Code
28)"

Ummm.... so what do I do now? I really could use a real mouse on this
computer, reaching over my keyboard to play with the touchpad isn't
really convenient, although that's what I'm doing to compose this
message.

thanks for any help you can offer.

Nate

You're probably best off to first remove the existing drivers and then
get the proper ones from the mouse's manufacturer's web site.
Install the drivers before you connect.

Another thing, when that computer is new enough to not have a PS2 port
it should new enough to support the wireless mouse.

I assume your version of XP is fully up to date?

 

[Nate Nagel]

N8N schreef:

You're probably best off to first remove the existing drivers and then
get the proper ones from the mouse's manufacturer's web site.
Install the drivers before you connect.

I installed the "set point" software off Logitech's web site, but I
didn't see anything on there that was just a plain driver. Since I'm
having the problem with two different mice, I suspect that when WinXP
was installed, it was missing a driver.

I neglected to mention, that the original HDD for this computer crapped
out a while back, and I had it replaced at a PC repair shop, leading me
to the above conclusion. (my files were all OK, but apparently Windows
was beyond repair, they just gave me a new HDD and OS and moved all my
files over from the old HDD.) I did try letting the computer try to
install the mouse with the old, crapped out HDD connected through a USB
to IDE connection, no dice (it read the HDD OK, but didn't find a driver
there either.)

Another thing, when that computer is new enough to not have a PS2 port
it should new enough to support the wireless mouse.

One would think, but again, it didn't recognize the old, super basic
mouse either.

I assume your version of XP is fully up to date?

I assume so as well, I have automatic updates enabled and it just
installed something or other yesterday.

I suspect that if I had a WinXP CD-ROM that that would work, but I
don't. Is an .iso available anywhere, or does Microsoft frown upon such
shenanigans? (that pisses me off; I have three valid XP licenses and
none of them came with a real installer disk.)

nate

 

[Jose]

Please be kind, because I'm far from a computer expert - I have an old
Gateway laptop, model 7330GZ if it matters.  I am trying to set it up
so I can work at a desk using a full sized keyboard and mouse.
Unfortunately I am having trouble with the mouse portion of this
exercise - I bought a Logitech cordless mouse and tried to connect it
and that didn't work.  I then dug out an old mouse that I had laying
around (so old that it still has a ball in it, if you can believe
that) and connected it using a PS/2 to USB adapter.  Still doesn't
work!  Here's what happens - I plug the mouse into the computer and I
get the following:

- found new hardware USB composite device
- found new hardware USB human interface device
- found new hardware Mouse

(all the above in "speech bubbles" at the bottom of the screen)

then the "found new hardware" wizard opens and asks if I will allow
the computer to connect to Windows Update to search for software.  I
allow it and click "next" and it says "this wizard helps you install
software for HID-compliant mouse."  I leave it on "Install the
software automatically" (as I don't have a driver disk) and click
"next" and then I get the following error message:

There was a problem installing this hardware - Mouse - An error
occurred during the installation of the device - The data is invalid.
- Click Finish to close the wizard."

When I go to Control Panel and try to manually add hardware it
recognizes that the mouse has already been connected to the computer,
it comes up with a list of "hardware already installed" and "Mouse" is
at the top of the list with a yellow exclamation point.  When I click
on it, it says "the drivers for this device are not installed (Code
28)"

Ummm.... so what do I do now?  I really could use a real mouse on this
computer, reaching over my keyboard to play with the touchpad isn't
really convenient, although that's what I'm doing to compose this
message.

thanks for any help you can offer.

Nate

I like my old mouse 'n ball...

Please provide additional information about your system:

Click Start, Run and in the box enter:

msinfo32

Click OK, and when the System Summary info appears, click Edit, Select
All, Copy and then paste
the information back here.

There will be some personal information (like System Name and User
Name), and whatever appears to
be private information to you, just delete it from the pasted
information.

This will minimize back and forth Q&A and eliminate guesswork.

 

[Nate Nagel]

I like my old mouse 'n ball...

I dislike the balls, just because unless you keep your mousepad
scrupulously clean, they gunk up and skip... but if I could even get
that one working I'd be happy (happier than I am now, anyway)

Please provide additional information about your system:

Click Start, Run and in the box enter:

msinfo32

Click OK, and when the System Summary info appears, click Edit, Select
All, Copy and then paste
the information back here.

There will be some personal information (like System Name and User
Name), and whatever appears to
be private information to you, just delete it from the pasted
information.

This will minimize back and forth Q&A and eliminate guesswork.

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name *********
System Manufacturer Gateway
System Model Gateway M520
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 1 GenuineIntel ~3056 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date AMI NOTE BIOS Version /52.01.19, 9/2/2005
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name ********
Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 1,536.50 MB
Available Physical Memory 486.63 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 2.03 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

does that help? or do you want to see info from the other screens as well?

thanks

nate

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Please be kind, because I'm far from a computer expert - I have an old
Gateway laptop, model 7330GZ if it matters. I am trying to set it up
so I can work at a desk using a full sized keyboard and mouse.
Unfortunately I am having trouble with the mouse portion of this
exercise - I bought a Logitech cordless mouse and tried to connect it
and that didn't work. I then dug out an old mouse that I had laying
around (so old that it still has a ball in it, if you can believe
that) and connected it using a PS/2 to USB adapter. Still doesn't
work! Here's what happens - I plug the mouse into the computer and I
get the following:

- found new hardware USB composite device
- found new hardware USB human interface device
- found new hardware Mouse

(all the above in "speech bubbles" at the bottom of the screen)

then the "found new hardware" wizard opens and asks if I will allow
the computer to connect to Windows Update to search for software. I
allow it and click "next" and it says "this wizard helps you install
software for HID-compliant mouse." I leave it on "Install the
software automatically" (as I don't have a driver disk) and click
"next" and then I get the following error message:

There was a problem installing this hardware - Mouse - An error
occurred during the installation of the device - The data is invalid.
- Click Finish to close the wizard."

When I go to Control Panel and try to manually add hardware it
recognizes that the mouse has already been connected to the computer,
it comes up with a list of "hardware already installed" and "Mouse" is
at the top of the list with a yellow exclamation point. When I click
on it, it says "the drivers for this device are not installed (Code
28)"

Ummm.... so what do I do now? I really could use a real mouse on this
computer, reaching over my keyboard to play with the touchpad isn't
really convenient, although that's what I'm doing to compose this
message.

thanks for any help you can offer.

Nate

You should be able to get a USB optical mouse for about $10. It won't
require any extra drivers. USB to PS/2 adapters don't always work.

HTH
-pk

 

[Nate Nagel]

You should be able to get a USB optical mouse for about $10. It won't
require any extra drivers. USB to PS/2 adapters don't always work.

HTH
-pk

So far I've tried the new cordless mouse (USB, not Bluetooth - laptop is
not that sophisticated,) an old mouse that I had laying around through
the USB to PS/2 adapter, and also the mouse that was working on SWMBO's
desktop which is a Logitech optical USB corded mouse. None of them have
worked, and all have failed with similar symptoms. I'm starting to
become frustrated, as I haven't any ideas what to try next save for
getting my hands on a real WinXP installer disk and leaving that in the
drive while connecting the mouse. If that doesn't work... I'm half
tempted to go computer shopping because I don't know where I can get
anyone (professionally) to look at a computer for much less than $100,
and this puter has to be at least four years old, although it still is
perfectly functional for everything that I want it to do (aside from the
little problem of not being able to connect a mouse to it.)

I'm trying to remember if I ever had a mouse connected to it since I
bought it, but I'm thinking I didn't, as I haven't had a real desk until
last week. (I know, that's embarassing, but I got to be fairly adept
with the touchpad after a while, and it has a large enough screen that
not having a monitor isn't a huge hardship.)

nate

 

[thanatoid]

<SNIP>

You should have the manuf. disc but I don't know when you bought
the mouse, how old the driver is, etc. Shit happens. I will
assume you have tried MANUALLY (see below) installing from the
disc that came with the mouse and it has NOT worked.

Go to www.driverguide.com - free registration required - I have
been registered for years and no spam, no nothing, so don't
worry and just do it. After getting your password in the mail
and signing in, you will get a "buy this" screen with a tiny "no
thank you" link on bottom right, click on that and you're good
to go.

Enter the manufacturer and EXACT model of the mouse. You may
have to try several times. Search engines can't think so an
extra space or dash may **** this up.

One or 20 (or 2,000) drivers will turn up. (Or none, in which
case enter the exact manuf/model number followed by the word
"driver" in Google and see what you can find.)

Download ALL the drivers which correspond to your mouse AND your
OS into some directory like c:\temp or c:\windows\temp. Unzip
(NOT execute, not install, UNZIP if they are ZIP files, leave
alone if .msi or .exe) all the drivers into their /separate/
subdirectories.

Disconnect from the net after you've DL'd the drivers. Scan this
ENTIRE directory of drivers for viruses/malware. Turn off your
AV program(s) and KEEP IT/them OFF until your mouse works.

Delete/remove/nuke ALL references to mouse drivers you can find
on your computer. This includes messing with the registry - look
for Logitech, wireless (not at once, two searches) and remove
the keys (unless they're for /another/ wireless device you have,
which works, and which you need).

Don't worry about backing up, nothing bad will happen. All
you're doing is removing references to something that is NOT
working already. (But if you're paranoid, you can back up the
registry, it's /your/ computer.)

Also go to add/remove programs and remove anything which looks
like it may be a Logitech mouse driver of ANY kind. The ONLY
mouse driver which should stay on your system is the one that XP
comes with and which does NOT show up in add/remove software or
hardware.

Turn off the machine and unplug the mouse. (Yes, even though
it's USB.) Leave the mouse unplugged. I will ASSUME you can use
the keyboard well enough to do what follows without a mouse
(Google for and download "Windows Keyboard Shortcuts" from
somewhere if necessary).

Reboot and see if anything shows up in Control Panel - System
Devices. There should be NOTHING. If there is, get rid of it.

Repeat this step /as many times as necessary/.

If at any point it says "new hardware found, do you want Windows
to install (etc)" say *NO*. (This applies to ALL similar
situations, BTW. Never let stupid Windows do anything you can do
manually the RIGHT way.)

Open the registry again and do the searches again to make sure
it is *all gone*.

Turn off machine, plug in mouse, boot. Again, if it says "new
hardware found, do you want Windows to install (etc)" say *NO*.

One by one, MANUALLY install the drivers you DL'd until you get
to the one that works. You WILL have to do the UNINSTALL in
add/remove AND the FULL "getting rid of left-over crap after
supposedly uninstalling" for each driver which does not work.
(Sorry - complain to MS.)

If nothing works, post again.

Are you SURE that your USB drivers are working properly?
(They're at the bottom under system.) Do you have another USB
device that /is/ working (keyboard, camera, whatever)?

It is also possible that you are missing a port - I don't know
exactly how USB works, you shouldn't /need/ a port but the
Logitech software may be "peculiar". In which case go to "add
new hardware" and add a new USB or mouse port or whatever is
offered. The drivers for that are probably on your machine
already, in the worst case you will need to put in the XP disc.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

So far I've tried the new cordless mouse (USB, not Bluetooth - laptop is
not that sophisticated,) an old mouse that I had laying around through the
USB to PS/2 adapter, and also the mouse that was working on SWMBO's
desktop which is a Logitech optical USB corded mouse. None of them have
worked, and all have failed with similar symptoms.

All on the same port, or USB controller? Then it's quite possible that the
port or controller is failing, and an install will not fix this.

Here's a test that won't cost much.

Get a boot CD for some other OS, such as a Linux 'Live' CD (these can be
downloaded as images; you may need help to make one). It doesn't matter
what version it is or what its features are, as long as it will boot your
system to a GUI that supports a mouse. These CDs don't write to the hard
disk, so you will be safe. Just put the CD in and boot to it, answer
whatever questions it needs to get to a desktop, and move the mouse around.

If the mouse doesn't work there, it's a hardware problem with the port. If
it DOES work reliably, there may in fact be a driver problem a clean Windows
install might fix.

You can't use a Windows install CD for this test, as the setup program
doesn't support a mouse until after it's made changes to the hard disk.
..

 

[N8N]

All on the same port, or USB controller?   Then it's quite possible that the
port or controller is failing, and an install will not fix this.

Here's a test that won't cost much.

Get a boot CD for some other OS, such as a Linux 'Live' CD (these can be
downloaded as images; you may need help to make one).   It doesn't matter
what version it is or what its features are, as long as it will boot your
system to a GUI that supports a mouse.    These CDs don't write to the hard
disk, so you will be safe.      Just put the CD in and boot to it, answer
whatever questions it needs to get to a desktop, and move the mouse around.

If the mouse doesn't work there, it's a hardware problem with the port.   If
it DOES work reliably, there may in fact be a driver problem a clean Windows
install might fix.

You can't use a Windows  install CD for this test, as the setup program
doesn't support a mouse until after it's made changes to the hard disk.

It's not the port - I can move all my other devices (printer, scanner,
USB hub, thumb drive, external HDD case, keyboard, etc.) to any port
and they will either just work, or take a few seconds to install
driver and then subsequently work. I did see thanatoid's response
which appeared helpful but I decided that I wasn't enough of a
"computer guy" to find messing about in the registry anything other
than annoying. So I dropped it off at a local place and the guy
called me last night to tell me that my "mouse driver was corrupted"
which is along the lines of what I expected in the first place, and
since I didn't have any WinXP discs or the knowledge to install
drivers manually, I let him take care of it.

I just hope that I don't have any other issues with this computer or
I'll be kicking myself for not just buying a new one, although oddly,
it seems that the obsolescence of a 5 year old computer now isn't as
great as it used to be 5 or 10 years ago.

nate

 

[N8N]

It's not the port - I can move all my other devices (printer, scanner,
USB hub, thumb drive, external HDD case, keyboard, etc.) to any port
and they will either just work, or take a few seconds to install
driver and then subsequently work.  I did see thanatoid's response
which appeared helpful but I decided that I wasn't enough of a
"computer guy" to find messing about in the registry anything other
than annoying.  So I dropped it off at a local place and the guy
called me last night to tell me that my "mouse driver was corrupted"
which is along the lines of what I expected in the first place, and
since I didn't have any WinXP discs or the knowledge to install
drivers manually, I let him take care of it.

I just hope that I don't have any other issues with this computer or
I'll be kicking myself for not just buying a new one, although oddly,
it seems that the obsolescence of a 5 year old computer now isn't as
great as it used to be 5 or 10 years ago.

nate

Follow up:

should have just bought a new computer. Guy has had it for four days
and now I find that he's not going to be in again until Tuesday.
Refurbs range from $250-400 for higher spec than my old puter. With a
minimum $70 service fee I would have been better off getting a new
puter and messing with the old one at my leisure (or maybe turning it
into a Linux box.) I didn't realize a simple driver problem would
take a whole week to fix, I thought I'd get it working *faster* if I
"let the pros handle it."

Although it seems silly to give up on a computer over this, it
actually makes sense in terms of time and money. live and learn...

nate

 

[Nate Nagel]

Follow up:

should have just bought a new computer. Guy has had it for four days
and now I find that he's not going to be in again until Tuesday.
Refurbs range from $250-400 for higher spec than my old puter. With a
minimum $70 service fee I would have been better off getting a new
puter and messing with the old one at my leisure (or maybe turning it
into a Linux box.) I didn't realize a simple driver problem would
take a whole week to fix, I thought I'd get it working *faster* if I
"let the pros handle it."

Although it seems silly to give up on a computer over this, it
actually makes sense in terms of time and money. live and learn...

nate

Wow, I finally picked this up last night (after over a week,) *un*fixed,
the guy basically gave up, he was going to wipe my hard drive and start
over, well I can do that myself (and I won't charge me for it) if it
comes to that.

So now I'm out $70 and still don't have a working mouse...

Anyone recommend a *good* computer repair place in NoVA
(Fairfax/Merrifield area) that doesn't keep banker's hours?

Or do I just accept that I can't use a mouse on this computer and buy a
new one, keeping this one for use on out of town trips etc?

nate

 

[Olórin]

Wow, I finally picked this up last night (after over a week,) *un*fixed,
the guy basically gave up, he was going to wipe my hard drive and start
over, well I can do that myself (and I won't charge me for it) if it comes
to that.

So now I'm out $70 and still don't have a working mouse...

Anyone recommend a *good* computer repair place in NoVA
(Fairfax/Merrifield area) that doesn't keep banker's hours?

Or do I just accept that I can't use a mouse on this computer and buy a
new one, keeping this one for use on out of town trips etc?

nate

Things I'd try (sorry if you already have, I kind of lost track in the
thread so far!):

- disable the touchpad, see if that helps

- try clearing all types of mice out of Device Management and let what you
have plugged in be rediscovered.

- a normal, wired USB mouse if you can lay your hands on one (avoiding the
PS/2-USB adapter). Your "repair" guy should be able to lend you one, or let
you try in his shop. If needs be, look up the model on the manufacturer's
website and grab any drivers there

- if he's worth his salt he should be able to lend you an XP CD for the
purpose you want. (Doesn't sound like he's earned his money yet!)

- try not letting XP trundle off to Windows Update for software - it
shouldn't need to

- did you follow the instructions for fitting the new Logitech cordless
mouse, esp re installing software first (if relevant)? Did it throw up any
error messages?

- have a look in the Event Viewer (Start > Run > eventvwr.msc) on the
offchance that there's information that might give a hint as to the problem