Anyone Have Any Ideas How To Get The Ball On My Mouse To Work Properly?

@ellie333 (21016)
January 20, 2009 12:49pm CST
I will probably have to buy a new mouse tomorrow and I have taken the ball out and blew inside mouse to get rid of any dust but it is hard work moving it at the moment so will apologise in advance if I am slower than usual in responding to people. Huggles. Ellie :D
5 people like this
39 responses
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
20 Jan 09
fshn4rainbows is on the right track. The ball in your mouse presses against two very small bars or rollers. These accumulate dust and filth and grot like they actually manufacture it! Use a fingernail or a cocktail stick or something not too sharp or hard to tease off the rings of gunk that accumulate on these two rollers - you can't miss them: once you undo the cover and drop the ball out, you will see two bars set at right angles. Blow hard into the cavity to make sure that all the loose, gunky stuff is out. Also wash the ball in water with a very little detergent (dishwashing liquid or liquid soap) added. Then rinse and dry in a soft, lint free cloth. This removes all waxes, greases and oils and restores its rubbery, gripping texture
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@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
21 Jan 09
ROTFL @ kholid.
@ellie333 (21016)
20 Jan 09
Hi Owlwings, I have now done this and the mouse does seem to be working a bit better, I will update with an optic one when I go to the shop tomorrow though. My computer is years old and I only replace things when necessary rather than the latest stuff, although I do have wi-fi LOL. Huggles. Ellie :D
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@kholid78 (341)
• Indonesia
21 Jan 09
Hey hey everyone Who sell the optic mouse? Elli333 need one tomorrow. So you can make bargaining now. And don't forget ... my commision is 20% lol
• India
20 Jan 09
I thought ball mouses were outdated!! Cleaning the inside is the only thing you can do.
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
20 Jan 09
I did too. I have a box full of mouse balls [I used to be in Computer Support]. Computer mice must be something like old golfers (who never die, if you recall ... they only lose their balls!) I honestly don't know why I collect them but ... they are so round and ... hmm ... nice, they have to be useful for something!
2 people like this
• Defiance, Ohio
20 Jan 09
infinite_zoom, No they are not out dated. Alot of people still use them. They also can still be bought in stores. I see them all the time.
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@ellie333 (21016)
20 Jan 09
Hi Infinite_zoom, I am just beginning to realise that. I will buy an optic one tomorrow but have cleaned again and it does seem to be working a little better. Huggles. Ellie :D
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@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
21 Jan 09
When you take the ball out Ellie, have a close look at the bits that the ball actually touches. There are, I think, three wheels that get clogged with gunk. You need a tooth pick to gently clean all the gunk off. It takes a while and some bits are stubborn but you will certainly notice the difference.
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@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
21 Jan 09
Hello sweety...scoop, I'm ignoring you.... I wouldn't rush into replacing your mouse just yet. I went to laser a few years back and was happy. I did save my last ball...they are such nice objects as owl said...much nicer than marbles. Anyway, if you decide to go ahead anyway and buy a new mouse...get it from somewhere where you can try it out. Some are great, some are awful. I love the one I use with my laptop. I bought one to use with my desktop and it's awful...too big, not smooth, I actually had to adjust the speed and it still feels awkward and rough. Good luck with it.
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@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Thanks MsTickle, I will bear that in mind, I am hoping to update my whole system at some stage this year so now the mouse is working again may hold off until I get the whol package, oh I like marbles, we have a house of marbles not far from us withall sorts in it and it is free to visit and lots of fun. Huggles. Ellie :D
@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Hi MsTickle, I did manage to give it another really good clean and it seems to be working fine again now but have been advised to get an optical or laser one so I won't encounter this problem again. Thank you. Huggles. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@modstar (9605)
• Philippines
20 Jan 09
Change your mousepad into something that doesn't catches dirt. If you take the ball off the mouse, there 2 or 3 rollers inside which could be stucked with dirt. Take the dirt off by using something small like maybe the flat tip of the screwdriver. The dirt will just pile up in a matter of days so i suggest you change your mouse to an optical mouse. I've had the same problem as your because i live in a dusty place. My only option was the change it to an optical mouse and the problem went away together with my old mouse.
2 people like this
@ellie333 (21016)
20 Jan 09
Hi Modstar, Yes I think it is time for me to get updated and use an optical mouse but I have cleaned again and it does seem to be working a bit better. Huggles. Ellie :D
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@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Jan 09
I had just posted and then the power went low so I am posting again. I don't know where my response went - way up to computer heaven or something. O.K. Waht I was saying is that this has happened many times to me and it was not the fault of the mouse. Oh no. I bought 3 new mouses and the problem existed. What I had to do was to turn opff the computer and then remove all the mouse connections to the computer etc. Wait a few minuted then replace the connections and then turn the computer on again. so take my a advice and don't be inkind to your poor little mouse who is only doing the best he can. The other reason is that you could be squeezing your little mouse too hard or - horrors of horrors- dropped him on the hard ground. Is that possible? Have you been naughty to your mouse? Blessings
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@ellie333 (21016)
20 Jan 09
Hi Cynthiann, You should know how much of an animal lover I am, drop the mouse, me? LOL. I have now cleaned again and it does seem to be working a bit better. I had the mouse freeze completely once and I had to disconnect and then put in again to sort so I know what you mean there. Huggles. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
• Chile
20 Jan 09
Wow, you still have a mouse ball? I can´t remember the last time I saw one of those mice, it´s all sensors and wireless these days.
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@ellie333 (21016)
20 Jan 09
Hi Ilgattofelice, Yep I still use a traditional mouse but now it is showing signs of age I will invest in an optic one but my motto is to not buy anything unless it is needed and until now a new mouse wasn't needed. LOL. Huggles. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@moondancer (7431)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Ellie have you scrapped off all of the contacts inside of the ball? They do build up with lint and such. It's just an idea and I thought you probably had done this as you said you opened it and blew into it to relieve it of all dust particles. It's just that this won't get it all off of the contacts. I hope you don't have to buy a new one, maybe if you have an old one there you can just replace the ball. I've done this before.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Jan 09
That's so good ellie. It's much better to be able to do that intead of mhaving to spend money on another one. And it's much less frustrating when they work properly, lol.
@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Hi Moondancer, I did clean again and especially the contacts on the inside and it does now seem to be responding better. Huggles. Ellie :D
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
21 Jan 09
There are wheels also inside of the mouse. It gets clogged up with dust and it sticks to it. You have to take your fingernail or something to get it off of the wheels. I bought a laser mouse so it does not have a ball and a wheel inside of it. It never gets clogged and you never have to clean it out.
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@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Hi Steph, Yes I am now going to buy a laser one but I did clean again concentrating on the inside and it does now seem to be responding properly. Huggles. Ellie :D
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I have one of those optical mice, you really might want to get one of them
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@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I still have problems, but maybe its really my old computer
@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Hi Elic, Yes I am going to get an optical one but after giving another good clean it does now seem to be responding. Huggles. Ellie :D
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@derek_a (10873)
21 Jan 09
I used to get really frustrated with my ball mouse and have since bought a chordless infra-red one. I still have the old one attached, but if ever I use it, it feels so slow and unresponsive. If you change your mouse, I think you will find it to be much better.. :-) Derek
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@derek_a (10873)
21 Jan 09
I am the same.. LOL. My computer is years old too, but it works and does what I want it to and I can't see the point of upgrading until I really have to. :-) Derek
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@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Hi Derek, I am going to look into getting an optical or laser one but have cleaned this mouse again and it does seem to be working ok now. I am the type of person that doesn't replace until something is broken but I would in fact like a new faster computer and this one is years old as you can tell as I still use a ball mouse LOL. Huggles. Ellie :D
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@vicky30 (4766)
• India
21 Jan 09
Check the rollers if there is any dirt.Try to scrape it out with your fingers.Then you will see your mouse working smooth.See that the mousepad and the bottom of the mouse is clean.
@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Hi Vicky thanks, I have been in and given the inside a real good clean and the mouse seems to be responding properly again now thankfully. Huggles. Ellie :D
20 Jan 09
Hey ellie, on most mouses you should be able to twist the bottom off and take the ball out. Wipe the ball and the blow inside the mouse to get rid of any dirt, that might help if not then you might have to buy a new mouse!! I havent had any mouse trouble but years ago my dad did and you had to keep taking the ball out and cleaning the inside. Hope that helps x
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@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Hi Cinderella, I did take the ball out and clean all the contacts inside and now it does seem to be responding better but I think I will invest in a new optical one though. Huggles. Ellie :D
22 Jan 09
Snoop - it would be nice to invited to balls but then I would only be able to stay til midnight - no later!!! lol
21 Jan 09
hi ellie, I am sorry your mouse is not working very well, these mouses always gives trouble, I just have a LapTop so I have the little touch pad. We alwo have a desk top computer upstairs but i never use that one as hubby normally use it, I prefer my laptop as I can't get the hang of using the mouse. Love and huggles. Tamara
@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Hi Tamara, I managed to give it another clean and it does seem to be responding again now but I think I will invest in another. I would love a laptop. Huggles. Ellie :D
21 Jan 09
Hi ellie, I am glad you got your mouse working and yes its a good idea to invest in a new one, I got my laptop after waiting ages for it, its about £400 then but I don't know how much it is now, maybe the same. Love and huggles. Tamara xxxx
@Humbug25 (12540)
20 Jan 09
Hi ya ellie333 Hahahaha slower than usual LOL I was going to suggest you clean it but it sounds like you have done that already. If you do decide to purchase a new one I would suggest that you buy an optic one then you won't have to worry about sticky balls anymore! LOL Good luck
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
20 Jan 09
Hi Humbug, I have tried cleaning again and cleaned the bits inside of it as well as the ball and it does seem a bit easier. I will invest in another one though, perhaps without sticky balls LOL. Huggles. Ellie :D
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@Humbug25 (12540)
20 Jan 09
Good idea ellie
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@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Really Scoop, you make me laugh Huggles. Ellie :D
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
21 Jan 09
other than cleaning it out I think need a new moose
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@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Hi Winterose, I did give it another good clean and it does seem to be responding again but yes it is about time I invested in a more modern one. Huggles. Ellie :D
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
20 Jan 09
[i]Hi ellie, I have no idea about that dear! Maybe about time to replace! LOL! Don't worry about us here, we are here to understand and to wait your active presence! lOL! Enjoy![/i]
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@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Hi Checapricorn, Yes time to get a new one but I did clean it all again and it does now seem to be responding much better. Huggles. Ellie :D
@marketing07 (6266)
• South Korea
21 Jan 09
hope you can fix it soon..have a nice day
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@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Hi Marketing, I have cleaned it again concentrating on the inside and it does seem to be respoding better again. Huggles. Ellie :D
@ShellyB (5241)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I was told once to clean the mouse, but I am not sure how to do that.
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@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Hi Shelly, Yes I have taken out the ball and cleaned inside and it does now seem to be responding again, thanks. Huggles. Ellie :D
• Indonesia
20 Jan 09
You must rub it with a cloth of coarse material such as jean, or perhaps with a soft sandpaper. Create a surface of the ball is not slippery, but a bit rough, so it can move the sensor well.
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Hi mMakingMoney, I have now done all this and it does seem to be responding again, thanks. Huggles. Ellie :D
@aem1542 (43)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Well obviously you have a pretty outdated mouse so theres not much more you can do but just to try to blow the dust out (that dosent sound right lol) and if it still dosent work then if i was you id go get me a laser mouse. They work so much smoother,faster, and looots beter. good luck!
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@ellie333 (21016)
21 Jan 09
Hi Aem, I am now going to invest in a laser mouse but did clean again and it seems fine again now and is responding, thanks. Huggles. Ellie :D