Anyone Have Any Ideas How To Get The Ball On My Mouse To Work Properly?
By ellie333
@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
2 people like this
@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
1 person likes this
@infinite_zoom (118)
• India
20 Jan 09
I thought ball mouses were outdated!!
Cleaning the inside is the only thing you can do.
2 people like this
@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
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• 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.
2 people like this
@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.
@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.
1 person likes this
@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
@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.
@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
2 people like this
@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
@ilgattofelice99 (192)
• 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.
@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
@moondancer (7431)
• 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.
@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.
1 person likes this
@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
1 person likes this
@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
1 person likes this
@cinderella2007 (2662)
•
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
1 person likes this
@cinderella2007 (2662)
•
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
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
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
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
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
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
21 Jan 09
other than cleaning it out I think need a new moose
1 person likes this
@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]
1 person likes this
@marketing07 (6266)
• South Korea
21 Jan 09
hope you can fix it soon..have a nice day
1 person likes this
@mMakingMoney (403)
• 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
@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!
1 person likes this