Mouse not being detected in Windows 9x, ME, 2000, XP or Vista.
Issue
Mouse not being detected in Windows 9x, ME, 2000, XP, or Vista.
Cause
This issue can be caused by one or more of the below possibilities.
- Mouse is experiencing a conflict with another device.
- Mouse is not connected into correct port
- Bad hardware.
Solution
A mouse may not be detected in Windows because of any of the below possibilities.
Mouse conflict
It is first recommended if you have recently installed additional hardware that the hardware is removed before attempting to follow the below troubleshooting steps to ensure that hardware is not causing the mouse not to work. If it is found that the mouse is causing the conflict with another device change one of the devices resources.
Not connected properly
If you are using a PS/2 mouse verify that it is connected into the PS/2 mouse port and not the PS/2 keyboard port located on the back of the computer.
Mouse software or driver conflict
Boot into Windows Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, move your mouse; if the mouse does work within Safe Mode: Click Start / Settings / Control Panel / System / click the Device Manager Tab. In Device Manager click the '+' by the mouse if not already a '-'. This should expand the mouse and display all mouse devices currently installed. Remove all mice listed. Once all are removed, reboot the computer and let the computer boot normally into Windows. If your mouse does not continue to work once back in Windows, it's likely you're encountering a driver related issue. Reinstall your mouse drivers, because you do not have use of the mouse you may want try doing this through Safe Mode.
Finally, if all the above recommendations do not resolve your mouse related issues follow your operating system basic troubleshooting steps before assuming the mouse is bad as listed in the next section.
Computer frozen
If your mouse was working but stopped while you were working on the computer it's possible that your computer may have froze. To determine if this is the case try pressing the num lock key on the keyboard. If you're able to turn the num lock on and off then your computer is not frozen.
Bad Mouse
If you are still encountering the same issue and have another mouse that uses the same connection into the back of the computer, try the other mouse. If the other mouse works in this computer use the mouse not working on another computer.
- If you are not able to get another mouse to work in your computer the computer port is bad or there is a hardware conflict.
- If you are not able to get your mouse to work in a known working computer the computer mouse is bad.