my mouse is majorly messed up

[Kulindahr]

Well, at least I think it is.

Here's the situation: when I first got my mouse, a wireless Logitech species, it was fantastic; it worked on cardboard, my jeans, the arm of a chair, my sleeping dog, a sleeping bag, my bare leg -- you get the idea; unless it was a highly reflective surface, it worked fine.

A while back it started getting picky: dog, carpet, fluffy chair arm were out. Not long after, the bare leg no longer worked, or cardboard, or even plywood. Now it doesn't even like a mouse pad; the only thing I've found it will work on is a NAPA 10-40 motor oil box which looks like it was spray-painted so it has tiny, tiny spots of black on a dark brown background.

It occurred to me today to wonder if there's some sort of setting for mouse sensitivity, and I somehow messed it up.


Those are the symptoms and history. Diagnoses, doctors? and recommendations for treatment?

 

[trawler69]

Ah yes I have one of those too and it behaves in exactly the same way if it gets a hair or bit of fluff in front of the lens. It tends to focus on it and think it isn't moving as it moves with the mouse. It only takes the smallest thing. Have a look where the lens is and inspect carefully.

 

[Corny]

change the batteries and clean the lens

 

[Kulindahr]

the only thing I've found it will work on is a NAPA 10-40 motor oil box which looks like it was spray-painted so it has tiny, tiny spots of black on a dark brown background.


Why are you using 10-40?

I had the box for packing -- NAPA lets me have them free.

 

[Kulindahr]

Ah yes I have one of those too and it behaves in exactly the same way if it gets a hair or bit of fluff in front of the lens. It tends to focus on it and think it isn't moving as it moves with the mouse. It only takes the smallest thing. Have a look where the lens is and inspect carefully.

change the batteries and clean the lens

Software says the batteries are great.

Other than blowing on it, how do I clean a lens that's close to half a cm up inside the body?

 

[T-Rexx]

^ They make screwdrivers for a reason, Kuli.

 

[Kulindahr]

^ They make screwdrivers for a reason, Kuli.

Except there aren't any screws.....

I got creative: took a cotton swab and with a clean lint-free cloth twisted it tight enough to fit inside the lens opening. I pushed in until I guessed I was just short of the lens and spun it.

Not a perfect solution, but it works on plain cardboard, my pants, and a bare leg.

Okay, works on my dog, too. It's fun to hold the mouse still while he rolls back and forth.

 

[trawler69]

It may well be the dog that is the problem, one hair stuck in front of the lens and it all goes tits up. Qtips (Cotton buds) are ideal and won't hurt if they touch the lens.

 

[Kulindahr]

It may well be the dog that is the problem, one hair stuck in front of the lens and it all goes tits up. Qtips (Cotton buds) are ideal and won't hurt if they touch the lens.

That was my first thought back before I posted. But unless he has very, very tiny hair that I can't see and won't blow away, that wasn't it.

I only use him as a mouse pad when it's funny, anyway.

My real concern with the swab was pushing something deeper and leaving it on/by the lens -- since I can't see any way to get in and clean except with a swab. The only thing that comes off the mouse is the battery cover, and that doesn't get me very close.