Laser Mouse (Corded)....why does the mouse on screen drift?

Fire Fly · Post by **Fire Fly** » 2005-09-12 02:58pm

Ok, so my school uses these corded laser mice, the cheap $15-$20 kind. Well, I've noticed that sometimes when its perfectly still, the mouse pointer on screen will drift left or right or up or down. When I suddenly pick it up, the drift stops.

Now my question is, why does it do this? Its exeedingly annoying me now. Any input would be kind. Thanks.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2005-09-12 03:01pm

Just to nitpick, optical mice do not use lasers for their sensors. However it's entirely possible the sensors on the mice are either dirty, or the drivers simply need reinstalled.

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2005-09-12 03:12pm

Happens to me sometimes, clean the lens and the diode.

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2005-09-12 03:27pm

Yeah, I've got two dogs. I had to check every other day for hair. It didn't matter if one of them got near it or not.

Lord Revan · Post by **Lord Revan** » 2005-09-12 03:29pm

Sometimes my mouse (non optical though) drifted because there was something (typically another cord) pulling the cord down.

Post by **Dalton** » 2005-09-12 04:46pm

Is the mouse on a reflective surface like a polished desk?

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2005-09-12 05:45pm

General Zod wrote:Just to nitpick, optical mice do not use lasers for their sensors. However it's entirely possible the sensors on the mice are either dirty, or the drivers simply need reinstalled.

Just to nitpick, there are mice available for purchase which do use lasers.

However, as they're significantly more expensive, it's unlikely a school district would purchase them.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2005-09-12 06:05pm

Uraniun235 wrote:
General Zod wrote:Just to nitpick, optical mice do not use lasers for their sensors. However it's entirely possible the sensors on the mice are either dirty, or the drivers simply need reinstalled.
Just to nitpick, there are mice available for purchase which do use lasers.

However, as they're significantly more expensive, it's unlikely a school district would purchase them.

Given he said that his were the cheap $10.00-$15.00 ones, it makes sense he's talking about optical mice. Not laser mice.

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2005-09-12 06:07pm

General Zod wrote:Just to nitpick, optical mice do not use lasers for their sensors. However it's entirely possible the sensors on the mice are either dirty, or the drivers simply need reinstalled.

Older and some newer expensive ones do, they look quite similar to the LED ones though. Only way to tell is to look at it and see if it burns your retina.

edit: Back to the topic, this actually happens quite often with cheaper optical mice. My guess is it would have something to do with the cheap sensors not quite picking up the same image each time it scans. Probably to do with the way they're aligned.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2005-09-12 07:59pm

Is there any dust or gunk near the sensor?

General Zod wrote:
Uraniun235 wrote: Just to nitpick, there are mice available for purchase which do use lasers.

However, as they're significantly more expensive, it's unlikely a school district would purchase them.
Given he said that his were the cheap $10.00-$15.00 ones, it makes sense he's talking about optical mice. Not laser mice.

I already addressed your point.

Braedley · Post by **Braedley** » 2005-09-12 08:18pm

Although not normal, this problem isn't new. My mouse does it on occasion, the mouse ar my summer job did it, shouldn't be a big deal.

Fire Fly · Post by **Fire Fly** » 2005-09-12 08:50pm

They're on a mouse pad and the lense or whatever you want to call it seems to be clean, to the naked eye at least.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2005-09-12 09:07pm

Every now and then my old optical mouse would jump the pointer all the way up and left. Very annoying. My new MX310 doesn't have that problem at all