I am now officially a left mouse button repairman.
My desktop computer mouse is 10 years old (so is the computer, keyboard, monitor, speakers, etc.).
Lately the left mouse button has been malfunctioning. Either I have to push hard, or several times, etc. I knew I needed a new one but put it off.
And sometimes it just stopped working altogether. But often a reboot helped. So for some reason I thought it might actually be a software or driver issue, rather than mechanical.
But then I tried the mouse on my work laptop. Same malfunction. At least there I have a touchpad. But I prefer a mouse.
So I decided to check under the hood. I unscrewed the single mouse screw, and popped off the top. What a simple device. A plastic shell with flexible parts that serve as buttons. Inside is a circuit board with two small black blocks each with a tiny white plastic button that can be depressed and clicked. I could actually use it with the backshell off. Odd. It also had a laser and wheel (very dirty!).
The right clicker clicked nicely, with a nice sound. The left one clicked weakly with a weak sound. So it seems to be just wear and tear, not a software or driver issue (at least I think so!).
Then I had the idea to put something on the part to be clicked, on the left clicker, to give the click more force, perhaps? Maybe that would help. First, I tried a rolled up piece of tape. Nope, did not help. Then, I cut a tiny square off a thin cardboard clothing label. I put a new roll of tape on one side, then stuck it to the plastic pad on the top side of the inside of the mouse, which contacts the white clicker.
It seems to be helping, but I still have to press harder and sometimes a few times. But it is better than before the repair, where nothing was working at all.
This should hold me until I can go buy a new mouse. I hope the new mouse will work on my 10 year old computer. I hope when I plug it in it automatically finds its driver online and all is well. I suspect my work laptop will accept it OK since it is one year old and has updated Windows. But I may need to ask my IT office to upload a driver. I may not have the privileges for it. But my ancient mouse worked before its clicker wore out.
Well, if you read all that, I thank you!
Clicka clicka click!
Lately the left mouse button has been malfunctioning. Either I have to push hard, or several times, etc. I knew I needed a new one but put it off.
And sometimes it just stopped working altogether. But often a reboot helped. So for some reason I thought it might actually be a software or driver issue, rather than mechanical.
But then I tried the mouse on my work laptop. Same malfunction. At least there I have a touchpad. But I prefer a mouse.
So I decided to check under the hood. I unscrewed the single mouse screw, and popped off the top. What a simple device. A plastic shell with flexible parts that serve as buttons. Inside is a circuit board with two small black blocks each with a tiny white plastic button that can be depressed and clicked. I could actually use it with the backshell off. Odd. It also had a laser and wheel (very dirty!).
The right clicker clicked nicely, with a nice sound. The left one clicked weakly with a weak sound. So it seems to be just wear and tear, not a software or driver issue (at least I think so!).
Then I had the idea to put something on the part to be clicked, on the left clicker, to give the click more force, perhaps? Maybe that would help. First, I tried a rolled up piece of tape. Nope, did not help. Then, I cut a tiny square off a thin cardboard clothing label. I put a new roll of tape on one side, then stuck it to the plastic pad on the top side of the inside of the mouse, which contacts the white clicker.
It seems to be helping, but I still have to press harder and sometimes a few times. But it is better than before the repair, where nothing was working at all.
This should hold me until I can go buy a new mouse. I hope the new mouse will work on my 10 year old computer. I hope when I plug it in it automatically finds its driver online and all is well. I suspect my work laptop will accept it OK since it is one year old and has updated Windows. But I may need to ask my IT office to upload a driver. I may not have the privileges for it. But my ancient mouse worked before its clicker wore out.
Well, if you read all that, I thank you!
Clicka clicka click!
46-50, M
