My mouse is retarded (computer, I mean)

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This just started happening this week: for no apparent reason, my mouse pointer will start freaking the hell out and darting across the screen like a mosquito. Meanwhile, all sorts of menus and windows will pop open and resize and close and flip out in an equally fast and erratic fashion. I tried contacting HP tech support and they said it was probably a virus, but a scan turned up nothing. My mouse is kind of old, though, and I cleaned a lot of gunk out of it shortly after I started having this problem. Any advice? Because it's really putting a huge crimp in my writing (at the worst possible time).

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Thursday, 30 October 2003 14:28 (twenty-two years ago)

(theory: the menu/window resize thing means the buttons are clicking of their own accord)

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Thursday, 30 October 2003 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Nate that sounds similiar to the virus I had a few months back, that eventually killed my hard drive. Or you can try this pop-up blocker.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 30 October 2003 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

sounds like the w32.magistr virus.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 30 October 2003 14:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Although I do think it's a virus too, you could try running an anti-spyware software on your machine like Ad-Aware as well.

― Miggie (Miggie), Thursday, 30 October 2003 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a pop-up blocker and AdAware (which found nothing). I'm still thinking (and hoping) this is just a matter of my mouse being old and succumbing to age/wear-related malfunctions, but there's a couple other things I'm going to try first.

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Thursday, 30 October 2003 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Could be the wires in the mouse are shorting. I used to have to hold the wire on my mouse a certain way to get it work, but after awhile that stopped working so I cut out the plastic shielding where the mouse makes two tight 90 degree angles and that seems to have helped it. Its easier to go buy a new mouse. So I've suckered 7 years of use out of that thing despite owning a cat.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Thursday, 30 October 2003 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

if you unplug the mouse, does it still happen?

― Mark C (Mark C), Thursday, 30 October 2003 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe your mouse is stunted?

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39504000/jpg/_39504931_peewee203.jpg

― felicity (felicity), Thursday, 30 October 2003 17:36 (twenty-two years ago)

if you unplug the mouse, does it still happen?

No.

OMG CUTEST PICTURE EVER (dies)

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Thursday, 30 October 2003 18:20 (twenty-two years ago)

AdAware only looks (I think) for spyware and bad cookies--I don't think it's going to find a virus...

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Thursday, 30 October 2003 18:25 (twenty-two years ago)

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