Laptop Mouse not working properly

[myys]

I have a DGI Laptop & the mouse isn't responding properly. What I'm trying to say is that as I move the ball the mouse doesn't always respond. I tried attaching an external mouse but it also doesn't work.

Should I have gone into the BIOS & enabled something????
Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

[jabarnutcase]

You should always shut down the Laptop before attaching an external mouse, then power up again. (Unless it's a USB Mouse- Even then, a re-boot may help).
(You shouldn't have to enter Bios just to add an external mouse)

In most cases, I believe, this will at the same time disable your on-board "trackball" or what ever it happens to be.

As far as why the existing pointing device is acting intermittently, it could be dirty, you may need to try different settings in the mouse driver, or it may be just plain malfunctioning.

So far, I haven't had to do much hardware troubleshooting on my one and only Laptop (thankfully....Sometimes, there isn't much you can do), so others may have some more ideas.

Did this just start recently? (IE, after any Hardware or Software changes?)

(Edit) I just saw the end of your other thread...You mentioned it "moves whenever it wants"...That could also be a driver problem...Or even a Windows "patch".
As Classicsoftware mentioned, as much info as possible would be more helpful.

[Budfred]

It could also be a security problem. Have you run a full set of security scans? Antivirus, spyware scanner and trojan scan? If not, I would urge that. You can run an online antivirus scan from one of the links below and you can download and run Spybot and/or AdAware for a spyware scan....

[jabarnutcase]

Yes- Good point...A full set of scans is ALWAYS a good idea when something is acting crazy....(or even when everything is acting just fine).

Only reason I mentioned the driver or "patch", is that I had an old Compaq LTE 5400 that had exactly the same problem- (The pointer would slowly move up the screen by itself), and it was a software "bug" that required a fix from the Compaq website.

The fact that an external Mouse isn't working at all is a matter of concern though.
And certainly, as Budfred mentioned, scan for "crapware" and a possible virus...You are running an up to date Anti-Virus program, right?

(Silly me, of course you are!)

[myys]

Thank you all!!! Being a novice & having an older laptop (486 I believe) all my effort my be for nile. I will take all the advice I an given & let everyone know the results.

Once again my Thanx & appreciation!!