-
ps/2 mouse randomly shooting over screen
Posted by
paul_g_787
on 31 Dec, 2020 15:50
-
OK so this is a weird issue. I have been using the same PS/2 mouse since 1999, but the last few days it has started randomly shooting all over the screen clicking at things on it's own when I am in the middle of doing something!!
First thing I did was use another mouse of the same model from work (brand new old stock) and it is doing it with this one too!! So I am sure the mouse is not faulty. Both Microsoft IntelliMouse 1.1a.
Could this be RF interference of some kind? The cable on these mice is not shielded.
It is driving me mad that it has suddenly become a problem.
-
#1 Reply
Posted by
m k
on 31 Dec, 2020 17:59
-
Do you have a new mouse mat?
-
#2 Reply
Posted by
janoc
on 31 Dec, 2020 18:36
-
RF interference maybe but not very likely - PS/2 uses 5V signalling, that gives a ton of noise margin, plus those signals are pretty slow. Unless you have a HAM radio transmitter right next to it I doubt it would be RF. That would probably kill your keyboard at the same time (same kind of signal, cables are not shielded neither).
Do make sure you have cleaned the mouse first (especially if that is a mouse using a ball and rollers - those do pick up a ton of grime) and that there is no stray light getting in it.
Long time ago I had a mouse that had a white translucent plastic body and when sunlight hit it just right, it was messing with the optical sensor inside! This can easily happen with an old ball mouse that uses optical encoders but even newer mice using camera-like sensors aren't immune to it.
-
#3 Reply
Posted by
Kleinstein
on 31 Dec, 2020 19:27
-
Is there some other equipment connected to an RS232 port or similar. Windows may mistake this signal for a second mouse. I just had that last weak. It may even be interference or failure at an unused port. It may hep to disable an unused RS232 port.
-
#4 Reply
Posted by
Renate
on 31 Dec, 2020 19:49
-
I think Kleinstein has hit the nail on the head.
Go to the Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) and see if you have a "Microsoft (TM) Ballpoint (TM) Mouse (TM)".
Windows lives to identify ANYTHING plugged into a serial port as a mouse.
(That's even though serial mice is a concept long dead.)
You can't even get around this by deleting all the junk out of msmouse.inf
You can disable serenum but it breaks something too.
I've tried. You can't tell Bill Gates, "I solemnly swear that I will never use a serial mouse or require it to work ."
A GPS module will have this effect.
Unrelated: Some HID devices will break an AMI BIOS because it doesn't know the difference between a keyboard and another kind of HID device.
-
#5 Reply
Posted by
Bud
on 31 Dec, 2020 20:06
-
Could be your keyboard too. Try a different keyboard.
-
#6 Reply
Posted by
rsjsouza
on 31 Dec, 2020 20:16
-
I assume you are connecting your mouse via a USB to PS/2 adapter, is that so? If so, I would check the USB Hub. I had an issue with my PS/2 keyboard that, whenever I had a large number of ports connected (it is a 7 port powered Hub), the keyboard would start to develop some erratic behaviour. In the end I changed the Hub power supply for a much more powerful one and I haven't had any instabilities.
BTW, the hub I have is a good quality one from Dlink, not a bargain bin model. That may also make a difference.
-
#7 Reply
Posted by
paul_g_787
on 31 Dec, 2020 23:26
-
Do you have a new mouse mat?
Been using the same one for 5 years. I also tried using no mat and the issue was the same.
-
#8 Reply
Posted by
paul_g_787
on 31 Dec, 2020 23:28
-
RF interference maybe but not very likely - PS/2 uses 5V signalling, that gives a ton of noise margin, plus those signals are pretty slow. Unless you have a HAM radio transmitter right next to it I doubt it would be RF. That would probably kill your keyboard at the same time (same kind of signal, cables are not shielded neither).
Do make sure you have cleaned the mouse first (especially if that is a mouse using a ball and rollers - those do pick up a ton of grime) and that there is no stray light getting in it.
Long time ago I had a mouse that had a white translucent plastic body and when sunlight hit it just right, it was messing with the optical sensor inside! This can easily happen with an old ball mouse that uses optical encoders but even newer mice using camera-like sensors aren't immune to it.
It is a ball mouse with optical encoders. I have dismantled it and cle4aned it, but as pointed out a brand new mouse has the same issue.
-
#9 Reply
Posted by
paul_g_787
on 31 Dec, 2020 23:29
-
Is there some other equipment connected to an RS232 port or similar. Windows may mistake this signal for a second mouse. I just had that last weak. It may even be interference or failure at an unused port. It may hep to disable an unused RS232 port.
I haven't got any other serial devices connected at present apart from the ps/2 keyboard.
I am also using Ubuntu 20.04
-
#10 Reply
Posted by
paul_g_787
on 31 Dec, 2020 23:30
-
Could be your keyboard too. Try a different keyboard.
I just tried a USB keyboard and the issue was still present with the mouse.
Using a USB mouse I have no issue.
-
#11 Reply
Posted by
paul_g_787
on 31 Dec, 2020 23:32
-
I assume you are connecting your mouse via a USB to PS/2 adapter, is that so? If so, I would check the USB Hub. I had an issue with my PS/2 keyboard that, whenever I had a large number of ports connected (it is a 7 port powered Hub), the keyboard would start to develop some erratic behaviour. In the end I changed the Hub power supply for a much more powerful one and I haven't had any instabilities.
BTW, the hub I have is a good quality one from Dlink, not a bargain bin model. That may also make a difference.
No the mouse is PS/2. I have an Asus P8B75-V Motherboard which has seperate keyboard and mouse PS/2 sockets.
-
-
Could you try an USB mouse? I’ve seen this with a faulty PS2 port. In my case it was a very old cap on the motherboard that had curled up its toes causing the symptoms you are getting.
-
#13 Reply
Posted by
NiHaoMike
on 01 Jan, 2021 00:02
-
Have you tried a PS/2 to USB converter?
-
#14 Reply
Posted by
BravoV
on 01 Jan, 2021 07:40
-
... since 1999...
Have you check internally for leaking electrolytic cap ?
-
#15 Reply
Posted by
SeanB
on 01 Jan, 2021 08:57
-
Intellimouse 1.1 unplug the green adaptor and use it via USB, see if it still does this. If not them motherboard failing, or if continues either still motherboard, or mouse capacitors have died, seeing as they are now over 20 years old, and MS did not expect them to last that long. Try to use the optical version, with the PS/2 connection and see if the issue persists, and otherwise change to USB.
I use the optical version with the same OS, and have no issues, even have had 2 connected at the same time no issues, only time it moved was when the cat was playing with it.
-
#16 Reply
Posted by
m k
on 01 Jan, 2021 18:32
-
I haven't got any other serial devices connected at present apart from the ps/2 keyboard.
I am also using Ubuntu 20.04
I thought the mouse is optical.
Anyway, using other mouse and having same issues is clearly something internal.
You can test it so that open a full sreen drawing software and leave the machine alone.
If the mouse does its own boot older CD/DVD Ubuntu and try the same.
If it's still doing its own it's most likely a hardware problem and you better just give up with the PS/2 port.
Hacked OS is always a possibility too but then extra happenings should be at least somewhat rational, if irregular mouse movements are not a smoke screen.
(theoretical, far cry, pass)
-
#17 Reply
Posted by
paul_g_787
on 02 Jan, 2021 22:04
-
An interesting behaviour I have noticed. The mouse does not have an issue when I leave it alone, only when I am using it will it start playing up.
Also, when it plays up, the cursor does everything at once, moves horizontal and vertical (all over the place) left clicks, right clicks, middle clicks, scrolls up and scrolls down.
However if I lift up the mouse off the mat / desk it stops instantly!!
I have tried wiggling the wire about and the connectors but cannot make it do this.
I have also tried the brand new mouse again (same model) and the same with this, if I lift up the mouse during the problem it stops.
How odd right?
-
#18 Reply
Posted by
tszaboo
on 02 Jan, 2021 22:26
-
I think Kleinstein has hit the nail on the head.
Go to the Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) and see if you have a "Microsoft (TM) Ballpoint (TM) Mouse (TM)".
Windows lives to identify ANYTHING plugged into a serial port as a mouse.
(That's even though serial mice is a concept long dead.)
You can't even get around this by deleting all the junk out of msmouse.inf
You can disable serenum but it breaks something too.
I've tried. You can't tell Bill Gates, "I solemnly swear that I will never use a serial mouse or require it to work ."
A GPS module will have this effect.
Unrelated: Some HID devices will break an AMI BIOS because it doesn't know the difference between a keyboard and another kind of HID device.
Oh, I've seen this. It was a custom datalogger with a FT232, connected to a computer of an EE, at work, he was talking to me. In the middle of his sentence, his mouse started to go haywire, going in insane speed, clicking on everything, starting programs. We were just looking at it for like ten seconds, and I must admit, that was probably the hardest I ever laughed.
-
-
I recall a similar behaviour, caused by plugging the mouse and keyboard into opposite PS/2 connectors (my devices pre-dated the green and purple colour code so this was an easy mistake to make).
m k's suggestion of a Linux boot USB is a good way to narrow down the issue. Could just boot the last USB you used to install your distro, if you still have it.
-
#20 Reply
Posted by
m k
on 03 Jan, 2021 17:35
-
However if I lift up the mouse off the mat / desk it stops instantly!!
I remember that there was a third wheel or roller inside the ball cup.
If that is on/off switch then happenings are more rational, connection type is syncronized and clock is open collector.
Means that the clock goes off when mouse is lifted and so no data, good or bad, is going in.
Have you tried them devices in wrong ports?
-
#21 Reply
Posted by
paul_g_787
on 04 Jan, 2021 15:02
-
However if I lift up the mouse off the mat / desk it stops instantly!!
I remember that there was a third wheel or roller inside the ball cup.
If that is on/off switch then happenings are more rational, connection type is syncronized and clock is open collector.
Means that the clock goes off when mouse is lifted and so no data, good or bad, is going in.
Have you tried them devices in wrong ports?
I just tried that, keyboard connected to green PS/2 port and mouse connected to Purple. And neither my keyboard and mouse are detected in the BIOS or OS. So have switched them back.
-
#22 Reply
Posted by
m k
on 05 Jan, 2021 20:32
-
Not so many options left.
It seems you eighter need to repair that motherboard or accept the upgrade.
If accuracy is the issue then new USB mice can be guite good.
Windows can also adjust movements quite a bit.
Nowadays zoom has also taken care of some of the issues.
Also, for accurate optical mouse use you need to keep your mat pictures as stochastic as possible.
-
#23 Reply
Posted by
A.Z.
on 06 Jan, 2021 08:14
-
I'd start by checking if the issue is hw or sw, to do so, download the iso for a "live" linux distro, burn it on a CD/DVD (or a USB stick) and boot the system with it, then check if the mouse is still acting, if this isn't the case then the hw is most probably ok and the issue is due to sw (e.g. multiple conflicting mouse drivers or the like)
-
#24 Reply
Posted by
paul_g_787
on 09 Jan, 2021 16:50
-
I'd start by checking if the issue is hw or sw, to do so, download the iso for a "live" linux distro, burn it on a CD/DVD (or a USB stick) and boot the system with it, then check if the mouse is still acting, if this isn't the case then the hw is most probably ok and the issue is due to sw (e.g. multiple conflicting mouse drivers or the like)
Good suggestion. I booted to my windows 7 installation and it is doing it on there also. I also stuck my ubuntu Installer USB in and it is still having problems there.
I have just borrowed a Logitech PS/2 mouse from work and it also has the problem!!
I am gonna try my mice on my work PC too to rule them out.
Possibly motherboard??
I had a look and there are no bulging caps I can see.
However, the issue is so random. I would assume if it was the motherboard the fault is most likely to be present all the time, but yesterday the mouse didn't play up at all and I was using the PC for 6 hours. Today however, within 5 minuted of bootup I had the problem a couple times but not since.