I need some help from the computer gurus of the group. I bought a 6'
PS/2 mouse extension cable. Windows (98) came up and told me I had no
mouse. Took the extension cable off. Mouse worked fine. Aha! I've got a
bad cable.
Back to the shop. Got another cable. Tested it, with my mouse, on a
machine in the shop. Worked fine. Went home. The $#%@! extension cable
still didn't work.
Just in case MS was doing me in, I tried with Linux. Same result.
BTW, I've tried multiple times with both O/Ss, so it isn't just a one-time
thing.
So I have a known good mouse, a known good cable, and I've proved it isn't
the O/S. I'm stumped.
The only thing I can think of is that my CPU is sensitive to the cable
length, but why? And it's only a 6' extension.
Any ideas, anyone?
Larry:
Just kinda guessing here, but I think you're right that the length of
the cable is the problem. The mouse communicates with the computer via
electrical signals, and my guess is that the cable is long enough that
the signal decays slightly, just enough that the 'puter can't properly
interpret the signal.
You should maybe look into a wireless mouse...there are nice USB mouses
(mice? meeses?) available for Win2K that I assume would also work with
Win98...
Jim
Larry Blanchard wrote:
> I need some help from the computer gurus of the group. I bought a 6'
> PS/2 mouse extension cable. Windows (98) came up and told me I had no
> mouse. Took the extension cable off. Mouse worked fine. Aha! I've got a
> bad cable.
>
> Back to the shop. Got another cable. Tested it, with my mouse, on a
> machine in the shop. Worked fine. Went home. The $#%@! extension cable
> still didn't work.
>
> Just in case MS was doing me in, I tried with Linux. Same result.
>
> BTW, I've tried multiple times with both O/Ss, so it isn't just a one-time
> thing.
>
> So I have a known good mouse, a known good cable, and I've proved it isn't
> the O/S. I'm stumped.
>
> The only thing I can think of is that my CPU is sensitive to the cable
> length, but why? And it's only a 6' extension.
>
> Any ideas, anyone?
"Larry Blanchard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I need some help from the computer gurus of the group. I bought a 6'
> PS/2 mouse extension cable. Windows (98) came up and told me I had no
> mouse. Took the extension cable off. Mouse worked fine. Aha! I've got a
> bad cable.
Not unusual as indicated by others, the cable length may weaken the signal,
so to speak. I know that years ago that a parallel printer cable could be
too long.
Larry Blanchard wrote:
> I need some help from the computer gurus of the group. I bought a 6'
> PS/2 mouse extension cable. Windows (98) came up and told me I had no
> mouse. Took the extension cable off. Mouse worked fine. Aha! I've got a
> bad cable.
>
> Back to the shop. Got another cable. Tested it, with my mouse, on a
> machine in the shop. Worked fine. Went home. The $#%@! extension cable
> still didn't work.
>
> Just in case MS was doing me in, I tried with Linux. Same result.
>
> BTW, I've tried multiple times with both O/Ss, so it isn't just a one-time
> thing.
>
> So I have a known good mouse, a known good cable, and I've proved it isn't
> the O/S. I'm stumped.
>
> The only thing I can think of is that my CPU is sensitive to the cable
> length, but why? And it's only a 6' extension.
>
> Any ideas, anyone?
Most likely its that the voltage on the PS/2 port is low.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]
(Remove -SPAM- to send email)
On Mon, 28 Nov 2005 19:47:06 -0500, with neither quill nor qualm,
"no(SPAM)vasys" <"no(SPAM)vasys"@adelphia.net> quickly quoth:
>Larry Blanchard wrote:
>> I need some help from the computer gurus of the group. I bought a 6'
>> PS/2 mouse extension cable. Windows (98) came up and told me I had no
>> mouse. Took the extension cable off. Mouse worked fine. Aha! I've got a
>> bad cable.
>>
>> Back to the shop. Got another cable. Tested it, with my mouse, on a
>> machine in the shop. Worked fine. Went home. The $#%@! extension cable
>> still didn't work.
>>
>> Just in case MS was doing me in, I tried with Linux. Same result.
>>
>> BTW, I've tried multiple times with both O/Ss, so it isn't just a one-time
>> thing.
>>
>> So I have a known good mouse, a known good cable, and I've proved it isn't
>> the O/S. I'm stumped.
(You've done pin-to-pin continuity tests on the cable in question,
Larry?)
>> The only thing I can think of is that my CPU is sensitive to the cable
>> length, but why? And it's only a 6' extension.
>>
>> Any ideas, anyone?
>
>
>Most likely its that the voltage on the PS/2 port is low.
I'll ditto that. The mouse driver circuit is likely SNAFU.
(I don't believe they ever made null mouse cables. ;)
(Waitaminute, these weren't Microsoft cables, were they?
All bets are off then. Those guys don't play by standard
or any known rules of engagement.)
---
- Sarcasm is just one more service we offer. -
http://diversify.com Web Applications
On Sun, 27 Nov 2005 16:27:21 -0800, Larry Blanchard
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>BTW, I've tried multiple times with both O/Ss, so it isn't just a one-time
>thing.
>
>So I have a known good mouse, a known good cable, and I've proved it isn't
>the O/S. I'm stumped.
>
>The only thing I can think of is that my CPU is sensitive to the cable
>length, but why? And it's only a 6' extension.
>
>Any ideas, anyone?
Larry,
USB port with an adaptor/ most ps2 mice can be used on either bus.
It still may be the mouse that's sensitive. I would borrow a mouse
just to make sure. Then if your mouse is good, I would check the model
number and make sure it can be used on the USB port. Then head on down
and buy an adaptor.
Man, that does sound like a lot of work!
If you get a new mouse, I have found USB optical to be the most
reliable.You can run a cable up 15 feet without boosting it.
"Larry Blanchard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I need some help from the computer gurus of the group. I bought a 6'
> PS/2 mouse extension cable. Windows (98) came up and told me I had no
> mouse. Took the extension cable off. Mouse worked fine. Aha! I've got a
> bad cable.
>
> Back to the shop. Got another cable. Tested it, with my mouse, on a
> machine in the shop. Worked fine. Went home. The $#%@! extension cable
> still didn't work.
>
> Just in case MS was doing me in, I tried with Linux. Same result.
>
> BTW, I've tried multiple times with both O/Ss, so it isn't just a one-time
> thing.
>
> So I have a known good mouse, a known good cable, and I've proved it isn't
> the O/S. I'm stumped.
>
> The only thing I can think of is that my CPU is sensitive to the cable
> length, but why? And it's only a 6' extension.
>
> Any ideas, anyone?
Well...
I have regularly used 10 to 20 foot ps2 extension cables for mice and
keyboards,
so it is possible. But like others have said, you're apparently on the edge
of the limit
for your hardware on your home system.
Could you try switching the home and shop computers? -- that is,m if they're
both yours.
There are devices that are active extenders for keyboard, mouse, and
monitor,
but they can cost as much as a complete basic computer nowadays.
That seems to be the problem with most of the solutions I can think of.
There is a device called "Y-Mouse" that is used to couple two active mice to
one PS2 port.
It has an additional cable that plugs into the keyboard connector to grab
some more power.
Don't know if they still make 'em, but you might look.
You also might try switching the mouse and keyboard connections. I have one
that
has two connectors, but it doesn't care what's connected where. Might be
worth a try.
Buy a new mouse with a longer cable?
Or, find an old serial mouse?
Running out of suggestions...
"Chip" in Columbus
On Sun, 27 Nov 2005 16:27:21 -0800, Larry Blanchard
<[email protected]> wrote:
Get a Microsoft wireless optical mouse. No problems.
Now, back to woodworking ....
On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 14:40:33 -0700, amazed wrote:
> It
> still may be the mouse that's sensitive. I would borrow a mouse just to
> make sure.
Now that I hadn't thought of. I've got a couple of new mice around
somewhere, I'll dig one out in the nea future and give it a try. Thanks.
BTW, the extension cable oks fine for the keyboard. I shouod have tried
that yesterday before I took the 1st one back to th store.
On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 12:42:07 -0800, Larry Jaques wrote:
> (You've done pin-to-pin continuity tests on the cable in question, Larry?)
No, but I plugged the cable, connected to my mouse, into a computer at the
store and it worked fine. It also works as an extension cable or the
keyboard. Just won't work on the mouse port.
I can live with it. I just have o un the mouse cable off the front of the
desk, instead of aound the back.