Back button on mouse does not work in Firefox

[Jiowa]

Hi there I am not tech savvy so need some input from those that are.

I just got a new pc with Vista Home Premium and downloaded Firefox 2.007
and find that when I click the back button located on the 4 button mouse (that came with computer), it doesn't go to the previously viewed page.

When using IE 7 that came with the computer, the mouse back button goes to the previous viewed page, but again not when using Firefox so the problem is not with the mouse, correct?

Any suggestions on how to make the back button work with Firefox?

I looked at the mouse Help, but it does not address this issue of the back button not working.

thanks.

[Demaestro]

Mostly likely it is a proprietary Microsoft button on a Microsoft mouse that will only work in IE.

They do the same with media player controls on the keyboard... if you hit play, Windows Media player opens... not your default player.

[edited by: Demaestro at 3:40 pm (utc) on Oct. 18, 2007]

[Jiowa]

Interesting.

Do you think this would apply with a Dell labeled mouse, that it could really be a Microsoft product or per-set by agreement between the 2companies to only work properly on IE?

[Xapti]

All it means is that the mouse design was done very poorly, as it was probably solely designed for internet explorer, which was a stupid move . Whether the move was sponsored by Microsoft is uncertain, but I'd say it's very unlikely. There should still be SOME way to get it working though - such as perhaps a firefox extension.
The last resort (sort of. could be a good first resort too) would be to use a macro, which would artificially "type" the firefox shortcut to go back (alt+left arrow - or backspace which ovbiously doesn't work in inputs/textboxes though) any time you hit the mouse button. the software for the mouse may come with a macro functionality to do that, or you may need to download a separate program which can read all your mouse buttons, and execute actions based of them.

[edited by: Xapti at 11:14 pm (utc) on Nov. 1, 2007]

[alexnero]

Microsoft Mouse control -> "Enable Program-Specific Settings" -> "Settings..." -> Programs: Firefox -> Left Button: Click / Right Button: right-click / Wheel button: back

...plus a very useful FF Extension called "Back IS Close".