Machine won't accept left mouse click

windows xp laptop funky

[jimbeetle]

This started just over an hour ago, the danged machine won't recognize a left mouse click. Everything else, right click, scroll, works. Swapped out mice -- three of them, 2 corded, 1 not -- tried different USB port, reinstalled drivers, reboot, etc.

Have no idea what other direction to go. Can this be a hardware problem of some sort with the machine itself?

[ukwebmaster]

my left click stopped yesterday. New mouse fixed it.

[jimbeetle]

'Twere it that simple I'd not still be perplexed. ;-)

But an old PS2 mouse works, so thought it must be the USB ports, though they work fine with scanner or headphones.

[rocknbil]

Probably academic, but did you dig around in Start->Settings->Control Panel->Mouse? I've had a keyboard spaz (on my part) reset things before, what comes to mind are muting the sound and accessibility settings, when I didn't intend it.

[jimbeetle]

Yeah, checked around everywhere I could think of, all settings and other such appear to be okay. Where I'm at now is that the touchpad works, PS2 mouse works, USB ports work fine with other peripherals, machine just can't seem to recognize left mouse click from USB mouse.

When I take a break in a bit think I'll restart again and check the BIOS; think there might be a switch in their someplace.

[kaled]

I haven't had that problem but I have had single-clicks become double-clicks. It's happened a few times and seems to be caused by the mouse-driver crashing. The only cure is a restart.

Kaled.

[eelixduppy]

>> just over an hour ago

What were you doing at the time it stopped working?

[jimbeetle]

What were you doing...

That's the strange thing, nothing weird (at least as far as I know). Had a couple of tabs open in both Firefox and IE, and was editing some stuff using Crimson Editor. Haven't done any recent updates, say for about two weeks, so shouldn't be that. Check BIOS USB and it's enabled.

Oh well, this machine is basically for e-mail and surfing with just a bit of light work occasionally thrown in. As long as I can use the PS2 mouse I'm fine. I'll search around here and there for a solution as I have time.

Thanks for your help, folks.

[ukwebmaster]

Am I missing the point or is it not probable that the "physical button" on the USB mouse has failed and it's a hardware fault with the mouse (and not a software fault or usb port fault)

I tried my "dead mouse" on other pc's and the left button didn't work on them either, hence my concluding it was the mouse that was dead.

[jimbeetle]

I tried three mice -- initial post -- and yes, they all work on other machines.

[ukwebmaster]

Note to self: if it sounds obvious, read the initial post again...

[jimbeetle]

He, he, he. I had to read my first post twice to make sure I had said it before I replied.

[SEOMike]

Did your driver automatically update? Have you tried an older version of the software? Also, what happens if you swap the primary and secondary buttons in the mouse properties? Does the button work then?

[jimbeetle]

No auto or other updates of any kind. Reinstalled original drivers, still nada.

Tried switching buttons the other day and mice didn't work at all, no left or right click, no scroll. That should tell me something, just don't know what.

[kaled]

Tried switching buttons the other day and mice didn't work at all, no left or right click, no scroll.

Try "Safe Mode".

Call me paranoid, but I would definitely suspect spyware (or a crappy piece of utility/security software). Also, if you haven't done so already, try using a generic mouse driver rather than any fancy Logitec drivers, etc. The simplest way to achieve this would probably be to uninstall the mouse in the Device Manager, restart and let Windows redetect it.

Kaled.

[jimbeetle]

Don't think there's anything hinky on this machine, but I'll give safe mode a try later on anyway. Already using generic MS drivers, but what the heck, I'll give the uninstall/restart a shot also.

Any chance this might have to do with the USB controller?

[SEOMike]

Any chance this might have to do with the USB controller?

Might. Try dropping in another. Try a PCI controller.

Logitech huh? The newest version of iTunes is having problems because of my logitech software. I have to exit my logitech software or else iTunes hangs. Lots of talk about that on the internet.