A question about computers

[deldaisy]

Hi Tony GREAT to be back... for a bit... its Sunday night and the kids have a student free day tomorrow and I have no work... well ALOT of personal rubbish to do but no official work tomorrow.

Yeah I did that what you suggested. Still no joy. I am a mouse type of girl.

I remember AGES ago someone told us how to change the icon thingie from side to bottom but have no idea.

[Tonyblack]

Try this Del:

Plug the mouse in. Select Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, Add a Device and let the computer try to find the mouse that way.

Good luck.

[deldaisy]

Help! I did that and now my laptop mousepad thing won't work. I had to uninstall something. Think I uninstalled the finger control now I cant use my laptop at all using my phone to post this. Bugger! Argh. Poop.

[Tonyblack]

Sorry Del, I have no ideas from here.

[deldaisy]

Sorry? Sorry?

Good thing you live on the other side of the world !

I should have followed. my own advice.... if you don't understand the question never click yes duh

[Who's Wee Dug]

del are you using windows ,just put in your windows software disc it should load automa tically,that will overide what has been done by reinstalling yoursoftware.

[ChristianBecker]

Use a decent (not recent, but that might help, too) OS.

But since this probably won't help you, here're some ideas:
Are you using an USB mouse (probably)? If so, have you tried plugging it into another USB port?
Have you tried another mouse? Are other USB devices working?

As for the panel not being at the bottom:
Just move your mouse pointer (once you got the mouse or touchpad sorted out) onto the panel, click and hold left, and drag it wherever you want it (bottom probably). It is sometimes a bit reluctant, but it should work (at least worked in WinXP, which was the last win I used, but I'm sure Vista and 7 are just the same.

If you don't depend on any windows programmes I recommend trying Linux.
This one is quite nice. Download it, burn it to a CD, boot from CD and you can try it out without installing it.

[Who's Wee Dug]

If you don't depend on any windows programmes I recommend trying Linux.
This one is quite nice. Download it, burn it to a CD, boot from CD and you can try it out without installing it.[/quote]You forgot to put the link up CB.

[Who's Wee Dug]

Forum playing silly buggers again.

[ChristianBecker]

Thanks, wwd.

This one here:
http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

Easy to set up and use.

[deldaisy]

Yay! Got the bar at the bottom... thank you CB

Teen used the laptop this morning and the laptop pad thingie is working. USB mouses still won't. Brought a small new corded mouse and its working now YAY!!!!!!!

BUT.....

When I am typing (and this has been happening for the last week ARGH!) the cursor liney thing moves randomly to somewhere else in thst and keeps typinge te like that.... moves somewhere else in the text and keeps typing... so sick of watching every keystroke!

I am using Windows XP I think.

The girls use Google Chrome lately. (Wonder if them using that is interferring with Windows?)

[ChristianBecker]

You're welcome.
So, if the wired mouse works and the wireless doesn't - have you checked the batteries in the wireless one? There should also be a switch somewhere on the mouse to switch it off and sace energy.

As for the cursor moving while typing, I guess that would be the touchpad's fault. Normally it should be disabled when a mouse is plugged in. Try finding that option in "System Settings". Since I don't have Windows I can't give you concrete directions.

But google can:

Just got my mini mouse today, and easily found it.

I'm on W7 RC1. To get to the option, you have to go to Mouse settings under control panel, and then click the Device Settings tab. Then you just check the "Disable internal pointing device when external USB device is attached" and you're good to go.

Hope that helps.

There might also be a symbol for your touchpad in the bottom right corner of your screen, probably called "synaptics" or similar. You could play around with that, too.

Google Chrome is most probably not the cause for any trouble with the computer.

[deldaisy]

Yep I goggled lots of stuff too and did heaps of diagnostics.

All USB ports working. Batteries fresh and clean. Even cleaned the battery points... Always put the USB mouses on save.... I have been using a USB mouse for nearly a year and never had any trouble before with unenabling anything OR any problems like I am having now....

No idea.

[ChristianBecker]

Sorry.

[Tonyblack]

I'm not giving any advice in case I bugger her computer up again.