Disabling mouse side buttons?

May 16, 2000
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Is there a simple way (ie not requiring software running) to disable the side buttons on a mouse? Especially the 'forward/back' function in firefox. I'm pretty sure it's the WORST idea ever adopted in computers, and makes me angry enough to consider becoming Amish.
 
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Alone

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2006
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It would help if you told us what mouse you had.

Anyway, the device software should allow you to reprogram the buttons.
 
May 16, 2000
13,526
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It would help if you told us what mouse you had.

Anyway, the device software should allow you to reprogram the buttons.

It shouldn't matter what mouse I have because it's a function of browsers (at least the forward/back thing), not the mice. I have no mouse software installed because mice don't (and shouldn't) need software (beyond the most BASIC of drivers). They're just mice - move the pointer, right-click, left-click, and maybe the scroll wheel. Everything else is fluff.

Edit - If it REALLY matters somehow it's a Logitech LX8.
 
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lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
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It is a mouse issue. Basic drivers cover extended functionality, and I guess fwd/bk are the default. You'd have to remap the buttons to something else with the Logitech drivers. Personally, I love having them on the side. My bedroom trackball doesn't have that, and it's irritating as hell.
 
May 16, 2000
13,526
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It is a mouse issue. Basic drivers cover extended functionality, and I guess fwd/bk are the default. You'd have to remap the buttons to something else with the Logitech drivers. Personally, I love having them on the side. My bedroom trackball doesn't have that, and it's irritating as hell.

I have probably lost a couple hundred or more hours of work in my life to side mouse buttons advancing or retreating the page I'm working on. They are the WORST idea ever...at least for me.

Any links to info on hacking the drivers? I won't install Logitech software other than basic drivers, it's cost me too many systems and is a wholly unnecessary waste of resources.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,363
7,514
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I dunno about cut drivers. I have the full package on my main system, and no problems. Maybe poke around in Windows. I don't think you can change them there, but it doesn't hurt to look.
 

Alone

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2006
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I have probably lost a couple hundred or more hours of work in my life to side mouse buttons advancing or retreating the page I'm working on. They are the WORST idea ever...at least for me.

Any links to info on hacking the drivers? I won't install Logitech software other than basic drivers, it's cost me too many systems and is a wholly unnecessary waste of resources.
You'd install some butchered makeshift drivers, but you won't trust the provided software from a reputable company like Logitech?

Either you're trolling or paranoid.
 

Matthiasa

Diamond Member
May 4, 2009
5,755
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Since its a logitech mouse, I would suggest installing its software for it and disabling it with that.
Or putting those button to a better use.
 
May 16, 2000
13,526
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You'd install some butchered makeshift drivers, but you won't trust the provided software from a reputable company like Logitech?

Either you're trolling or paranoid.

A company which has already caused me hundreds of hours of tech time and vast quantities of lost data from their 'reputable software'. In other words, I trust experience, not corporations. That doesn't even get into the fact that NO SOFTWARE should be required. It's a WASTE of resources. I do NOT EVER run ANYTHING that isn't absolutely essential for basic functionality of the system.
 
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Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
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A company which has already caused me hundreds of hours of tech time and vast quantities of lost data from their 'reputable software'. In other words, I trust experience, not corporations. That doesn't even get into the fact that NO SOFTWARE should be required. It's a WASTE of resources. I do NOT EVER run ANYTHING that isn't absolutely essential for basic functionality of the system.
If it pisses you off that much, you should get another mouse. Disabling buttons is not essential functionality.

I don't even understand how you could lose vast quantities of data from SetPoint, which doesn't need to run as admin.
 
May 16, 2000
13,526
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If it pisses you off that much, you should get another mouse. Disabling buttons is not essential functionality.

I don't even understand how you could lose vast quantities of data from SetPoint, which doesn't need to run as admin.

Unfortunately this was the only semi-reasonably priced wireless mouse in my town. I never would have bought it if I'd had another choice. But I needed something and it was the best option. I'll order a new one without side buttons soon, but it's still ridiculous to not be able to turn the option off in browser, or with a greasemonkey script, or something.

I've had numerous random lockups and failures after installing logitech software. Some of them have been total, requiring FFR. Mind you, that was years ago, but still a sore spot for me.
 

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
1,234
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There are only two mouses where I can tolerate the default function of Mouse4 and Mouse5...and I use them ALL THE TIME.

Logitech G9 (and G9x)
Logitech MX Revolution

It's much harder to press accidentally on these two mouses.

What's actually MUCH MORE ANNOYING is the left / right tilt of the mouse wheel. When I'm trying to middle-click on the page so I can have variable-speed scrolling, it sometimes takes FIFTY @#$%ING TRIES before it activates the scroll mode without immediately canceling it.

FAAAAWK!
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
27,370
238
106
Hmmm! I have about 5 wireless mice - none have side buttons. Are yousure Radio Shack in Triangle Center has no wireless mouse w/o side switches?
 

Ross Ridge

Senior member
Dec 21, 2009
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You'd install some butchered makeshift drivers, but you won't trust the provided software from a reputable company like Logitech?

Given some of the evil things Logitech software does and all the compatibilty problems I've had with both Logitech's and Microsoft's extended "drivers", I'd install the makeshift drivers. Well, I'd just physically disable the buttons in the mouse or buy a new one, but yah simple low-level hacked drivers over the crappy software that comes with mice and keyboards.
 

VampyrByte

Junior Member
Jan 8, 2011
19
0
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Setpoint is a load of shit. I don't know if your mouse is the same as my G9, but because it stores the profiles in the mouse with the G9 you can edit those profiles using setpoint on a non mission-critical system and have them stick.

Personally I wish I could disable them for just Firefox. I tend to use backspace for a back button anyway, and its a royal PITA when trying to talk to someone on Teamspeak and browse the web.
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
856
126
It is a mouse issue. Basic drivers cover extended functionality, and I guess fwd/bk are the default. You'd have to remap the buttons to something else with the Logitech drivers. Personally, I love having them on the side. My bedroom trackball doesn't have that, and it's irritating as hell.

And what do the drivers do that disables the built-in / standard function before overriding it with their own? There has to be some way in the OS that they disable that function.
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
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Mouse without drivers use the USB default HID descriptor for input devices. Inside that there are basic functions that work by default. That is how a usb keyboard can control volume without a driver loaded.


I agree the mouse back and forward are annoying. I haven't done it before but what would need to be done is to block those actions at the HID level. It would kill it for all applications though, not just firefox.


I found a solution that is easy to use and free
Download autohotkey basic and install
http://www.autohotkey.com/download/
open notepad and enter the text below:
Code:
XButton1:: return
Xbutton2:: return
Save the file as mouse.ahk , make sure notepad doesn't add the txt extension.
Now double click the mouse.ahk file you just saved. You should see an icon in the systray with an H on green background, that is autohotkey running the script.
Now as long as the script is running the two side buttons for next and back are disabled.
Script is simple , Xbutton1 is the name of the button, : is the start of routine it should do when button pressed, : is the end of the routine, and return sends it back to the beginning of the script. When pressed the button is being processed and nothing being done :)


Autohotkey has a ton of other functions you can automate, check the help file or website.
 
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bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
8,874
111
106
Autohotkey is a nice program. I use it to keep my Num Lock in Numbers mode on desktop computers.
 

TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
Moderator
Sep 15, 2004
12,089
45
91
I can kind of understand where the OP is coming from on not wanting extra software, if only because the Logitech software completely screws up my scrolling speeds, at least in OS X. In Windows I might install it since scrolling is weirder there and having application specific speeds might actually be useful.

That said, I never use the side buttons on my mice, but I also never hit them accidentally.
 
May 16, 2000
13,526
0
0
Mouse without drivers use the USB default HID descriptor for input devices. Inside that there are basic functions that work by default. That is how a usb keyboard can control volume without a driver loaded.


I agree the mouse back and forward are annoying. I haven't done it before but what would need to be done is to block those actions at the HID level. It would kill it for all applications though, not just firefox.


I found a solution that is easy to use and free
Download autohotkey basic and install
http://www.autohotkey.com/download/
open notepad and enter the text below:
Code:
XButton1:: return
Xbutton2:: return
Save the file as mouse.ahk , make sure notepad doesn't add the txt extension.
Now double click the mouse.ahk file you just saved. You should see an icon in the systray with an H on green background, that is autohotkey running the script.
Now as long as the script is running the two side buttons for next and back are disabled.
Script is simple , Xbutton1 is the name of the button, : is the start of routine it should do when button pressed, : is the end of the routine, and return sends it back to the beginning of the script. When pressed the button is being processed and nothing being done :)


Autohotkey has a ton of other functions you can automate, check the help file or website.

As long as its less of a hog than logitech crap I may have to give it a shot.