Is it possible to setup two different mice on one computer?

[Mennovh]

Hello All,

I recently purchased a G500 mouse for gaming since it was on sale. Ive always used a trackball for gaming and thought I would give a gaming mouse a try since it was on sale. I havent received it yet in the mail. I use my computer for gaming and as a HTPC. I love my wireless Trackman M570 that I use for everyday use. I like it because I can use it in my living room to use my computer as a HTPC.

I was wondering if it was possible to run both of these mice on my computer at the same time. The m570 has an off switch on it. I believe the computer will make the G500 the default when I switch off the M570, but how do I make it so the M570 is the primary mouse when I have it switched on? Is this even possible? I dont see why not as laptops work that way.

My concerns come to this though. The logitech drivers for these mice will be different. Will my comp be able to have both drivers on it? Does Setpoint software logitech provides be able to support both mice? I have never done this before and dont really care to unplug the gaming mouse every time I want to use the wireless M570. (Yes I know thats lazy)

Thank you for your feedback.

 

[Ben90]

You can use both at once no problem. Personally, I would just set the mouse up with whatever settings you want and then uninstall the drivers.

 

[Cerb]

I have, in the past, not been able to run more than one special piece of mouse software at a time. If you don't remap any buttons, though, you should be fine.

 

[corkyg]

Should not be a problem. I just did it as an experiment. My normal mouse is a Wacom Graphire - works on the Wacom digitizing pad. The stylus works at the same time. So, I plugged in a separate USB mouse, and it works as well, and the Wacom devices still work. If you limit their use to your right hand, you won't create a conflict for your cursor location.

 

[Cerb]

Should not be a problem. I just did it as an experiment. My normal mouse is a Wacom Graphire - works on the Wacom digitizing pad. The stylus works at the same time. So, I plugged in a separate USB mouse, and it works as well, and the Wacom devices still work. If you limit their use to your right hand, you won't create a conflict for your cursor location.

That's not the issue: Logitech's mouse software, which allows button remapping, sensitivity setting, possibly macros, etc., replaces the mouse applet in control panel, and generally assumes you don't use more than one mouse. You can usually get the G-series keyboard software (G400 is the only mouse using it, AFAIK) and some other form of Setpoint software running at the same time, but two different iterations of the 'normal' Setpoint for two different mice tends to not work.

Now, that said, when I ran into this issue, the software did not cause any instability, and happily allowed itself to be uninstalled, so the OP isn't setting himself up for disaster, just possibly forced to choose which mouse' special options are more important, should they both use the mundane Setpoint versions.

 

[cytoSiN]

In my experience, SetPoint will allow you to use multiple mice, and set profiles for each. You just have to go into SetPoint and choose the mouse you'd like to work with at any given time so that it can apply your profile for that mouse. I tested this last night with a G9 Laser and an MX Anywhere. Both mice worked at all times for pointing and left/right click, and if I wanted to use special button mapping, I just had to make sure the proper mouse/profile was loaded into SetPoint.

I also tested with my G9 Laser and my old Trackman Marble, which use different versions of SetPoint. This was even easier because both versions of SetPoint can be loaded at once, so you don't have to switch anything around to use button mappings on both mice simultaneously.

Finally, fwiw, SetPoint in no way interferes with the Smart Technology software used by the Cyborg M.M.O.7, so I'm able to use my new Cyborg as my main mouse, but still leave the G9 Laser plugged in for those rare occasions my wife needs to use my computer (she's afraid she's going to break something on the Cyborg).

 

[Ben90]

To be bluntly honest, I can't think of a single reason to have Setpoint installed other than initial setup and to change the color of the mouse.

If you are interested in macros and such, there are plenty of options out there that will blow Setpoint away in regards to customization and utility. If you don't have the patience to learn AutoHotKey, there are still easy to learn alternatives such as X-Mouse Button Control.

 

[Cerb]

I also tested with my G9 Laser and my old Trackman Marble, which use different versions of SetPoint.

Interesting. My most recent experience was a G9X and MX518, in which the MX518's SetPoint saw no mouse until the G9X's software was uninstalled.

To be bluntly honest, I can't think of a single reason to have Setpoint installed other than initial setup and to change the color of the mouse.

1. DPI settings. Though, with the more recent mice, the DPI settings are local to the device, so they only need to be set once.
2. Disabling/remapping side buttons with ease (I've been using GlovePIE for anything halfway complex).

 

[Mennovh]

Thank you for all the feedback. Sounds like this will be much less painless then i thought.

 

[The Keeper]

I use M570 at work and at home. I even use it to play games. I did try to use a mouse once, but that was quite a failure because I had gotten so used to the M570 that I was simply better off with M570. I might even argue it's easier to play with M570 than with a mouse.

In any case, I wanted to comment on SetPoint. I've tried SetPoint with normal Logitech mice as well as M570 and really dislike it. Even if I change mouse acceleration to Windows standard in the SetPoint settings, there is still a slight difference in how cursor is accelerated. I never got used to SetPoint's cursor acceleration so I uninstalled the software. I much prefer to enable "enhanced cursor precision" and set cursor speed to somewhere around 2/3rds. Works for me.

Some people always tends to advise turning "enchanced cursor precision" off, but I would instead suggest to try it both ways. I couldn't live without cursor acceleration, no matter if I use a mouse or a trackball.

 

[Ben90]

Mouse Acceleration is a bit of a mixed bag. I believe the majority of people would best be served with it off after a small get-used-to-it delay but there are definitely advantages to it as well. Give each a try for like a week, and use whatever feels more natural to you.

On the other hand Drift Control, or whatever it is called nowadays, is basically always a bad thing when gaming is considered. Basically this makes your mouse attempt to draw strait lines. Look for any settings that resemble it such as "angle snapping" and disable it. Most mice have it off by default, but enough have it enabled that it is worth checking.

 

[GrumpyMan]

I did when I broke my right hand and had to learn with my left on a regular mouse. Normally I use a thumb tracball mouse, only took couple of days to get used to it and with 2 mice on at the same time, no problems.