MS Optical mouse keeps shutting off

[LuDaCriS66]

I have a 1 and a half year old Microsoft Intellimouse Optical with the 2 grey buttons on each side. It started acting funny back when I had Win98se installed. Sometimes it would stop working completely with the red light shutting off altogether. Sometimes it would just be blinking a lot. I eventually removed it from the system because it wouldn't work at all.

Now that I have Windows XP Home Edition installed and a few months later, I plugged the mouse back in and it worked... but eventually it started acting up again. You know that sound WinXP gives when you plug a USB device in and when you take it out? I hear that sound all the time when the mouse acts up.

Any ideas?? I would replace it but the buttons on the sides are so convienent and plus I have about a thousand dollar debt that's gonna take me a while to pay off..

 

[SexyK]

Sounds like its probably not getting a good seat in the USB port.. happened to me sometimes when I had that mouse and I just had to jiggle the computer end of the wire a bit and it started working again.

Kramer

 

[LuDaCriS66]

I've tried it in both the computers at home... same thing.. it's definately a bad mouse. I would RMA it but I lost the box a long time ago.. and besides.. it only started acting up several months after I bought it.

 

[So]

I believe all you need to RMA it w/ microsoft is the mouse and the RMA phone #, can't hurt to try

 

[Mavrick007]

Yes, I've heard that MS is pretty good with their lifetime warranty with these mice. It doesn't hurt to try. Afterall, they're making alot of dough from these mice since they cost so much to buy and not as much to make.

 

[cjsketchy]

Yup... all you need is the serial number off the bottom of the mouse, then you call em up and say it's not working... I guarantee they'll send you a new one.

 

[LuDaCriS66]

But I never sent in the registration card for the mouse. Will they ask for that?

 

[MasterHoss]

LuDaCriS66, you have a bad mouse. I had the MS Intellimouse Explorer as well and it was sort of doing the same thing, it would act really funny and the only way to fix it was to unplug and the plug the mouse back in again. I now use the Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 with no problems. Your MS mouse is covered by a lifetime warrenty and if you RMA that thing, it's a pretty safe bet that MS will send you a new Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 (which is more comfortable for gaming).

 

[jmitchell]

Be a bad little kitty and go to your local pc parts store, buy a new one, (make sure they dont have a restock fee on peripherals like mice) and return the defective one the same day, (cleaned so it looks new of course silly) for a refund. You will now have a brand new mouse, and your local retailer can deal with the product return to "micro"soft. That's what I would do, if I werent such an honest John.

 

[Scootin159]

Just call them, this is how a RMA works with Microsoft (done a few of them):

You call...give them the P/N & Product ID on the bottom of the mouse
They ship you a new one (takes 2-3 days).
You're done, just keep the 'broken' mouse.

Sounds almost easier than going all the way to the store to me .

 

[lamga]

Just to concur with the first poster, my gf had a Intellimouse Explorer and it did the exact same thing...sometimes to the point the whole PC would hang. Maybe it was some kind of inherent defect.

She already gave up and bought a Dexxa Optical, but I think I'll try to RMA it as well. BTW, have you ever taken MS, Logitech and Dexxa optical mice apart? They all use the same sensor module and chip. Think about that the next time you go shopping for mice.

 

[LuDaCriS66]

Thanks for the replies and the help. I'm going to call and try to RMA it but the thing is I live in Canada. Is there a toll free number I can call? I think there's only a "pay per call" 1-800 on the page.

I'll be really surprised if a company like Microsoft doesn't have a North American toll free 1800 number for this sort of thing. Even Crucial has one..

 

[Scootin159]

<< Just to concur with the first poster, my gf had a Intellimouse Explorer and it did the exact same thing...sometimes to the point the whole PC would hang. Maybe it was some kind of inherent defect.

She already gave up and bought a Dexxa Optical, but I think I'll try to RMA it as well. BTW, have you ever taken MS, Logitech and Dexxa optical mice apart? They all use the same sensor module and chip. Think about that the next time you go shopping for mice. >>



They do have different refresh rates though. There is a difference. Plus the Microsoft Mouse just feels better in my hand.

 

[BFG10K]

I run my mouse through the PS/2 port and I've never had any problems with it. Did you try doing that?

 

[LuDaCriS66]

<< I run my mouse through the PS/2 port and I've never had any problems with it. Did you try doing that? >>



Actually I originally had it run through my PS/2 port when it first started acting up.. switching to the USB port didn't help. Thanks for the suggestion though

 

[lamga]

Plugging my Intellimouse into the PS/2 port via an adapter seemed to have calmed the beast for a while, but then it started acting up again as well.

Scootin (built your sound cover yet? lol), you're right, there's more to a mouse than the light gizmo. However, I still find the Intellimouse a bit steep. Anyway, I prefer the Logitech Opticals over the MouseMan or those MS mice...they're just too big for my hand.

I also live in Canada - anybody know what the 1-800 RMA number is?

 

[lamga]

Grabbed this off the MS mouse support site:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouse/pss.asp

--------------------
Contact a Support Engineer
For assisted support, you must have the Microsoft mouse product identification number located at the bottom of the device. There may be a fee for contacting a Support Engineer. For more information, please see the "Product Support" section of the User's Guide installed with IntelliPoint mouse software.

* If your question is not urgent, you can submit a question to a support professional over the Internet any time.
* If you have an urgent question, you can contact a support professional by telephone (long distance charges may apply):

* In the United States, call: (425) 635-7040
Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
Saturday, 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
(excluding Holidays)

In Canada, call: (905) 568-3503
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
(excluding holidays)
-------------

You can try that for RMA. In Canada, you will be calling their Mississauga office (just west of Toronto).

 

[LuDaCriS66]

Thanks lamga.. I figured that that 905 number could be a little more outside of Toronto... which is weird. I don't know if they've changed that since the implementation of the new area codes... but sometimes 905 would be considered not long distance but some areas it was... hmm

 

[Czar]

This is what you call MS optical mice, buggy. RMA this one and get a new one, use that one as backup, then buy a logitech mouse.

 

[lamga]

w00t, guys, I got the REAL RMA number. This is what I got as a response for using MSOAS:

"Thank you for using Microsoft Online Support. My name is Mark and I will be working with you to resolve this issue.

From the behavior you describe, it does seem to me that your Intellimouse is defective and our Order Centre will be happy to assist you in getting a replacement.

Their phone number is 1-800-933-4750.
They are open from Monday - Friday, 8 am to 10 pm (EST)."

They said 3-10 business days, and I get a replacement Intellimouse. Maybe Microsoft is evil and make crappy stuff, but hey, a replaced mouse, no questions asked!

 

[Scootin159]

<< w00t, guys, I got the REAL RMA number. This is what I got as a response for using MSOAS:

"Thank you for using Microsoft Online Support. My name is Mark and I will be working with you to resolve this issue.

From the behavior you describe, it does seem to me that your Intellimouse is defective and our Order Centre will be happy to assist you in getting a replacement.

Their phone number is 1-800-933-4750.
They are open from Monday - Friday, 8 am to 10 pm (EST)."

They said 3-10 business days, and I get a replacement Intellimouse. Maybe Microsoft is evil and make crappy stuff, but hey, a replaced mouse, no questions asked! >>



Actually even though their business practices may be a bit shady & their products are sometimes second rate, they do tend to have very good customer service. At least that is what my experience has been.

 

[Justus]

FYI, this only works for retail MS mice. If the product id on the bottom includes an OEM in the string of numbers, MS will not replace the product. You need to take it back from where you bought it. And if you don't remember where that is, or if the supplier is out of business, then you can thank Bill for his marketing wisdom and his concern for the customer. My thoughts are not so generous. Burnt once, wary twice. From now on, it will only be Logitech for me. Take that, Bill!

 

[dexter333]

Lol, that's how two of my friends got their mice. They told Microsoft that their optical Intellimouse Explorers broke so MS sent them each a new mouse. Funny part was, they never owned the original mouse that broke. They got the part numbers off the internet.

 

[ViperVin2]

<< Lol, that's how two of my friends got their mice. They told Microsoft that their optical Intellimouse Explorers broke so MS sent them each a new mouse. Funny part was, they never owned the original mouse that broke. They got the part numbers off the internet. >>



evil people taking advantage of free mice :disgust: