Strange problem with two different (old) computers...

[AnitaPeterson]

Hi there,

I'm baffled by this strange phenomenon, which I call "the disappearing mouse"...

As some of you may know, I'm putting together computers from old parts, donations etc, and have them sent for charity in Eastern Europe.

Two of the recently-acquired machines (one of them a P-166, the other one an AMD k5) have ports for older mice, the serial ones, to be exact.

I have two serial mice (which still work, as far as I know, although I've never tested them) plus a few regular ones, along with serial/PS2 adapters.

Yet, no matter what combinations I try, both computers (still preloaded with Windows 95) inform me that the operating system could not find a mouse attached to the computer.

Subsequent scans for hardware changes, and even the old trick of installing a mouse manually (as in non-Plug'n'Play) did not work.

I really doubt both machines have defective serial mouse ports... and that none of the mice I have is actually working...

Can anyone please solve this mystery?

 

[velis]

Are the serial ports recognized correctly in Windows?
Did you check the BIOS, they might be configured "strangely", like on non-default IRQs or addresses.
Did you successfully try connecting the comps by a serial cable / hyperterminal?

There really is nothing in your post that would hint as to what might be wrong. By what you say, this should work just fine.
There is a possibility the ports might just be dead too. They are quite susceptible to that.

EDIT: Mouse over serial port requires comp restart. I don't think you didn't restart, but thought it's worth mentioning.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I don't know, I have a bag of old serial mice, most of which seemingly are non-working. The built-in drivers in Win9x don't work with all varieties of serial mice either, pretty-much only the ones that speak MS mouse protocol, AFAIK. Installing the proper Logimouse drivers will work for most Logitech varieties, as will the Mouse Systems/PCmouse and Genius drivers for their respective types.

 

[drum]

do you have a serial to ps2 adapter to test the mice on a newer machine?

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Originally posted by: drum
do you have a serial to ps2 adapter to test the mice on a newer machine?

Good call... I have to look and see if I have that adapter.

 

[vailr]

If any "Legacy" "Non-Plug-and Play" cards are present, such as older sound cards, there may be an IRQ conflict.
Does the serial port appear in the bios?
Try removing any add-in cards except for the video card, and reset the bios to default settings.