Mouse middle button/wheel use

[mama books]

I have been using a mouse with wheel for some time with windows XP. I am
able to scroll with wheel but also can choose a usage for pushing down (like
a button) on the wheel. I have used this "button" for back a long time. It
appears that windows vista does not allow the use of the middle button/wheel.
It is not even shown in the control panel as an option?? I hate not being
able to use my mouse to it's full extent.
Any suggestions or help would be appreciated!!

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Mama.

You probably need a new driver for your specific mouse. If you tell us
which make and model mouse you have, someone here will probably recognize it
and point you to the source for the driver you need. You also need to
specify exactly which version of Vista you have, especially if it is 32-bit
or 64-bit; those drivers DO NOT "mix'n'match"!

My Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 lets me program the scroll
wheel/button, using the Microsoft IntelliPoint 6.2 drivers that I downloaded
from Microsoft.

During the Vista beta period, I used an application (not a driver,
technically) from
http://www.highrez.co.uk/downloads/XMouseButtonControl.htm

I haven't used it in nearly a year and don't know the current version or
status, but you might try this if you can't find the solution elsewhere. It
was a lifesaver for me until the MS drivers were updated. ;<)

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64)

 

[mama books]

Thanks for your input.
The wheel was by acer and came with the computer. I downloaded your X mouse
but never was able to get it to run.
Since then I hooked up by old Microsoft Optical Mouse 2.0. I installed the
cd and of course it was not compatible with Vista and wouldn't load. So then
I went to Microsoft and got a driver for Vista (32 bit by the way) It tells
me it cannot complete the installation due to another incompatible device.
It offers to delete said device and does it's thing, then advises it must
reboot. After rebooting, it tries to run again with same message same reboot
same lack of actually working.
Button line is my Vista still shows no option for the wheel button usage.
However, now I have spent lots of time and frustration. Not a happy camper!!

 

[mama books]

Thanks for your input.
I was using an acer mouse that came with the computer. I tried to download
X mouse but was never able to get it to run. (Vista didn't like it at all)
I then hooked up my Microsoft Optical wireless mouse 2.0. Same problem.
Tried to load the CD that came with mouse but of course it is incompatible
with Vista and wouldn't run. I then went to Microsoft and downloaded the
driver for Vista (32 bit by the way). It starts the installation then
advises there is an incompatible devise it must remove. It does it's thing
then advises it must reboot. After reboot it starts the whole installation
process again with other devise still there and reboot needed etc. I did go
in (after much hunting in Vista to find remove program another time and
frustration maker)and uninstalled both X mouse and Optical wireless and tried
to reinstall Optical driver from Microsoft with same results.
So after a lot of time and frustration still have same problem. I guess I
will have to go purchase another mouse and see if that will work??!! What a
piece of work this thing is turning out to be!!
HELP!!

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Mama.

Only one thing left to try, I suppose: ask Acer. See if they have a driver
for their mouse that works with Vista x86.

I've been VERY disappointed with Microsoft's support for Microsoft-branded
hardware, and so have many other users, including many MVPs! MS support has
been especially glaringly poor for x64. I had to retire my older ball mouse
(I forgot the model but I got it from the MS Company Store) because their
drivers site no longer listed any ball mouse that came close to mine.

The only comfort is that the cheapest multi-button mouse you can find will
probably work as well as - or better than - the most expensive one. At
least, that has been my experience.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64)

 

[mama books]

Hi R.C.
Too late. I just went down to local IT store and purchased another
microsoft mouse. This shows it is for vista comes with cd for vista. You
know the answer already don't ya??
See last correspondence for how it did. Exactly the same as the driver I
downloaded for the unit I already owned. So now I'm going to take the mouse
back as well as the tower and let them figure it out. (Same IT store where I
purchased the Acer)
By the way, while in the store where there were HPs, Acers, Gateways, etc
each one that was running Vista, I went and checked the control panel and
mouse and found the same two button only usage available. I admit the mice
used in store are probably cheaper and maybe do not offer extra features??
But Vista does not default to multi usage keys like earlier systems offered.
So, hopefully the store IT expert will be able to get this "other" device
off my machine so that newer software can install. What a LOT of frustration.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Mama.

About all I can do is empathize and commiserate. (Are those the same
thing?) As the politicians say, "I feel your pain."

Even the IntelliPoint 6.2 that I'm using now has some very irritating flaws.
It sometimes forgets my button assignments and I have to run its setup
program again to remind it. And the scroll doesn't work right in Quicken;
it will scroll up but not down - or is it down but not up? I can't
remember, but it has had that flaw for most of a year, even after my
complaints to both Intuit and Microsoft. Neither of them seem to care. :>(

Please try to remember to report back when you get this fixed so that we all
can learn - good or bad - from your experience.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64)

 

[mama books]

I do thank you for your help in trying to find answer to the problem.
Though this unit was purchased online, there is a local branch of the store
chain it was purchased from. I took the machine to them. They could not get
the unit out of it's cycle either. I had the chance to look at the other
computers there on sale new. They all had Vista and they all only showed two
(2) button options for the mouse.
I have had a couple of other issues with this machine so that was the last
straw.
Return to sender is the next thing happening.
I know that Windows XP is going backward, but that's where I'm headed.
Again, thanks for the help!

 

[Wandering]

I recently visited a local computer store. Every unit I saw with Vista of
any flavor had a wheel mouse. So does my new Window Home Basic machine.
Never been a bit of problem. It may not be fun solving problems, though I do
enjoy it, but generalizing to the view that Vista can't do wheel mice is a
bit extreme.

Why not stick it out a bit longer....

Good luck.

 

[mama books]

But can you use all the functions in the mouse? All the ones in the store
only offered the two buttone (right and left), in control panel of Vista.
When the tech guy cannot get the machine to offer more than right and left
button....
Even if this was the only issue, I am not paying this kind of money for both
a machine and multi-button mouse NOT TO BE ABLE TO USE IT. This is not the
only issue. I do think I might have a lemon as far as how many issues like
this keep recycling. Don't know, don't care...I'm done. A week of
frustration is enough for me. Don't have the energy or interest in
continuing with this type of frustration level.
But I thank you for keeping me from pitching the whole thing out of the
window.

 

[Wandering]

Well, I didn't try them all, so I honestly can't say. But mine has worked
just fine all along. I can scroll with it or click it, and all goes as it
should.

Frustration is natural enough, but it is always a matter of viewpoint, and
you can alter that. See it as an adventure.

Sometimes it takes longer to find the solution than others, but it always
feels great when you do.

How about some of you really sharp guys here throwing in some ideas?

 

[Dave T.]

Mama, following this thread I can't figure out whats going on here. Try
looking under start> all programs. See if you have a listing there for
"Microsoft Mouse". I bought a microsoft "Comfort 1000" optical mouse a
few months back. I had to download the driver (Intellipoint 6.2) and I
have full functionality in the scroll wheel. I have it mapped to
activate Flip 3D, and I love it! I, like you, have Vista 32. I really
don't understand why yours doesn't. Did you download the newest driver?

 

[irishred]

I too have not been able to use my scroll wheel. I have Windows 2002 XP Pro.
Mouse is: Microsoft Comfort Optical Mouse 3000. When doing lessons online
for school, there is no up and down scroll buttons for going further in the
questions. Aren't you supposed to be able to use the scroll button to scroll
down? Mine doesn't work and never has. Have tried uninstalling and
reinstalling the mouse with driver. Help!