Your mouse hasn’t seen a cat, all right. It’s just that its cursor freezes where it points. And you yank your mouse back and forth to see if it’s still alive and breathing, but it doesn’t respond. It’s not dead, OK– it just freezes over.
But don’t jump to conclusions yet: you have to make sure it’s your mouse that freezes and not your computer. A likely scenario: your mouse icon stalls but you can move the cursor. Another is: the mouse freezes along with the computer. Either way, they point to the same source. In this case, you need to draw the line between your computer and its mouse.
Major cause of a mouse freeze
Most computer hardware experts treat a mouse freeze as a minor problem. That is, if the freeze is in the mouse. The usual suspects are the mouse drivers. The first easy step then is to check your mouse drivers’ update ( make sure they are updated). You can get the low down from your maker’s website.
Specific causes of mouse freeze
The greasy part apparently looks like a common computer freezing problem. In more ways than one, it is. Your mouse and PC operate on Windows, that’s why you need to look into the following, in order to get to the bottom:
1. Windows registry error. It must be your Windows registry contains errors. You see, the registry has all the commands and settings that make your mouse move. A slight glitch in it results in misunderstanding between the program and your mouse. So, either your computer or mouse freezes as a response
2. Running many background programs. When background programs like firewalls and anti-virus run all at once, they may freeze your mouse. Again, this is a clear case of communication breakdown.
3. Installing and deleting programs. Expect windows to get very confused with program additions and omissions. Some programs may not sit well with each other and this results in a program mosh pit. Next thing you know, your mouse freezes.
4. Virus. Maybe because when you browse the net you have the habit of clicking away– soon you realize you’ve picked up viruses from infected sites. To keep virus at bay, run AdWare and your trusted anti-virus program.
How to avoid mouse freeze
As said earlier, a frozen mouse doesn’t take a genius to resolve. You just have to understand how Windows makes everything work on you computer–unless you’re ready to buy a new mouse. Otherwise, you need to do these:
1. Clean your windows registry and reinstall all programs. It takes up so much time, but well worth the effort. It’s a better option than buying a new mouse right then and there.
2. In the long run, install a new mouse. This time see to it that you have the latest drivers from the makers of your mouse. Remove special software from your mouse if you can make do with the regular Windows mouse drivers. The regular ones are compatible with your computer.
Don’t play cat-and-mouse with your computer.
Further Readings: