Computer Does Not See Mouse And Keyboard

Quite often, a typical user encounters a mouse malfunction problem. There may be several reasons for this, and it is difficult to determine the specific one, why the computer does not see the mouse. This article discusses the most common problems and breakdowns that occur with “rodents” of different price categories and technical features. So let’s get started!

Why the computer “does not see” the mouse: how to determine the cause and solve the problem

The failure of any input device as a whole can be attributed to one of three reasons:

• Broken USB port;
• The device itself is broken (in our case, the mouse);
• The device drivers are not installed or work incorrectly.

In addition to the above, the reason may be in another. For example, in additional software or driver incompatibility. But for a start, we will consider these three problems, because almost always they lead to the fact that the computer “does not see” the mouse.

USB port defective

Before talking about the breakdown of the mouse itself, it makes sense to check the USB port to which you connect it. Very often, the mouse refuses to work because the port is physically broken. By the way, the same applies to the PS / 2 port, which is used to connect older models to personal computers. So, first of all, check the connector itself.

Visual inspection of the connector

It looks like a working USB port

A working USB port will work with other USB devices. So first of all, try connecting a flash drive or other mouse to it. If the computer “does not see” them, too, then the port is broken or faulty.

First check for physical defects. To do this, carefully inspect the connector. It should look something like the photo above. Mainly check if the white strip is cracked (it may be black or blue for USB 3.0). If possible, take a deeper look. You will see six golden contacts. The absence of any of them also indicates a breakdown.

If visually the USB port looks good, the reason may lie in the software part.

Verifying software USB port connectivity in Windows and Linux

Since the computer does not “see” the mouse, it makes sense to check whether it “sees” the USB port itself. The easiest way to do this is through the BIOS. To enter the BIOS, you need to press a certain key (Del, F12 or others) in the first few seconds after turning on the computer. You can usually see a hint about which key to press.

Go to BIOS with Del

After entering the BIOS, find the menu item (moving using the arrow keys) “Integrated Peripherals” or “Advanced”. Enter it with the Enter key. On the screen that opens, you will see the “USB Configuration” item. Go into it.

USB setup in BIOS

The “USB Functions” and “USB Controller” items must have the [Enabled] property. Otherwise, press Enter to switch the mode.

Device Manager Window

Now let’s check the USB port drivers. To do this on Windows, follow the path: Start. Control Panel. Equipment and sound. Device Manager. In the window that opens, find the item “USB controllers” and double-click on it. The presence of a question mark opposite any of the rows in the list indicates the absence of a driver. So it needs to be installed. The driver may be located on the disk that came with the motherboard or (for laptops) on the manufacturer’s website. If there are no characters, right-click on each item and select “Update Drivers.”

You can check the connection and USB port drivers on Linux with the command “lspci | grep.i usb. “ Its result will be a list of USB ports, the number of rows of which should correspond to the number of available connectors on the device. For instance:

00: 03.0 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.1 Controller (rev 0f)
00: 03.1 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.1 Controller (rev 0f)
00: 03.3 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 2.0 Controller

So, if none of the above helped or did not take place, then the problem is still in the mouse itself.

Video: installing a driver for USB. The mouse is broken directly

If everything is in order with the computer, you need to check the hardware and software of the mouse. Among the main hardware reasons for the malfunctioning of the input device should be highlighted:

• Sensor malfunction;
• Broken wire or USB adapter;

Sensor malfunction

Very often, a mouse breakdown is caused by a broken sensor. Defining it is quite simple, but not always. In most modern optical mice, the sensor is highlighted in red. Just turn the mouse over (when it is connected to the computer) and check this fact.

But many manufacturers (especially laser “rodents”) make the sensor invisible, that is, without a characteristic glow. Then manually determining if the sensor is working is not possible. In this case, proceed to the next step.

What to do if a wire or USB adapter breaks

If you use a wired mouse, it makes sense to check the wire connecting the device and the computer. Strong kinks can cause damage. In addition, check the USB output of the mouse itself (as well as checking the USB port of the computer earlier).

Wireless mouse adapter

If you use a wireless mouse, check its adapter in the same way. If it breaks, the adapter can be replaced with a new one. But only the employee of the service center can choose the right one. So it’s better (and cheaper) just to get a new mouse.

Software issue

If none of the causes of a hardware malfunction is detected, it is most likely a problem in the software. Namely, in the drivers. First of all, if the mouse suddenly crashes, restart the computer. Sometimes it helps, but not as often as we would like.

The main problems of driver operation can be classified as follows:

• The driver is not installed;
• The driver is not suitable for your device;
• The driver is out of date;
• Conflict of programs.

No driver installed

Logitech Mouse Driver Window Example

The reason is perhaps obvious, but not always. The fact is that not all manufacturers put a driver disk in a box with a mouse. If you don’t have one, go to the official website of the mouse brand and look for the driver there. After installation, you may have a special program for customizing the mouse (as, for example, in the photo). Run it and follow the internal instructions.

In order to check whether the driver for the mouse is installed on Windows, go to the “Device Manager” (the transition process is described above). There, find the item “Mice and other pointing devices.” The absence of question marks indicates the correct operation of the driver. You can update it right there, as we did earlier for USB ports. To see the installed drivers on Linux, enter the lspci command.

By the way, most manufacturers download the basic driver to a USB adapter or output, so you don’t need to worry about installing it. In this context, we are talking more about special driver programs.

Not suitable for your device.

If you downloaded the driver yourself, it is likely that it simply does not fit your device. In this case, it is better to remove it. If the mouse does not work with the driver or without it, contact the support service on the manufacturer’s website. They will help you choose the right software.

Video: installing the driver through the device manager. The driver is out of date

It is unlikely that the old driver version suddenly stopped working, but it is still possible. Just find the update on the manufacturer’s website or just reinstall the driver.

Software conflict

This problem quite often causes the incorrect operation of many programs. Its essence lies in the fact that some applications can enter into a “conflict”. to interfere with each other’s execution of their code. The occurrence of conflict most often occurs with the similarity of the two programs. For example, if you installed additional software to control or configure the mouse, it may conflict with the main driver. As a result, the mouse stops working at all.

On Windows, you can easily determine if there is a conflict. To do this, restart the computer in safe mode. Now click “Start” and place the cursor in the line “Find programs and files.” Type “msconfig” and press Enter.

Msconfig utility window

On the Services tab, check the box next to the words “Do not display Microsoft services.” Now uncheck all services in the main window. Reboot the computer. If the problem is really in a software conflict, your mouse will work in this mode. Return to “msconfig” and restore all notes.

Knowing that the problem is in the conflict of programs, you need to try to uninstall those applications that you installed recently. If you remember at what point the mouse stopped working, there will be no problems at all.

Video: how to determine what is missing in software. Other problems

If none of the above helps, it is likely that your mouse is simply dirty. If you have been using it for a long time, take it to a service center. It is not recommended to disassemble the mouse yourself, because most of the latest models do not have explicit screws or mounts.

It is worth noting that if you purchased the mouse recently, you do not need to try to repair it yourself. You can only aggravate the situation. As long as it is under warranty, you have the right to demand assistance from the manufacturer. In addition, the work of a wizard with a mouse is usually not expensive. So in case of any doubt, it is better to contact the service center.

A computer mouse is an accurate device. Its work depends on a variety of parameters, including the accuracy of use. Any mechanical damage often causes breakage, so be careful.

Note that most often problems in the operation of the mouse are associated with the software part. Scanning the system for viruses, as well as periodic cleaning of unnecessary “garbage” can help to avoid malfunctions not only in the mouse, but also in the entire computer.