Disobedient mouse

[MTLincoln]

My magic mouse sometimes works fine, but about half the time now, the cursor just sits there. I have no control over it at all. Sometimes the cursor suddenly grows to about an inch in size. This is my third mouse in one year on this iMac, so Apple clearly agrees there's something wrong. In phone support, we've tried all of the usual things--rebooting, rebooting in safe mode, screen-sharing so they could see, etc. I have also tried moving the iMac closer to me, farther away, to the other side of the second screen, removed everything from my desk, turned off my Time Machine, moved my cell phone across the room. I've done everything except burn sage to get the evil spirits to leave my mouse alone.

Apple wants me to take my computer and the mouse to a genius bar, but I'm hoping that someone has a better suggestion.

I do have two screens--the second one is just some cheapie, but it worked fine with my last iMac/mouse.

Thanks in advance

 

[MTLincoln]

My magic mouse sometimes works fine, but about half the time now, the cursor just sits there. I have no control over it at all. Sometimes the cursor suddenly grows to about an inch in size. This is my third mouse in one year on this iMac, so Apple clearly agrees there's something wrong. In phone support, we've tried all of the usual things--rebooting, rebooting in safe mode, screen-sharing so they could see, etc. I have also tried moving the iMac closer to me, farther away, to the other side of the second screen, removed everything from my desk, turned off my Time Machine, moved my cell phone across the room. I've done everything except burn sage to get the evil spirits to leave my mouse alone.

Apple wants me to take my computer and the mouse to a genius bar, but I'm hoping that someone has a better suggestion.

I do have two screens--the second one is just some cheapie, but it worked fine with my last iMac/mouse.

Thanks in advance

UNFORTUNATELY, ALL OF THESE REPLIES are ancient. Anything in the past year? Any ideas? Begging here!

 

[honestone]

Doubt if it makes much of a difference, but what exact Mac OS are you using?

Also, I have always had the most success with Logitech mice. On my 2013 13" MacBook Air, I am using a Logitech M325 mouse, and on my late 2012 Mac Mini, I have a Logitech M510 mouse. Both work flawlessly. Since you have a desktop machine, the M510 should do nicely. Best Buy has the M510 on sale for $18.99:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpage.jsp?cp=1&searchType=search&st=logitech mouse&_dyncharset=UTF-8&id=pcat17071&type=page&sc=Global&nrp=&sp=+currentprice skuidsaas&qp=category_facet=SAAS~Wireless & Bluetooth Mice~abcat0513001^brand_facet=Brand~Logitech&list=n&af=true&iht=y&usc=All Categories&ks=960&keys=keys

If you do purchase one, make sure to get the latest/correct Logitech Control Center software (will depend on what Mac OS you are using):

http://support.logitech.com/en_us/product/logitech-control-center-for-macintosh-os-x

 

[MTLincoln]

Thank you! I live close to a Best Buy and will go over there today.

 

[Ormond]

Get a good old USB wired mouse. Most of the wired mouses we have here at our house are from the candy colored iMac era, twenty years ago. Never had a problem, still going strong.

 

[MTLincoln]

I would be happy to use a wired mouse, but I'm left handed, and I can't find one with a long enough cord to reach where it needs to be.

 

[Ormond]

Ah, that's an easy problem to solve. Shop for a USB extender cable. You plug your mouse in to one end of the cable, and the other end of the cable goes in to your Mac. Very simple, cheap. I'm using one right now, have been for years. Amazon probably has them for just a few bucks.

You are not alone, I tried a bluetooth mouse once too. Didn't work reliably for me either. I'm sure there are solutions available for bluetooth problems but, imho, it's just not worth the bother just to get rid of a little cable clutter, that I don't even notice.

Good luck!

 

[MTLincoln]

I'll get on that! Great idea. Beats leaving my computer with some 9 y/o at the genius bar ;~) The only thing that still worries me is that it's a good practical solution, but I wonder if it means there's a problem with my computer. Three mice in a year? Would never have happened if Steve Jobs were still alive!

Thanks

 

[Ormond]

I'll get on that! Great idea. Beats leaving my computer with some 9 y/o at the genius bar ;~)

Uh oh, we have another cynic! (besides me)

The only thing that still worries me is that it's a good practical solution, but I wonder if it means there's a problem with my computer.

Were they all bluetooth wireless mice? If yes, it could be there is something wrong with your bluetooth, but that won't matter if you're not trying to use bluetooth.

Or, you might have the Holy Ghost Virus, which automatically and silently sends copies of all your porn files to the Pope, and your mom. Speaking from my many years of experience making up completely ridiculous nonsense, I'm pretty confident that this is what the problem is.

 

[MTLincoln]

My bluetooth keyboard works, but I don't care. Thanks to you, I have a brand-new ancient wired mouse that works like a champ. And it had a long enough cord that I don't even need a connecting wire. It'll take me a day or two to remember use that scroller, but I can take a joke. Love the mustache, BTW.

 

[honestone]

Hope your wired mouse works well.

 

[PaBear]

My magic mouse sometimes works fine, but about half the time now, the cursor just sits there. I have no control over it at all. Sometimes the cursor suddenly grows to about an inch in size. This is my third mouse in one year on this iMac, so Apple clearly agrees there's something wrong. In phone support, we've tried all of the usual things--rebooting, rebooting in safe mode, screen-sharing so they could see, etc. I have also tried moving the iMac closer to me, farther away, to the other side of the second screen, removed everything from my desk, turned off my Time Machine, moved my cell phone across the room. I've done everything except burn sage to get the evil spirits to leave my mouse alone.

Apple wants me to take my computer and the mouse to a genius bar, but I'm hoping that someone has a better suggestion.

I do have two screens--the second one is just some cheapie, but it worked fine with my last iMac/mouse.

Thanks in advance

22 March 17
I have two Apple Magic mice, both several years old. Neither works well with my 2012 I-mac but they both perform well with my new 2016 MacBook PRO. So old mice work well with new MacBook but not with older desktop. Curious. Its got to be something to do with different versions of Bluetooth. That's not a topic much discussed, nor fully understood, by most users.

As to the missing cursor, could it be that if the No 2 screen is not in use, the cursor is there all the time? Certainly that's what happens with my second screen. When it is powered up try moving the mouse large distances to either side; it re-appears for me.

 

[Ormond]

My bluetooth keyboard works, but I don't care. Thanks to you, I have a brand-new ancient wired mouse that works like a champ. And it had a long enough cord that I don't even need a connecting wire.

Ah, that's great, happy mousing!

Don't grow one of these staches though, mine gets tangled up in the USB cables all the time.