Computer tech-types: what's this called?

[EstimatedProphet]

I have a sucky mouse that refuses to roll properly. When I drag it, the cursor will get close to where I want to go, then quit, and it seems sometimes like it knows where I want to put the cursor so it refuses to go there. Whenever I drag the cursor anywhere it will only go partway, and then stop, and often if I pick up the mouse and try again it still won't move properly. I know this is due to dirt usually, and I know that in this case it's because the mouse sucks (it did this from day 1) but other than getting a better mouse, what can I do?

[queeg]

1. Buy a Macintosh

---no more mouse balls

[EstimatedProphet]

3. No

[Liberal In Texas]

8. Wait a minute...I'm not a Mac guy, but since when is a Mac mouse any

better than a PC mouse? A mouse is a mouse. We've (PC-ites) have had ball-less mouses for quite awhile. As a matter of fact, I'm going to buy a laser mouse tomorrow (the wife already has one) that is so good, it'll make my coffee in the morning.

[Liberal In Texas]

2. A) It's probably dirty.

B) Even though you think that you cleaned it, it's not.

C) Mouses are so cheap, but a new one.

-That is all-

[EstimatedProphet]

4. So, pretty much what I figured.

[MrScorpio]

5. Your mouse is dirty

Open it up, drop the ball out and clean it

Look at the mini rollers inside the mouse, I bet that they're dirty

Get something like a letter opener and carefully scratch the dirt off the rollers

Use some compressed air to blow the dirt out

After you clean the rollers, put the mouse ball back in and lock it up

Voila, you're back in biz

[notadmblnd]

10. q-tip and alcohol

clean the ball and all 3 rollers, they can get quite gunked up. An optical mouse has four little feet (raised round dots) that can get gunky too. Just wipe them clean with a little alcohol.

[Liberal In Texas]

11. ...come on...make him buy a new mouse!

...just kidding, of course.

[EstimatedProphet]

12. Pity that doesn't improve anything on this mouse

Tried it several times, and it still sucks.
I know it's a lousy mouse-I just wondered if there was a name for the phenomenon of it dragging the cursor almost to where you want it and not allowing it to reach it.
Besides frustrating.

[Spider Jerusalem]

13. It's called "time to buy a new mouse".

I'd advise checking http://www.pricewatch.com for a new one; you can get a decent-enough 3-button optical wheel mouse for under $15, and a 5-button for not much more.

[Liberal In Texas]

14. Sorry...after the alcohol bath and all that ... you have a dead mouse

A former mouse, past-tense mouse, a mouse that used to be, a mouse that once roamed the pad, an ex-mouse.

BUY A NEW ONE. They're quite cheap.

Treat yourself to an optical or laser one.

No more than the cost of drinks on Friday night.

[MrScorpio]

15. It's lagging

Check your mouse senstivity in your control panels

Use another mouse for a test

[EstimatedProphet]

19. LAGGING!

Aha! I knew there was a word for it! Thank you!

[Spider Jerusalem]

6. Sounds like...

one of the contact rollers is either jammed with dirt/grease/etc or else bent. I'd advise blowing it out with compressed air after cleaning with a solvent like isopropyl alcohol; if that doesn't work, optical mice are cheap these days.

[ThoughtCriminal]

7. Agree - sounds like dirty mouse rollers

Switched to optical mice long ago.

[notadmblnd]

9. is it a ball mouse or is it an optical mouse?

nt

[TreasonousBastard]

16. If the rodent has sucked since day 1...

and sucks even more now, another mouse is long overdue.

I noticed years ago that the resident furball had managed to climb on the desk and deposit his fur inside the mouse. When cleaning the little rollers, what I thought was just a dark line or stain was actually cat hair wound tightly around the roller. Pulling it out with tweezers solved the problem.

Optical meeses have a similar problem with critter fur, but it's much easier to dig it out.

[leftofthedial]

17. clean the crap out of the inside of the mouse.

[Throckmorton]

18. Buy a new mouse, its a throw-away society!!! N/T