The mouse is a primary way of interacting with the computer. Smooth and responsive functioning is a must. Here are some tips to help ensure trouble-free mousing.

Double-click made easier

Not everybody is adept at manipulating things with their hands and I often have students in my classes who have troubles with the computer mouse. The double-click can be especially troublesome since it involves precise timing between clicks as well as accurate and steady placement.of the mouse pointer. I often suggest replacing the double-click with one of the two following alternatives.

• Instead of double-clicking an icon, file, or other object of interest, highlight or select the object with a single left-click. The object will turn blue or become darkened indicating that it has been selected for further action. Then press the "Enter" key on the keyboard. The net result will be the same as double-clicking. This method works for files listed in Explorer as well as for icons.
• Another method for opening programs or folders is to use the right mouse button instead of the left. Right-click once on an icon. A menu will open, listing a group of possible actions. Click once more (right or left) on the entry in the menu that says "Open" and the net result is the equivalent of a double-click with the left mouse button.

The parameters of the double-click can also be adjusted to conform to an individual’s patterns. Open the “Mouse Properties” dialog box by going to Control Panel-Printers and Other Hardware-Mouse. Under the “Buttons “ tab (Figure 1) is a dialog box with an entry “Double-click speed” with a slider that allows the user to test different double-click parameters by clicking a trial icon. Once the desired speed is determined, click “Apply”. Depending on your mouse software, the procedure may be slightly different. Also in versions of Windows older than XP, the mouse settings are in a slightly different place. Consult your help files for the exact location.

Figure 1. Mouse button properties

For Lefties

Those who are left-handed and who wish to switch the right- and left-click buttons have the option in the Properties dialog box. In the the top portion of Figure 1 is an area "Button configuration." Putting a check by "Switch primary and secondary buttons" will reverse the usual configuration. Removing the check will return the default button assignment.

Turn off the double-click

It is also possible to dispense entirely with the necessity of the double-click and to configure the system to behave like a Web page. Open “My Computer” or any folder and click on the “Tools” menu and choose “Folder Options”. (For Windows 98, go to “View-Folder Options-Settings".)   In the dialog box (Figure 2) under “Click items as follows” choose the radio button by “Single-click to open an item…” You then have a choice to have icons titles appear underlined just like links on the Internet or to have the underlining appear only when the mouse pointer is over the icon. Click “Apply” for the settings to take effect.

Figure 2. Replacing the double-click

Adjust pointer speed and appearance

It is also possible to adjust a number of other characteristics of the mouse in the Mouse Properties dialog box. For example the speed at which the pointer moves can be adjusted by clicking on the "Pointer Options" tab (Figure 3). Use the slide bar in the section "Motion" to obtain the speed that you find most suitable. If, like me, you sometimes can't find the mouse pointer on the screen, put a check in the box "Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key."

Figure 3. Pointer options

Many people do not realize that they have a choice of pointer type. Select the tab “Pointers” and you are presented with a variety of possibilities (Figure 4) in the drop-down window “Scheme”. I find that I like a larger pointer than the default and I use “Windows Standard (extra large). A larger pointer is also good for classroom use.

Figure 4. Pointer choices

Finding a lost mouse pointer

When I am using a laptop with a pointing stick or a touch pad, I sometimes lose the pointer because it goes somewhere off the screen. The pointer can also get obscured when using certain graphics programs. The Pointer Options shown in Figure 3 have a mouse locator setting that can be useful in these situations. At the bottom of Figure 3, there is an entry, "Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key". (The wording is a little misleading. It should say "when I press and release the CTRL key".) Putting a check here will activate this feature. The only drawback is that using the CTRL key for other reasons may also flash the pointer location.

Shortcut to mouse properties

If you find yourself having to open the mouse properties dialog box on a frequent basis, here is how to create a shortcut in Windows XP. Right-click on an empty spot on the Desktop or in any other folder where you want to place the shortcut. In the context menu, choose New-Shortcut. Enter the command exactly as given below into the line under "Type the location of the item." Click "Next," choose a name, and click "Finish."

RunDLL32.EXE shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL main.cpl @0,0

Another, shorter version is to use the command

Keyboard instead of the mouse

For those who wish to avoid having to use a mouse at all, Windows has a setting that allows the pointer to be controlled from the keys on the numeric pad. These are separate keys usually on the right of the keyboard. They may be missing on laptops where one of the “Fn” keys may have to be invoked. Go to Control Panel-Accessibility Options-Mouse and check “Use MouseKeys.” There is a “Settings” button for configuring speed and acceleration.

How to exit or reboot when the mouse dies

Sometimes it can happen that the mouse stops working. I will skip over all the standard steps such as checking the cable connections or making sure that the battery in your wireless mouse still functions. First you may want to close down the computer and here is the way to use the keyboard to exit or reboot.

Bring up the Start menu by pressing the Windows key or by the combination Control+Esc.Then select "Turn off computer" by pressing the Up arrow once, followed by Enter. Next, press "r'" to reboot or "u" to shutdown. Or you can use the left or right arrow keys to navigate among the shutdown choices. Then press Enter. Use Esc if you want to cancel an action.

Sometimes a reboot is all that is needed to get the mouse to work again.

Another way to exit if the mouse doesn't work

. If there are no programs open, there is an even quicker keyboard shortcut. Press Alt+F4 (F4 is a function key) to bring up the Shutdown menu and then enter “u” (no quotes”) to turn off the computer. To reboot enter “r” instead.

If programs are open, successive applications of Alt+F4 can be used.

Watch Out for USB support problems

It is more and more common that the mouse on a system uses a USB connection instead of the old-style serial port. This may be a direct connection or by means of a wireless station that is plugged into USB. Older computers do not have USB support in the BIOS. If you ever have to use a DOS boot disk or procedure that involves the computer before Windows has loaded the USB drivers, you may find yourself without a working mouse. So don't discard that old serial mouse. You might need it. 

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Portable storage has always had a place in businesses, as well as in personal use. It cannot be denied that the portable disk is a fast and efficient means to transfer and share data and files with one another, and especially these days where the thumb drive, flash drive, or USB drive has the capacity to carry much more data than older versions of the technology, flash drives have been used to store data and files as well, besides the sharing purpose it usually serves.

There are also times, however, that one suffers the misfortune of deleting or losing the files on a USB thumb drive. Especially if there are important files contained inside, it is imperative that one be able to retrieve them, or else, to put it plainly, there will be trouble.

About Flash Drives

A USB thumb drive is basically a data storage device that is connected to the computer through the USB (Universal Serial Bus) port that all computers today have. Unlike the old versions of portable storage like floppy drives that require a dedicated port, a USB drive can be plugged in virtually anywhere, since many computers (both Mac and PC) have at least one or two USB ports.

Reasons Why Files Get Lost or Deleted

But why do files in USB drives get lost or deleted? What are the reasons behind such accidents? One is the life of the USB drive. It is common sense that any electronic device suffers from wear and tear and eventually burns out (sometimes literally) due to its simple use and reuse over the years. It can happen to anybody. The average lifespan of a USB drive is about 10 years, and while they are relatively inexpensive, it is the data in them that makes them valuable, and losing that data can be a big hassle for you. Another reason is that it gets deleted by accident, either by you or other people who use the drive. Sometimes a computer crashes and a thumb or flash drive connected to it also suffers from data loss.

Steps to Preserve Your Data

There’s a saying that “prevention is better than cure”, which is why it pays to be able to take steps to make sure you avoid situations where you compromise your data.

One important tip is to always eject you flash drive properly. There is a small icon on the lower right hand of your screen, on the taskbar, where you can ’safely eject’ your portable USB storage. You can also select the drive in My Computer, right click on the drive, and click ‘Eject’. This helps prevent files from getting corrupted, and helps preserve the lifespan of your USB flash drive as well.

• Another is to store your important files on more permanent backups, and not just leave them on your USB flash drive. Besides the accidents can happen that can cause data loss on your flash drive, there’s also the chance that you just plain lose the whole flash drive, and no amount of retrieval software can bring your data back from that.
• Speaking of data recovery, if ever you lose data on a flash drive, consider using data retrieval software – there are a lot of effective ones out there – instead of considering enlisting the services of a data retrieval firm. Data retrieval firms are expensive and impractical.

How To Recover Deleted Files From Flash Drive – Step By Step

1. Search and download a data recovery software. After downloading, install it in your system.

2. Run the software and click on option which says “Recover Data From Flash Drive”.

3. Let the software scan your flash drive and show you a list of files you’ve erased off it previously.

4. Once the scan is complete, It will show you a list of files you can recover.

5. Select the files you want to recover and start the recovery process. That’s it!

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Have you looked closely at your computer keyboard? Yuck! Well, have no fear – here are some tips to help clear out your keyboard’s collected contagion dangers, dust, and other icky bits:

• Remember to power down your computer before cleaning, and detach the keyboard for easier access. Grab some paper from the recycling bin to catch crumbs and dust that may come loose while cleaning.

• Start with a spray-over of compressed air to clear out the biggest, most obvious dust balls and muck.

• After spraying, turn your keyboard upside down to gently shake out any morsels that didn’t dislodge. You could also use your vacuum’s bristle brush to suck up whatever’s still trapped beneath the keys.

• Scrub the top and side surfaces of your keys. Choose your cleaning tools – a lint-proof rag and a few drops of diluted liquid detergent (nothing harsh), or a toothbrush or cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol (you can find this at your local pharmacy).

• Some people go to painstaking measures for an intense keyboard cleaning, removing one key at a time and swabbing the under-surfaces of each key. Only consider this measure if your keyboard is really filthy and only if you have consulted your user’s manual or spoken to someone who knows how to do this. It can be tricky to reattach the keys and can sometimes do more harm than good.

Similar rules apply for cleaning up another germy spot in your workspace – your mouse. An optical mouse with an LED light will only need an occasional wipe down to stay clean. A roller-ball mouse will collect more dust, which can aggravate allergies and cause the mouse to not function properly. To clean a roller-ball mouse, power down your computer and unplug the mouse. Flipped to the bottom, you may note dust bunnies gathered around the moving parts. You should be able to open the locking cover and remove the ball. Wipe the ball with a cloth dabbed with mild soap, and use an alcohol-dipped cotton swab to clean out dust. Put your mouse back together and repeat again in a month or so!

Once you’ve cleaned and disinfected your keyboard and mouse, try to maintain a clean workspace. Wipe down your workspace surfaces with a disinfectant cloth to clear dust and germs. Keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer handy at your desk for those moments when you can’t make it to the sink for a proper soap-and-water washing.

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Just how many hours do you sit at your computer with your trusty mouse at your side? Using your mouse can be hazardous for a couple of reasons.

Using a mouse requires you to make small, exact movements with your hand, fingers and thumb. This means: positioning, traveling, scrolling, and clicking the mouse. These repetitive movements used over and over and over can lead to discomfort because the same small muscles become overworked and tired.

The mouse has become a common piece of computer equipment developed to help people use computers more quickly and easily. Mouse software has been around since the introduction of Windows technology in the 1990s.

This discomfort or pain manifests itself at the top of the hand, around the wrist and along the forearm and elbow. In later stages of overuse, ganglion cysts can develop around the joints and along the tendons. In severe cases, there may be numbness and tingling in the thumb and index finger that develop into carpal tunnel syndrome.

Another reason that using a mouse can be hazardous results from its placement. If it is awkward to reach, it creates strain. Computer work areas usually have limited space and the keyboard is already directly in the front. When the mouse is placed over to the right or left, it is out of the safe distance range for comfortable hand movements. When using the mouse, you have to reach your arm out and forward then and hold it there. In this position, your arm is unsupported as long as you are using the mouse.

This movement and this unsupported suspension of your arm again and again throughout the workday can cause soreness and fatigue. In this position, you are putting an extra load on the muscles in the trapezius muscle of the upper back and the deltoid muscle of the shoulder. This repeated and uninterrupted use can cause aches and pains in the shoulder and neck area. The lower back can also be pained, not because of the mouse, but because of poor body posture while sitting for hours at the computer.

Obvious, right? So, what can you do to reduce the risk of injury from this pesky mouse?

Here are a few tips:

1. Take frequent breaks from repetitive activity. Stop before the pain starts. Most ergonomists recommend taking at least four typing breaks per hour: three for thirty seconds and one for three minutes. Close your eyes for a moment to give them a break too. Try to structure your work so that typing in interspersed with other activities.

2. Keep fingernails short if you do a lot of typing. Long fingernails make it more difficult to maintain a good typing position (wrists straight, fingers pointed down and slightly curved) and may also interfere with using the mouse.

3. Make sure you’re sitting properly. Current ergonomic research suggests that leaning back slightly while typing can be more beneficial than sitting perfectly straight.

4. Use a support for your forearm. These supports automatically position arms and hands into proper position.

5. Explore an alternative mouse or keyboard. Search for a mouse that can comfortably fit your hand a workspace. Some users find that a flexible, gentle touch keyboard is more comfortable than the standard.

6. Use common sense. If your hand, forearm or shoulder hurts, quit using it. Move the muscle, stretch and strengthen. Don’t wait for pain to change behavior.

By: Kellen Wilson from EmpwHER

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