> > Help! My mouse is sick and I'm afraid it is going to die. My wife scratched around in a file drawer and found a new, in-the-package, mouse that appears to be for Windows 95. We are currently using Windows 98. Will the old mouse work? Do mice become obselete as fast as other computer stuff? This one is labeled "Microsoft MOUSE with IntelliPoint Software." Should I feed it to the cat and buy a new one?
> > How"Cheap"ard
>
> Before you give up on that old mouse, have you cleaned it recently? Mice can get pretty dirty inside, and then the movement gets jerky and hard to control.
>
> Unplug the mouse, turn the mouse over, and remove the panel holding the ball in by rotating it. You can wipe the ball off with rubbing alcohol, and clean the rollers inside the mouse with a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol. Drop the ball back in, rotate the panel so it locks back into place, and see how the mouse works then!

Although, depending upon what material your mouse pad may be made from, you may encounter a couple big, fat dust bunnies. In which case alcohol will only make them moist. If you don't have canned air, or that has failed, try grabbing the buggers with tweezers, or if you're particularly skilled you could get by with a straightened paper clip. Just be careful not to damage anything important.

Tra "mice, and bunnies, and alcohol, oh my!" nio