How to fix those irritating mouse issues
One little device is the key to our online experience … when it works the way you want it to
Like many people, I’ve become pretty nonchalant about the computer devices I use and one of those things I take for granted is the mouse. I just move it around and it works.
However, I was helping a senior with computer issues and discovered that for him, and probably many other people, a computer mouse can be a tedious and ongoing problem. The cursor can be difficult to see, double-clicking is an exercise in frustration, and if you’re left-handed the mouse can quickly become an enemy. Fortunately, there are solutions.
To start finding solutions to mouse problems you’ll have to go into the Windows 10 settings by left-clicking once on the Start icon in the far bottom left of the screen and then tapping on the little gear icon. In Settings, click on Devices and on the left you’ll see a list of interesting options, one of which is labelled Mouse. Click on it to begin problem-solving.
Right at the top of the resulting window you can choose the Primary button. The default is Left, which works for most of us, but if you are left-handed choose Right. This will make using the mouse much more natural; you can use the forefinger on your left hand to open windows and click on commands. Of course when you see an instruction to “right click,” you’ll actually be using the left mouse button.
If you’re using a laptop, you’ll notice in the list of Devices that one option is labelled Touchpad. In this settings area you will be able to adjust numerous aspects of the touchpad and one of the most useful is to turn off the touchpad while a mouse is connected to the laptop, which is really handy if you often rest your hands on the touchpad while typing and inadvertently re-position the cursor.
Depending on how poor your vision is, you can change many aspects of the cursor such as its size, colour, and appearance. In Mouse options, click on the blue Adjust Mouse and Cursor Size link. In the new window you can experiment with changing the size and colour of the cursor until it looks just right.
While you’re in this window you’ll notice other handy controls listed to the left. One of them is Magnifier, which will change the mouse cursor on the screen into a magnifying glass that you can drag around to enlarge sections of the screen. Enable Magnifier and then, under View, select Lens. Microsoft has complete instructions and descriptions at its help site, support.microsoft.com.
In the first mouse settings screen look for Related Settings to the right or below the adjustment settings and click on Additional Mouse Options. This will open the Mouse Properties in the Control Panel where you can control some really irritating aspects of using a mouse. One of them is the speed with which you must double click the left mouse button to perform tasks such as opening a folder in Windows Explorer to see its contents.
Under Pointer Options you can have the cursor leave a visible trail as it moves so you can see it easier on a busy pattern, or hide the pointer while you’re typing so the cursor does not obscure text. If you constantly lose sight of the cursor, check the box that allows you to see the cursor location when you push the Ctrl key. You can also adjust how fast the cursor moves on the screen; if you speed it up, you won’t have to physically move the mouse as far to position the cursor, which is handy if you’re operating in a cramped space.
In the Wheel section, you can adjust how quickly the cursor moves when you roll the little wheel in the middle of the mouse.
You can spend a lot of time experimenting with the mouse settings. However, use the Apply button to have changes take effect right away but leave the Properties window open so you can reverse any changes if they are too drastic.
The cursor can be difficult to see, double-clicking is an exercise in frustration, and if you’re left-handed the mouse can quickly become an enemy