Microsoft Mouse detected as standard mouse (132867)

SYMPTOMS

When you install Windows on a computer with a Microsoft Mouse attached, a standard mouse driver may be installed instead of a Microsoft Mouse driver. This problem is known to occur with the Microsoft Serial Mouse, Microsoft PS/2 Port Mouse, Microsoft InPort Adapter Mouse, and Microsoft Ballpoint mouse attached to a PS/2-style port. The standard mouse drivers that may be installed are the Standard Serial Mouse, Standard PS/2 Port Mouse, and InPort Adapter Mouse drivers.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when Pointer.exe is not present on the "Load=" line in the Win.ini file when you run Setup.

Windows does not have the ability to distinguish between a Microsoft Mouse and a mouse that is Microsoft-compatible. During the hardware detection portion of Setup, the only criteria Setup can use in determining whether or not an installed mouse is actually a Microsoft Mouse is whether or not Pointer.exe is present on the "Load=" line in the Win.ini file.

If Pointer.exe is not present on the "Load=" line, a standard driver is installed, even if a Microsoft Mouse is connected to the computer.

RESOLUTION

Using a standard mouse driver instead of a Microsoft Mouse driver does not affect the functionality of the Microsoft Mouse. To cause the hardware detection portion of Setup to detect the mouse as a Microsoft Mouse, make sure that Pointer.exe is present on the "Load=" line in the Win.ini file.

To replace a standard mouse driver with a Microsoft Mouse driver, follow these steps:

In Control Panel, double-click the System icon.
On the Device Manager tab, double-click the Mouse branch on the hardware tree, and then double-click the standard mouse.
On the Driver tab, click Change Driver.
Click the Show All Devices option.
In the Manufacturers box, click Microsoft. In the Models box, click the Microsoft Mouse that is connected to your computer, and then click OK.

MORE INFORMATION

The Pointer.exe and Pointer.dll files used by Microsoft Mouse Manager and by the Microsoft IntelliPoint software are updated to Windows versions when a Microsoft Mouse driver is installed. These files are not updated when a standard mouse driver is installed.