APC Powerchute Disables Serial Mouse in Boot.ini (149446)

SYMPTOMS

When you set up American Power Conversion (APC) Powerchute software, the NoSerialMice:COMx option is added to the Boot.ini file as follows:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT35="Windows NT Workstation

    Version 3.51" /NoSerialMice:COMx

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT35="Windows NT Workstation

    Version 3.51 [VGA mode]" /basevideo /sos /NoSerialMice:COMx

CAUSE

The COMx device is set according to the COMx option that is selected during APC setup. If this COMx device is set incorrectly, or if it is in conflict with a pointing device already using the COMx port, the pointing device no longer functions due to an incorrect setting in Boot.ini.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, modify the Boot.ini file as follows:

On File Manager View menu, click By File Type and then click Show Hidden-System Files.
Find Boot.ini in C:\ (or appropriate partition).
On the File Manager menu, select Attributes and clear all file attributes.
Edit the file using Notepad to contain the appropriate settings according to the following information:
/NoSerialMice - Disables the detection of serial mice on all COM ports.

/NoSerialMice:COMx - Disables the detection of serial mice on COMx, where x is the number of the port.

/NoSerialMice:COMx,y,z - Disables the detection of serial mice on COM x, COMy and COMz.
Save and quit Notepad.
Return the attribute permissions cleared in Step 3.
Restart the computer.