IntelliMouse: Buttons and Wheel Do Not Function on Packard Bell Computer (169511)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft IntelliMouse 1.0
  • Microsoft IntelliMouse TrackBall
  • Microsoft IntelliPoint software 2.0
  • Microsoft IntelliPoint software 2.1
  • Microsoft IntelliPoint software 2.2
  • Microsoft IntelliPoint software 3.0
This article was previously published under Q169511
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you install a Microsoft IntelliMouse and the Microsoft IntelliPoint software on a Packard Bell computer running Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows 98, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
  • The computer may not respond to mouse clicks.

  • The IntelliMouse wheel may not function.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the Fmedia program is running on your Packard Bell computer.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, use the following methods in the order in which they are presented.

Remove All Windows 95/98 Mouse Drivers

NOTE: Before you use this method, verify that the IntelliMouse is not connected to the Media Select Device on your computer.

To remove all Windows 95/98 mouse drivers:
  1. Restart the computer in Safe mode. To do this, use the appropriate method for your version of Windows.

    Windows 95:

    Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Safe Mode from the Startup menu.

    Windows 98:

    Restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key after the computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose Safe Mode from the Startup menu.
  2. Right-click the My Computer icon on the desktop, and then click Properties.
  3. On the Device Manager tab, click the PLUS SIGN (+) next to Mouse to expand the branch.
  4. Click any of the devices listed under Mouse, and then click Remove.

    Repeat this step for each device listed under Mouse, and then click OK.

Disable the Fmedia Program

To disable the Fmedia program:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type win.ini, and then click OK.
  3. Examine the following lines in the [Windows] section of the Win.ini file:

    load=
    run=

  4. Remove Fmedia.exe and FMThunk.exe from both of these lines.
  5. On the File menu, click Exit. When you are prompted to save the changes, click Yes.
  6. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Taskbar or Taskbar & Start Menu.
  7. On the Start Menu Programs tab, click Remove, and then click the PLUS SIGN (+) next to StartUp to expand the branch.
  8. Click Fmedia or FMThunk, and then click Remove.

    Repeat this step until Fmedia and FMThunk are no longer listed under StartUp.
  9. Click Close, and then click OK.
  10. WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

    Use Registry Editor to open the following registry key: 
       HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  11. Click Fmedia or FMThunk in the Name column in the right pane of Registry Editor.
  12. On the Edit menu, click Delete. When you are prompted to confirm the value deletion, click Yes.
  13. Repeat steps 11 through 12 until Fmedia and FMThunk are no longer listed in the Name column in Registry Editor.
  14. Quit Registry Editor.

Remove and Reinstall the IntelliPoint Software

To remove and reinstall the IntelliPoint software:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
  3. Click Microsoft IntelliPoint, click Add/Remove, click Finish, and then click OK.
  4. Close Control Panel, and then restart the computer.
  5. Reinstall the IntelliPoint software.

MORE INFORMATION

Fmedia is a 16-bit program included with some Packard Bell computers that places a control bar at the bottom of the screen to provide access to different types of media. For more information about Fmedia, contact Packard Bell.

You can configure your computer to use the Fmedia program with the IntelliMouse. However, the IntelliMouse wheel still does not function when you use this configuration.

To configure your computer to use the Fmedia program with the IntelliMouse:
  1. Restart the computer in Safe mode. To do this, use the appropriate method for your version of Windows:

    Windows 95:

    Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.

    Windows 98:

    Restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key after the computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.
  2. Type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line:

    cd windows\system
    ren msmouse.vxd msmouse.bak
    ren msmouse.old msmouse.vxd

    NOTE: In Windows 95, the Msmouse.old file should be dated 7/11/95. If you are using Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2), the Msmouse.old file should be dated 8/24/96.
  3. Restart the computer.
The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

REFERENCES

For additional information about how to solve problems related to Microsoft Pointing Devices, use the Pointing Devices Troubleshooter located at the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/intellimouse

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/25/2006
Keywords:kb3rdparty kbenv kbHardware kbprb KB169511
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