The mouse: It's a crucial piece of equipment when it comes to computers. They come in many different sizes, shapes, and colors, but did you know some are wireless? A wireless mouse can make your desk look a more modern and neat by eliminating cords. It can also make using the mouse more comfortable for you. But if you've never worked with wireless accessories before, setting up a wireless mouse may seem complicated. This article will show you how to use
your mouse without a tail.
Step 1
Put in the batteries Find the battery cover and slide it off. Insert the appropriate batteries. The wireless receiver that plugs into the computer runs off the computer's power and needs no batteries.
Step 2
Plug in the receiver to the computer. Usually the receiver will plug into the USB port, but some plug into the mouse port. If all of your USB ports are filled, see if the mouse came with a USB adapter. The adapter fits into the mouse port. Be careful not to accidentally force the mouse adapter into the keyboard port.
Step 3
Connect the mouse once you have it plugged in. The receiver should have a visible button that is easily pushable by the average human finger. The mouse will usually have a very small hole with a button inside it that can only be pushed by something like a pencil or paper clip. Push both buttons at the same time with the receiver and the mouse relatively close to each other for about 5 seconds or more.
Step 4
Position the receiver in a place that isn't far away from the mouse. Depending on where you are, you can place it on the monitor, on the tower, on the back of your laptop (if you are installing the mouse to your laptop) or on the desk. The furthest a wireless mouse can get away from the receiver without not working very well is about 9 feet (2.7 meters), so keep that in mind.
Step 5
Test your new mouse.
- If you plugged into the mouse port, restart your computer manually.
- If you plugged it into the USB port you may begin using it.
- When the cursor moves when you move the mouse, you have connected the mouse properly. If the cursor doesn't move, try repositioning the receiver. If it still doesn't work, you may need to restart your computer (if you haven't already) or reconnect everything.
Tips
- Clean off your desk before putting the mouse on. This way it will be easier to work with and make your desk look a little better.
- Try buying a mouse/keyboard combo pack. The mouse will match the keyboard, and the steps for setting up a keyboard are relatively the same as these.
- Glue a 1 inch (2.5 cm) square of Velcro to the receiver and the place you are putting it. For best results, glue the hooks side of the Velcro (the hard side) to the receiver and the loops side of the Velcro (the soft side) to the surface.
- A mouse looks best if it blends in with its surroundings. The mouse should contrast the mousepad, complement the keyboard, and match either the monitor or tower. The shape is also important. When you are picking one out, ask yourself "Will my hand be comfortable on this?" It is important to have a comfortable mouse, otherwise you could mess up when doing something that requires a steady hand (for example: designing graphics).
- You can also create a dual-mouse hookup with a wireless USB mouse by plugging it into a USB port.
Warnings
- Save any important work before unplugging your old mouse. You won't be able to save it easily if your mouse port stops working for any reason.
- If you are on XP or Vista, turn on MouseKeys before unplugging your current mouse just in case it doesn't work.
