Can location of DSL modem affect USB cordless mouse?
Friday, August 18, 2006 by aimzzz | Discussion: PC Hardware
My aDSL modem got fried in a thunder storm. I got a new one a few days ago & set it on top of the PC case instead of on a table where the old one was. Last night, my mouse pointer quit responding, but it comes back for a while if I unplug & replug the USB connection. Then it dies again if I don't use it for a few minutes. Pretty irritating. The problems came up suddenly-- have not had mouse trouble for a long time. Disabled CursorXP for a while, but it made no difference.
The mouse is a Logitech M-1000 & it's receiver has been plugged into the same USB 1.1 port for months. I haven't added or removed any USB items for weeks-- in fact the only recent hardware change was the DSL modem replacement. No SW changes this week except the WB5 update a couple of days ago. The USB option to allow the PC to turn the device off to save energy is disabled. There is a checkbox to allow the device to bring the PC out of Standby, but it is now greyed out. I used to have it checked, but MS must have blocked the option to protect me from myself. I do have the mouse set to bring the PC out of standby.
I moved the DSL modem farther away to see if it makes any difference, but I don't know if I'm out in left field or what... Anybody know?
The mouse is a Logitech M-1000 & it's receiver has been plugged into the same USB 1.1 port for months. I haven't added or removed any USB items for weeks-- in fact the only recent hardware change was the DSL modem replacement. No SW changes this week except the WB5 update a couple of days ago. The USB option to allow the PC to turn the device off to save energy is disabled. There is a checkbox to allow the device to bring the PC out of Standby, but it is now greyed out. I used to have it checked, but MS must have blocked the option to protect me from myself. I do have the mouse set to bring the PC out of standby.
I moved the DSL modem farther away to see if it makes any difference, but I don't know if I'm out in left field or what... Anybody know?
aimzzz
Reply #2 Friday, August 18, 2006 4:29 PM
Reply #2 Friday, August 18, 2006 4:29 PM
No-- the modem plugs into the usual network card 
I was wondering about RF interference or something, but I guess I'm drifting into left again...
I was wondering about RF interference or something, but I guess I'm drifting into left again...
Koasati
Reply #3 Friday, August 18, 2006 4:55 PM
Reply #3 Friday, August 18, 2006 4:55 PM
| My aDSL modem got fried in a thunder storm. |
I'd suspect lighting damage to more than the modem.... perhaps.
aimzzz
Reply #4 Friday, August 18, 2006 5:12 PM
Reply #4 Friday, August 18, 2006 5:12 PM
A definite possibility. Moving the DSL modem hasn't taken care of it...
Dr Guy
Reply #5 Friday, August 18, 2006 5:14 PM
My best days, business wise, is when a storm comes through. People know to turn off the computer, and even to unplug them. But they never think of the phone lines! So after a bad storm, I always get calls. Lightning rarely comes through the electrical. Too many breakers (but it can). Phone lines are not built the same way.
Reply #5 Friday, August 18, 2006 5:14 PM
| My aDSL modem got fried in a thunder storm. |
My best days, business wise, is when a storm comes through. People know to turn off the computer, and even to unplug them. But they never think of the phone lines! So after a bad storm, I always get calls. Lightning rarely comes through the electrical. Too many breakers (but it can). Phone lines are not built the same way.
aimzzz
Reply #6 Friday, August 18, 2006 5:21 PM
Reply #6 Friday, August 18, 2006 5:21 PM
I'm almost positive that it came through the phone-- I heard a little phfttt noise when it happened. Several things were plugged into the same surge protector* as the old modem, but nothing else quit working. When the new modem came in, I tried the old DSL cable & it didn't work any more-- pretty good evidence but not conclusive. Still, if it came in through the phone, I'm sure it could jump around after it got here.
* which, in turn, is plugged into a UPS
* which, in turn, is plugged into a UPS
Phoon
Reply #7 Friday, August 18, 2006 5:24 PM
Reply #7 Friday, August 18, 2006 5:24 PM
Modems usually get popped first, also Parallel ports frequently take a jolt.
Hopefully a new Motherboard is all you will have to replace, but don't be alarmed if the damage is more wide spread.
Hopefully a new Motherboard is all you will have to replace, but don't be alarmed if the damage is more wide spread.
aimzzz
Reply #8 Friday, August 18, 2006 5:31 PM
Reply #8 Friday, August 18, 2006 5:31 PM
The storm will have been 2 weeks ago tomorrow (or Sunday-- can't remember). So far, I'm not having any other trouble, though I'm sure there are plenty of possiblilties that I haven't hit on yet.
Why would I start having mouse trouble now instead of soon after the storm?
Why would I start having mouse trouble now instead of soon after the storm?
Koasati
Reply #9 Friday, August 18, 2006 5:41 PM
Reply #9 Friday, August 18, 2006 5:41 PM
Lightning can cause damage that weakens a circuit, but doesn't show up right away. I've seen lightning do strange things to electronics. But your mouse problem may not have anything to with the storm.
aimzzz
Reply #10 Friday, August 18, 2006 6:32 PM
Reply #10 Friday, August 18, 2006 6:32 PM
I read your post about what IT people can do-- you can sense what it's problem is, right?
Phoon
Reply #11 Friday, August 18, 2006 6:54 PM
Reply #11 Friday, August 18, 2006 6:54 PM
I "sense" that you should try another mouse first. Also, try the mouse on a different system. If the mouse works ok on another PC then you know that the problem is in yours.
If another mouse works on your PC ok then we are back to scratching our heads.
Last resort... reinstall windows.
If another mouse works on your PC ok then we are back to scratching our heads.
Last resort... reinstall windows.
yrag
Reply #13 Friday, August 18, 2006 8:02 PM
Reply #13 Friday, August 18, 2006 8:02 PM
I spend a lot of time in left field ..... 
Roll back that latest version of WB and see if the mouse problem goes away.
Roll back that latest version of WB and see if the mouse problem goes away.
aimzzz
Reply #14 Friday, August 18, 2006 8:13 PM
Reply #14 Friday, August 18, 2006 8:13 PM
OK-- uninstalled 5.01j(
.014 & restored 5.01i(.013
Now I have to do 3 or 4 rounds of not using the mouse for 15-20 minutes & see if the cursor moves when I come back to it
.014 & restored 5.01i(.013Now I have to do 3 or 4 rounds of not using the mouse for 15-20 minutes & see if the cursor moves when I come back to it
aimzzz
Reply #15 Friday, August 18, 2006 9:13 PM
Reply #15 Friday, August 18, 2006 9:13 PM
It's working great now! 
You get the left-field glove
What could have changed in WB to cause that effect?
You get the left-field glove
What could have changed in WB to cause that effect?
Phoon
Reply #16 Friday, August 18, 2006 10:44 PM
Fantastic yrag, I'm flabbergasted that it worked!!
But I must know..
What butt-crack did you pull that one out of?
Reply #16 Friday, August 18, 2006 10:44 PM
| Roll back that latest version of WB and see if the mouse problem goes away. |
Fantastic yrag, I'm flabbergasted that it worked!!
But I must know..
What butt-crack did you pull that one out of?
yrag
Reply #17 Friday, August 18, 2006 11:03 PM
.....beats the shit out of me. I only play in left field....don't have a clue what I'm doin'....
Reply #17 Friday, August 18, 2006 11:03 PM
| What butt-crack did you pull that one out of? |
.....beats the shit out of me. I only play in left field....don't have a clue what I'm doin'....
starkers
Reply #18 Saturday, August 19, 2006 3:19 AM
Oi! Had a piece of paper in my back pocket about that...now its missing!
Checked to see if it disappeared into the hole in my pocket...not there!
Reply #18 Saturday, August 19, 2006 3:19 AM
| What butt-crack did you pull that one out of? |
Oi! Had a piece of paper in my back pocket about that...now its missing!
Checked to see if it disappeared into the hole in my pocket...not there!
aimzzz
Reply #19 Saturday, August 19, 2006 4:11 PM
Reply #19 Saturday, August 19, 2006 4:11 PM
It boggles the mind how fast a thread can hit the toilet...
Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
- Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
- Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
- Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
- It's simple, and FREE!
Reply #1 Friday, August 18, 2006 4:22 PM