Microsoft Mouse 100 middle click suddenly not working

LAMBDA471 · 30 Nov 2016

I got a Microsoft Mouse 100 a couple of years back (2-3) and I have the habit of using middle click to close tabs, open links in new tabs, open multiple Explorer windows from the taskbar and so on.

Last night it all worked fine, I turned off my computer and today I turn it on again and I notice it's not working anymore. I haven't fiddled with any settings at all, it just stops working out of the blue. I tested the mouse on another computer and the middle click doesn't work there, but the mouse on the other computer uses the green connector and my PC doesn't have that and I've lost my green-to-USB thing so I can't test it to see if it's a problem on my PC or just the Microsoft Mouse 100's middle click is just broken and won't work again.

But at this point I'm assuming that it is, although it seems strange to stop working after I shut down and turn back on again (I tried rebooting, connecting to different USB ports, still no luck).

But then again everything else works fine - left click, right click, scroll up/down... That other computer had a similar problem, but the mouse there's middle click started working on its own, so I'm really puzzled what is it.

ICIT2LOL · 30 Nov 2016

Hello mate now for starters run htese if youhave not already
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
Disk Check < if necessary include the /f and /r in the command line as per Option2
Run these in safe mode and the sfc often best run for two to three runs – you can leave out the /r switch in ckdsk if you feel it not necessary
NB SFC best run for about three scans

if no fix then these

SUPERAntiSpyware | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware!
Malwarebytes | Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
AdwCleaner Download
ADW download from bleeping computer delete any rubbish found with the malware scans
(NB If you are running Kaspersky as the main AV then it might need disabling it when trying ADW because it does not like it at times)

The green connection you refer to I suspect is what is known as the PS2 connection - it is useful on machines that have it when the USB KB or mouse does not work.

But it could also be the mouse is kaput.

LAMBDA471 · 30 Nov 2016

Hello, ICIT2LOL

I decided to search for "broken mouse middle button" and in the results they suggested cleaning the mouse buttons.
So I opened it up, found a lot of dust, pieces of food, tabacco, cat hair and some small drops of liquid both inside and trapped between the bottom plastic of the mouse and the transparent plastic thing that helps the LED read movement or whatever that smelled like white wine.

This mouse has been through a lot.

So after I cleaned it as good as possible with a cue tip and fingers, i tried clicking each buttons without the top of the mouse on and it appeared that all of them were working once again, including the middle click. So I assembled it back together and it still works.

Apparently it was dirt that stopped it from working.

Thanks again for providing me with those suggestions and take care!

All the best
Jek Porkins, Red Six