arg! my new logitech cordless optical mouse isn't working?

[buildingit]

Hi,

OK I just bought the Logitech cordless optical freedom keyboard and mouse set.

1)the keyboard usually works but hasn't a couple of times and I didn't move the reciever or do anything. The reciever is on the floor right now, exactly 23" from the computer and away from all other electricals (they say at least 8-20")

2)the mouse never works. The mouse arrow shows up but it won't move. I changed the batteries to known good ones. the user guide says to press the connection button on the bottom of the mouse. All I see is a tiny indented red button that I press with my pen tip. Doesn't work either way but have no idea when this button is on or off. the user guide mentions something about irq's...... (don't know anything about irq's)

3)am using the ps2 ports (not usb)

4)the scariest thing for me is that I have always had problems with cordless things in this apartment!! Cordless phones, cordless earphones and remote control extender. I asked about 4 different stores if they ever heard complaints and all said no. Could it be where I live???/??/ Even radio reception here is bad. I live across the water from a coast guard station. Could that be it?
Its a concete building

I'd bring it back to the store but I needed to get this to get an OEM version of windows and it's a mom & pop store and I doubt they'll return my $$.

Also, the mouse inner red light flashes continously.... don't know what that means! the user guide is one of those for 10 different products in one. Its no help!

Any ideas?

Thanx

[casey]

Is the mouse and the keyboard on the same channel? both should be on channel 1 or both on 2.
The red light does flash even when the PC is switched off.

[buildingit]

thanx casey but I don't know what you mean by channel... does that have something to do with the irq's?

[buildingit]

hmmm..., well now my regular mouse is freezing periodically....

ok here are my irq's. (but this is with my regular keyboard and mouse- i don't see how I can get to this without a mouse)I also have a dlink network card installed but its not being used... that Sis 7001 on #20 is my main network card. The system info reprots the 2 #20's as a conflict/shared.

IRQ Number Device
20 Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System
20 SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller
11 Video Controller (VGA Compatible)
8 System CMOS/real time clock
13 Numeric data processor
6 Standard floppy disk controller
4 Communications Port (COM1)
3 Communications Port (COM2)
1 Easy Internet Keyboard
12 Logitech-compatible Mouse PS/2
23 SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller
14 Primary IDE Channel
15 Secondary IDE Channel
22 SiS 900 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
10 Multimedia Audio Controller

also, I checked the event view and there are lots of errors on the i8042prt. 3 types:

1)an unexpected RESET was detected from the mouse device.
2)Could not set the mouse sample rate.
3)Exceeded the allowable number of retries (configurable via the registry) on device

and my regular mouse now is almost useless!

[casey]

The mouse/keyboard works via radio waves. Transmitted/received by the receiver. Transmission is done on either channel 1 or 2 (channel is like a radio channel) all three devices has to be on the same channel otherwise it will be like a badly tuned radio station (the devices will not "hear" each other.) to setup up:
press the small white button on the receiver.
press the small button under the mouse.
press the small button under the keyboard.
all the devices should now be on channel 1 or all on channel 2.

[casey]

Could be that the problem lies somewhere else. is this an XP system ? If you don't use the other network card, remove it. Are you using your serial ports Com 1 & 2 ? if not disable them, as this will give a better IRQ didtribution. Can't you try the mouse & keyb. on a friends PC, just to confirm that something is not faulty.

[oddjob]

Mouse inner red light flashes continously = "stand-by mode" to save battery power. Don't know how that works, if the light keeps flashing (using up the batteries!?!?). Also, I must have my receiver on top of my tower, within 6" of the mouse. Otherwise, it doesn't work. So much for the 6' range and alleged "cordless freedom". (Keyboard does work at a distance, though...)

[buildingit]

Well haha, it's working!

I pressed all 3 buttons once, as instructed Casey. Uninstalled the dlink and disabled Comm 1 & 2. I moved the reciever to the top of the tower. Rebooted and it works! LOL, don't know which action was the key. Moved the reciever back o the floor, 23" away, rebooted and it still works. The mouse setup program does have a channel selector thing, but geesh, you need the mouse to be working first to use this pgm!

I will see if it continues to work. Thank you! I don't know why the 3 button pressing thing isn't mentioned in the user manual....

And thanx oddjob. Somehow I'm not surprized! I did a big web search for reviews on this puppy and each one just said how great it was; almost as if logitech wrote them. I see you are from Vancouver neighbor! I asked ATIC, Anitec, Bestop and NCIX and all said "oh, no, never heard a complaint re reception...." Anyway oddjob, I'll moniter this thing.. You know the coast guard or boat police or whoever they are in Vanier Park on False Creek? I live right across the creek from them, across from the Aquatic Centre on Beach. And ya, maybe I'm silly, but I'm conviced they send out all sorts of whacky radio waves, hahah! I mean, I have had such a time with cordless stuff.

Anyway, hopefully it was the channel thing that was wrong! I do love this set Did you press the 3 buttons in a row?

[casey]

I have the "cordless desktop optical" set and I think it is the coolest piece of kit I ever bought.! (black) My mouse and keyboard works from 4 metres away and it is super stable. I use USB though. Bought 12 December 2001 and the mouse is on it's 3 rd set of batteries and the keyboard on it's 2 nd set.I think it is a work of art.

[buildingit]

Wow 4 metres, that's great! I personally think computers belong in a closet, with only the moniter on display, hehe. If my puppy keeps working, I might just do that! (now they just need to invent cordless moniters..)

Anyway, thanks again Casey, I was just so frustrated last night