Is it infrared or radio frequency? Also, who is the manufacturer?

If the device appears in Device Manager, then the drivers are properly installed. If unsure of this, you can try re-installing the drivers that came with your device, or better yet, check the web for the latest updates from the manufacturer.

With any wireless device (IR or RF), alway replace batteries as first step in troubleshooting, especially if they came packaged with the device. Next, ensure proper battery placement in regards to + and -. It sounds to simple, but you'd be surprised how frequently this is the problem.

If it is an IR device, there must be line-of-site visibility between the mouse and the IR window on the reciever, whether that is a seperate reciever or integrated. The window must also be reasonably clean and unscratched.

If it is an RF device, ensure that there are no other sources of RF radiation, such as a TV, microwave oven, DSL adapter, etc., sitting in close proximity to the unit's reciever. Sometimes another device can malfunction and "drown" the mouse's signal with unwanted RF. If your machine has Bluetooth functionality, try disabling it temporarily, assuming of course that the device is NOT a Bluetooth device.

If none of these strategies works, then it is most likely that your mouse is simply defective and should be exchanged at the place of purchase.

Hope this helps.

Mr. Lean

Archerubini, there is another posibility that I didn't cover with my last post and that is conflicting drivers.

It is possible that the wireless mouse driver is conflicting with the touchpad driver. I have a RocketMouse that I frequently use for presentations and training sessions, and it works fine with the existing touchpad driver. You might try un-installing the wireless driver and see if it works with the touchpad driver. You will have to re-boot after un-installing the wireless driver.

Of course, if this is a USB device, you will be stuck having to use its associated drivers. If this is the case, you will have to disable your touchpad driver. Before doing this, ensure that you have a backup copy of the driver on your Inspiron Tools and Utilities CD (or its equivilent).

Mr. Lean

MrLean,

thank you, but... the mouse is a saitek RF wireless. I have already tried the obvious, including changing the batteries, reinstalling the drivers, etc.

I am fairly sure that it is a conflict between the touchpad driver: in fact the the touchpad driver (the latest alps provided by DELL) sees the mouse in the list of hardware, gives it as properly working, but it does not allow to configure it. that is the crux of the question. I have been reporting this now many times but nobody seems to care....

I am scared of disabling the touchpad: first I need it when I travel, second it might take forever to get it to work again. I have wasted so many hours on this problem already... maybe I should sue DELL for loss of income, then they might listen...

thanks anyway

alberto

Alberto

Yes, it looks like you probably do have a driver conflict.

Enabling/ disabling your touchpad is a bit of trouble to go through, but there is a possible solution that may do the job for you.

A docking station may be the ticket for you. That way you can use your system more like a desktop at home, and still have portability for trips. I had just this type of setup with my last Dell laptop and it worked great.

When your 8600 is plugged into its docking station, you have the option to use (or not use) any periphrial device you like. For example, you could continue to use its LCD display and keyboard, but use a mouse instead of the touchpad.

Before shelling out the money, I would call someone at Dell to make certain this strategy is a good one with the 8600.

Good luck and happy computing.

Mr. Lean

Alberto,

Mr Lean is correct, this is a third-party product that you are having difficulty with.  The resolution is most likely an updated driver from the manufacturer of your wireless mouse.  I recommend updating your system with all of the current drivers at the Downloads site and also checking for software updates from the Microsoft Windows Update site.

thanks Mr Lean, but it sounds a bit over the top to buy a docking station just to have a mouse does it not?

thanks mr Bob, but once again, please read carefully my posts. I have ALL the latest drivers from DELL and microsoft.

Luckily finally someone from DELL has managed to respond. I will go through his suggestions now.

regards.