How to optimize mouse settings in Windows 7


With Windows 7 it's similar to previous Windows versions when it comes to optimizing mouse settings. You apply the mouse pointer, trackball, or other input device every time you train with your PC, but perhaps you have taken the time to optimize the way it works? Probably not, since the mouse, such as the keyboard, is another hardware component we tend to ignore. Let's fix this by taking a few minutes to optimize your mouse.

Configure your PC's mouse settings

You can optimize your PC's mouse settings by completing the next steps:

In the User interface, click Hardware and Sound and then click Mouse. This displays the Mouse Properties dialog box. On the Buttons tab:

If your mouse is on the left side of your keyboard as opposed to the right side, you may be left-handed and could want to switch the primary and secondary mouse buttons by selecting "Switch primary and secondary buttons." With the buttons switched, the right button is perfect for clicking and also the left button displays the shortcut menu. Consequently, wherever you are instructed to right-click something, you'd actually need to left-click it.

Make use of the "double-click speed" slider to adjust the way in which your PC recognizes a double-click. If you move the slider left, you boost the likelihood of your PC recognizing a double-click whether you double-click fast or slow. If you move the slider to the right, you decrease the likelihood that your PC will recognize double-clicks with longer pauses between clicks. Doubleclick the folder provided to test your settings. When the test folder doesn't open and close as expected, alter the settings until you get the desired effect.

Select "Turn on ClickLock" to select or drag without having to hold down the mouse button. With ClickLock on, briefly press the mouse button to create the lock, move the mouse without holding the button to tug, and then release the click lock by clicking the mouse button again.

Click the Pointer Options tab:

On this tab, you can make use of the Motion slider to create the pointer speed. In most cases, you will want a relatively fast pointer. To allow the pointer to zip over the screen, move the slider completely right. To ensure that the pointer doesn't appear bouncy by increasing pointer precision, select "Enhance pointer precision." Enhancing pointer precision also enables you to easily make small, precise pointer movements even if the pointer speed is placed completely to Fast.

Select "Automatically move pointer to the default button..." to achieve the pointer automatically move to the default button in a dialog box.

Choose the "Display pointer trails" checkbox if you sometimes have trouble seeing the pointer, and then use the slider to regulate along the pointer trail. If you have trouble seeing the pointer sometimes and do not like pointer trails, select "Show location of pointer when I press the Ctrl key instead."

Select "Hide pointer while typing" to hide the pointer (and get rid of a frustrating distraction) while typing.

Click the Wheel tab:

By default, most PCs scroll three lines at any given time whenever you move the mouse wheel one notch. You can make use of the "Vertical scrolling" choices to set the number of lines to scroll, or select "One screen in a time" to configure the mouse wheel so that one notch scrolls a screen at a time.

If you possess a mouse wheel with a tilt feature, you can make use of this to scroll left and right a specified quantity of characters at any given time. Automatically, the mouse horizontally scrolls three characters at a time. Enter a different Horizontal Scroll in the combo box provided, if desired. Click OK to use your settings.

Configure these device drivers for your mouse

All input devices, including mouse and trackball devices, have associated device drivers that you can manage. To view or work with your input device's driver, complete the following steps:

In the Control Panel, click Hardware and Sound and then click Mouse. On the Hardware tab, click Properties. In the Mouse Properties dialog box, click the motive force tab. Using the buttons provided, you can view driver details, update drivers, roll back drivers, and uninstall drivers as necessary.

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Note: This article was sent to us by: Landon C. Meyers at 03112011

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