Sound Failure Symptoms in computer -mouse

Some of the problems associated with the sound in computers are as follows:

1. No sound from the computer's speakers or headphones. 
2. A sound seems to be played, but not heard. 
3. A sound is played, but then stops suddenly. 
4. The sound skips or misses in some areas. 
5. The sound is distorted or scratchy. 
6. The computer stops responding (hangs) when a sound is played. 
7. The computer restarts when a sound is played. 

An error message is received when you try to play sound. For example, you may receive any one of the following error messages:

1. MIDI output error detected. 
2. No wave device that can play files in the current format is installed. 
3.  The CD Audio device is in use by another application. 
4.  WAV sound playback error detected. 
5. Your audio hardware cannot play files like the current file.

Troubleshooting procedure:

If you added hardware or software to your computer immediately before the issue started, remove the added hardware or software. Be sure to turn off the computer before removing hardware. As with any problem that arises with computers, reversing a process that started a problem may correct the problem.
Check the following points:

• Are the speakers turned on and have power? 

Try unplugging the speaker power adapter and keep it disconnected for 30 seconds or so, then plug it back in.
Try plugging a known working item (such as a lamp) to check the wall outlet for power.
 Check to insure that the Mixer Control volumes are set to 3/4 volume and are not muted. Analog or digital can be set in the Mixer Controls,  depending on the type of sound card and speakers used.

Make sure that all connections to all speakers are fully seated. Usually, these plugs click twice before the fully seat. 

11. Try plugging in a known working set of head phones to ensure that the sound card is functioning.

12. Try plugging in the speakers to a known working portable CD player that will accept the same connection. This will determine if the speakers are working.

13. Go to: Start>> Control Panel>> Administrative Tools>> Component Services>> Services. Make sure audio is enabled.

14. Go to: Start>> Control Panel>> Sounds and Audio Device Properties. Be sure that the "Mute" checkbox is unchecked.

Volume Control settings

The procedure for setting up the audio controls is outlined below:

1. Click on the Start button and continue to the Control Panel section of the Start menu
2. Control Panel Window will appear 
3. In the Control Panel window find Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices section, click on it 
4. The Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices window will appear In the Sounds,
5. Speech, and Audio Devices window find the Sounds and Audio Devices section, click on i

How to Change Playback Options

1. The Sounds and Audio Devices panel will appear
2. Find the Audio section tab (top line of buttons), click on it
3. The Audio Settings section will open
4. In the Sound Playback section from the drop down menu, select thedevice 
5. Click on the Volume button below the drop down menu
6. The Volume Control panel will appear Find the Options menu button, click on it Click on the Properties section

The Properties panel will appear Find the Show the following volume controls: section Check in all the unchecked boxes Click the OK button

Mouse

Mouse is a input device that controls the movement of the cursor or pointer on a display screen.
The construction of a Wheel mouse is shown in the figure below: The functions of the labeled parts are: 

1.  Moving the mouse turns the ball.
2. X and Y rollers grip the ball and transfer movement.
3.  Optical encoding disks include light holes.
4. Infrared LEDs shine through the disks.
5.  Sensors gather light pulses to convert to X and Y velocities. 

Types of Mice

There are basically three types of Mouse 

1. Mechanical Mouse - Mechanical Mouse also called the Wheel mouse requires that the mouse be set on a flat surface. The distance and the speed of the rollers inside the mouse determines how far the mouse cursor moves on the screen depending on the software configuration. 
2. Optical Mouse - Optical Mouse requires a  special mouse pad which has a grid pattern. A sensor inside the mouse determines the movement by reading the grid as the mouse passes over it while emitting a light from an LED or sometimes a laser. This type of mouse is much more accurate than the ordinary optical mechanical mouse which relies on the traction between the mouse ball and the rollers. New Optical Mice no longer have the disadvantages of earlier mice and are capable of being utilized on any surface. In comparison to the traditional Optical-Mechanical mouse, the Optical is a much better solution for a computer mouse.
3. Optical-Mechanical - The optical-mechanical hybrid consists of a ball which rolls a wheel inside the mouse. This wheel contains a circle of holes and or notches to read the LED by a sensor as it spins around when the mouse is moved. This mouse is much more accurate than the mechanical mouse. This mouse is now the most commonly used mouse with PC and Macintosh computers. See How a mouse works for an illustration and a more in-depth explanation of how this mouse works. 

Mice connect to PCs in one of the several ways:

1. Serial mice connect directly to an RS-232C serial port or a PS/2 port. This is the simplest type of connection. 
2. PS/2 mice connect to a PS/2 port. 
3. USB mice. 
4. Cordless mice aren't physically connected at all. Instead they rely on infrared or radio waves to communicate with the computer. Cordless mice are more expensive than both serial and bus mice, but they do eliminate the cord, which can sometimes get in the way. 

Mouse Cleaning

A good mouse will have to be smooth and working properly. A mouse that sticks and cannot work properly is because of dust or dirt in the  mouse.Generally optical mouse don’t have this type of problem compared to scroll mouse which has a mouse ball in it.

The procedure for cleaning a mouse is outlined below:

1. Switch off the computer and unplug the mouse. 
2.  Remove the cover and take the ball out. 
3. Use soft tissue to clean the mouse ball. 
4. Now look at the bottom of the mouse, there are three rollers within the mouse casing. we have to clean dust and hairs from these rollers. Rubbing spirit also gives good results. 
5. After cleaning of dust and dirt from the rollers and the ball. put the ball back in the mouse and replace the cover turning clockwise to lock it in the right place.
6. Turn on the computer now. your mouse should be as good as a new one. 7. If you have an optical mouse then just clean the sensors of the bottom of mouse. just polish the sensor with a soft cloth and remember to keep mouse pad clean. 

Installing a Mouse

A mouse or trackball connects to the computer through either a PS/2 or USB port, which in recent years have replaced the older serial port pointing devices. If the computer does not have USB ports but has PS/2, you can still connect a USB mouse or trackball by using a USB-to-PS/2 adapter.

Step 1. Shut down your computer. If you are using a PS/2 mouse or trackball, shut down Windows and turn off your computer. If you are connecting a USB device, the computer does not have to be turned off, but it's still a good idea to do so, especially because connecting a device often means you must move the computer case so you can get to the back. 

 Step 2. Unplug the other cables (optional). If you find it difficult to access the PS/2 or USB port because of all the other cables on the back of the computer, you may need to unplug them. On many computers the connections are color-coded, as shown in the figure.

Step 3. Install the wireless device batteries. If you are connecting a wireless mouse or trackball, follow the vendor directions and insert the batteries into the device, making sure to correctly orient the positive (+) and negative (-) ends of the batteries in the battery compartment.

Step 4. Set the wireless device channels. For a wireless mouse or trackball to work, the receiver and device must be set to the same frequency channel. Sometimes, there's a small A-B or 1-2 switch on each component that must be set the same. In other cases, there's a Connect button you press once the device is connected and the computer is turned on. For the specifics on your device, check your manual.

Step 5a. Plug in the USB device. If you are installing a USB mouse or trackball, connect it to a USB port on the back, front, or side of your computer.

If you have a USB keyboard, most include extra ports on either side for connecting other USB devices, including your mouse or trackball. USB ports are notched on one side, so the plug must be correctly oriented.

Step 5b. Plug in the PS/2 device. If you are installing a PS/2 mouse or trackball, connect it to the PS/2 mouse port on the back of the computer, being careful not to confuse the port with the PS/2 keyboard port. If you do  accidentally reverse the connection, your computer won't be damaged, but your keyboard and pointing device won't work. As you plug in your device, make sure to properly orient the PS/2 pins with the port.

Step 5c. Plug in the wireless receiver. If you have a wireless mouse or trackball, connect the device receiver to either the USB or PS/2 port, as described in step 5a or 5b. For the wireless pointing device to work properly, the receiver should be positioned away from your monitor, large metal objects, or florescent lights, as they all can interfere with the wireless signal.

Step 6. Reconnect other cables. With the pointing device connected, reconnect any other cables that you unplugged.

Step 7. Install The Device Driver.

A device driver is a small program that tells Windows how to control a particular piece of hardware. For devices such as printers and scanners, drivers are a necessity that you install from a CD that's included with the device, but with pointing devices, things are a bit different. Because the mouse is such an important part of your system, Windows includes generic drivers that work with most mice and trackballs. This means you can connect the device, turn on your computer, and your mouse or trackball works without installing any extra software from the vendor CD.

For a simple mouse or trackball that doesn't have extra buttons or options, the default drivers that Windows installs are fine. However, if the pointing device includes extra features, We may have to install the drivers included on the vendor disc, to access those features.

Mouse failure – Symptoms and Troubleshooting

The Mouse is a device which is most frequently used in a computer and prone to certain routine problems. Most of the times repair may not be really practical, replacement is typically the best option.