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HP Pavilion a6300f Desktop PC Troubleshooting

Mouse Features and Settings (Windows Vista)

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This document explains how to use and set mouse features within the Windows Vista environment.

Using the mouse

The mouse is a hand-held device used to work within the Windows environment. Following are the basic mouse functions:
  • Point to and select objects on the screen.
  • Select and/or move data or files by dragging and dropping.
  • Execute programs and shortcuts, or open files.
  • Scroll application windows or web pages by clicking and holding a scroll bar or by moving the mouse wheel (third button wheel on some mouse models).

Mouse pointer

The mouse pointer is the graphic image of the cursor displayed onscreen when the mouse is active. As the pointer moves over different objects, the image changes to reflect the associated function. For example, the standard pointing image isNormal Select. However, when the computer is processing a command, Busy displays on the screen. See Changing mouse pointer icons for steps to customize mouse pointer images.
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Mouse clicks

Following are the types of mouse clicks:
  • Click - single press on the left mouse button; selects data and performs commands.
  • Double-click - two rapid presses on the left mouse button; opens files or folders, opens shortcuts (a double-click must be two clicks in rapid succession or it may be interpreted as two single clicks). See Adjusting double-click speed for steps to adjust the double-click speed.
  • Right-click - one press on the right mouse button (also know as alternate clicking ); displays shortcut menus and drop-down menus. In some applications, right-clicking a menu item can access contextual information or help specific to the menu item.
  • Drag-and-drop or select - press and hold on the left mouse button. Within text, using the select feature, text is selected or highlighted. On the file and folder level, using drag-and-drop, files or folders can be moved:
    • From one folder to another
    • To the desktop
    • From the desktop to a folder
    • From any location to the Recycle Bin
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Mouse wheel

The mouse wheel provides vertical scrolling and panning functions in applications with active scroll bars. Roll the mouse wheel up or down to scroll, or activate panning by pressing the mouse wheel.
Some mouse wheels have tilt-wheel functionality that allows a horizontal action. Tilt the wheel to the left or right to move horizontally within text.
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Customizing mouse functions

The mouse buttons can be customized and adjusted. This section describes how to:
  • Change the mouse pointer icon
  • Change the mouse pointer speed
  • Adjust the mouse for left or right hand use
  • Adjust the mouse double-click speed
  • Change whether folders open with a single or a double-click

Changing mouse pointer icons

To change the mouse pointer (cursor) image:
  1. Click Start , Control Panel .
  2. Under Hardware and Sound , click Mouse .
    The Mouse Properties dialog opens, where most mouse properties can be changed.
  3. Click the Pointers tab.
    Figure 1: Pointers tab, Mouse Properties
  4. Click the pointer function to select it (Normal Select is selected in Figure 1) and click Browse to choose a new pointer image.
    To change the entire scheme of pointers, click the down arrow in the Scheme field and select a new pointer scheme from the list.
  5. Click Apply and click OK.
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Changing mouse pointer speed

Use these steps to change the mouse pointer speed:
  1. Click Start , Control Panel .
  2. Under Hardware and Sound , click Mouse .
    The Mouse Properties dialog opens.
  3. Click the Pointer Options tab.
    Figure 2: Pointer Options tab, Mouse Properties
  4. In the Motion field, click and hold the slide bar while moving the mouse to the right or left, to adjust the mouse speed (see Figure 2).
  5. Click Apply , and then click OK .
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Adjusting mouse for right- or left-hand use

Use the following steps to adjust the mouse for right- or left-hand use:
  1. Click Start , Control Panel .
  2. Under Hardware and Sound , click Mouse .
    The Mouse Properties dialog opens.
  3. Click the Buttons tab.
    Figure 3: Buttons tab, Mouse Properties
  4. In the Button configuration field, select Switch primary and secondary buttons to switch to left-hand use (see Figure 3).
    NOTE:If Switch primary and secondary buttons is already selected unselect it to return to right-hand use.
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Adjusting double-click speed

Use these steps to adjust the mouse double-click speed. If you prefer to open desktop folders with a single-click rather than a double-click, see the next section, Specifying a single- or double-click to open folders .
  1. Click Start , Control Panel .
  2. Under Hardware and Sound , click Mouse .
    The Mouse Properties dialog opens.
  3. Click the Buttons tab (see Figure 3).
  4. In the Double-click speed field, click and hold the slide bar while moving the mouse to the right or left, to adjust the double-click speed (see Figure 3). Test the adjusted speed by double-clicking the folder to the right of the slide bar (see Figure 4).
    Figure 4: Double-click speed test
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Specifying a single- or double-click to open folders

Choose to open folders and files on your desktop with the following steps.
  1. Click Start , Control Panel , and then Appearance and Personalization .
  2. Under Folder Options , click specify single- or double-click to open .
    The Folder Options window opens.
  3. Click the General tab.
    Figure 5: General tab view, Folder Options
  4. Select Single-click to open an item (point to select) or Double-click, to open an item (single-click to select)
  5. Click Apply , and click OK .
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