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_/_ UG Library _/_ Fermoyle_/_ About Ken Fermoyle
by Ken Fermoyle
Some months back I wrote two articles (Keep It Clean, Parts
1 & 2) about the importance of keeping your computer
clean to keep it operating properly. They obviously struck a nerve because they have
been among the most widely reprinted and requested Ken's Korner columns to date.
I just had an experience that underscored the cleanliness message, one that involved
a vital part of any computer system: the mouse or other pointing device. Since those
earlier articles didn't cover the care and cleaning of mice, I thought it would be
good to share my experience with you.
(Actually, I use a Logitech TrackMan trackball, not a mouse, but the problem and
cleaning procedure outlined below are similar for either type of pointing device.)
Over a period of several weeks I noticed the trackball was getting balkier, making
it harder and harder to drag the cursor into position. Finally it got so bad I had
to struggle to move the cursor at all. "Oh-oh," I said to myself, "
I hope it's not time to buy a new trackball." The Logitech device was several
years old and had been used a lot, so I thought it might well need replacement. Then
I remembered the mantra that Dennis Orloff of the ComputerBath line of maintenance
products (www.computerbath.com) chants at every opportunity: "It's not broken,
it's dirty!
Since he's right about 70% of the time, I decided to check first to see whether the
trackball was just dirty. When I took it apart I was amazed at how much dirt had
accumulated inside the poor critter. It wasn't just dust or loose dirt, either. There
was a buildup of grime and a sort of lint, especially around the small ball contacts
or rollers inside the ball cage. It was obvious that the crud was keeping the trackball
marble from making proper contact with the rollers. The result, difficulty in moving
the cursor, would be the same for an equally dirty mouse.
I cleaned everything thoroughly, and presto...it was like I had a brand-new trackball!
Here was more proof of the need for keeping things clean as part of computer maintenance.
The procedure was simple, took just about 10 or 15 minutes, and saved me some bucks.
So it's worth your while to see if cleaning will fix a balky pointing device before
you toss it out and buy a new one. What you really should do, in fact, is clean your
mouse or trackball periodically, and not wait for it to get as dirty and hard to
use as mine was.
Here's how you do it.
First, if you have a manual for your mouse or trackball, dig it out. (Note: You should
always keep manuals and documents for ALL hardware and software.) Read it. It may
show a diagram or cutaway, and possibly instructions, that will make the cleaning
job easier for you. The only tool you may need is a small screwdriver, probably a
phillips-head type. You will also need a clean, lint-free cloth, foam-tipped swabs
(less apt to leave lint than cotton swabs, as I was reminded by reader Bob Clyne,
Southeastern Michigan Computer Organization) and a mild soap solution. Small tweezers,
isopropyl alcohol (99% pure, not rubbing alcohol which contains things like skin
lubricants) and a toothpick may be useful, too . I find it convenient for jobs like
this to keep screws and other small parts in an old ashtray, which also can serve
as a tool rest.
Next, clean the mouse or trackball exterior and cord with a cloth moistened in a
mild soap solution; wipe dry. Then turn the device upside down and remove mouse ball
retainer plate or trackball bottom cover. Usually the retainer plate can simply be
rotated and lifted out. Some older mice and most trackballs have screws holding the
plate or bottom cover in place. Remove the ball carefully.
Clean ball with the moistened cloth, wipe with dry cloth and set it aside. (Make
sure it is completely dry before reassembling.) I blew loose dirt out of the ball
cage with a compressed air duster, held some distance away to lessen the impact.
Be careful here so that you don't damage any components. In my case, I had to use
a toothpick and tweezers to dislodge some of the matted lint around the contacts
in the ball cage. A cotton swab lightly moistened with alcohol may also be helpful
for cleaning rollers or contacts and the inside of the ball cage.
When cleaning mice, take a close look at the rollers inside. (Most have three, some
just two.) You will probably see dark lines of dirt that have built up over time.
Work a cotton swab moistened just slightly with rubbing alcohol along each roller,
rubbing side to side until the line of dirt is gone.
Once everything is squeaky clean, place the ball back in the ball cage and replace
the retainer plate or bottom cover. That's it; you're done, and your mouse or trackball
should be as good as new.
Ken
(Author's Note: I want to give credit to Earthlink Network, www.earthlink.net,
source of much of the information contained above. Its site deserves regular visits
because it contains a lot of useful Web-oriented information that is updated frequently.)
UG Network _/_ UG Library _/_ Fermoyle_/_ About Ken Fermoyle
Ken Fermoyle has written some 2,500 articles for publications ranging from Playboy, PC World and Popular Science to MacWeek & Microtimes. He was cohost/producer of a radio show on computers and a partner in a DTP service bureau during the '80s. Ken's Korner articles are available free to User Group newsletters and Websites. For permission to reprint this article, contact kfermoyle@earthlink.net.
EDITORS NOTE: Only UGNN Affiliate User Groups are granted a one-time reproduction license of this article so long as the unaltered credit/ID paragraph (above) is published with the article, and a copy of the printed article is mailed to
Fermoyle Publication
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Woodland Hills, CA 91364-3005.
Contact: kfermoyle@earthlink.net for further information
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