Mouse gets erratic.

[Richard Sinkler]

Any time I connect something, like external hard drive, to a USB3 port on my computer, my mouse either stops working or jumps around the screen when try to move the cursor. Plugging into a USB2 port does not have this issue. My mouse is only a couple months old and drivers are current. I have the mouse/keyboard USB thingie (receiver) in a USB2 port. It's happened with other mice I have used so it's not a brand issue.

Not a real big problem, just curious as to why.

[Howard Parker]

There may be a conflict with that particular USB port.

h

[Erv Niehaus]

I had that problem some years ago.
If I remember right, it was some sort of virus.
Chances are, that's not your problem though.

[Jim Fogle]

It could be weak mouse batteries. It could be the computer assigns the new device to the same interrupt in the operating system. It could be there are too many wireless devices active at the same time. The first is most likely while the next two are not very likely.

One thing you can do is always plug the mouse receiver into the same usb port and don't plug anything else into that usb port. When a mouse receiver gets moved around from usb port to usb port Windows makes a copy of the mouse driver for each usb port. After awhile, when you plug in a new device Windows may look at multiple usb ports.

[Richard Sinkler]

It could be weak mouse batteries. It could be the computer assigns the new device to the same interrupt in the operating system. It could be there are too many wireless devices active at the same time. The first is most likely while the next two are not very likely.

One thing you can do is always plug the mouse receiver into the same usb port and don't plug anything else into that usb port. When a mouse receiver gets moved around from usb port to usb port Windows makes a copy of the mouse driver for each usb port. After awhile, when you plug in a new device Windows may look at multiple usb ports.

The mouse receiver never gets moved from one port to another (plugged into a USB 2 port). It is always in the same port. New batteries makes no difference. My current keyboard and mouse are rechargeable, so no batteries. Happens on a full charge. If I move the thumb drive or external drive into a USB 2 port (even though they are USB 3 compatible) the problem goes away. And it's not always the same external USB. And, it's not mouse specific. My current mouse, Microsoft Mouse, and Logitech mice all do the same. It's only when plugging something into a USB 3 port.

[Jim Fogle]

Strange issue. As described my guess is either the computer motherboard is not correctly handling the addition of more devices on the motherboard or the power supply +5vdc is dropping.

Do you have a main brand computer or custom build?

[Dave Mudgett]

From everything you've described, it sounds to me that perhaps the USB3 port interrupts get priority over USB2 interrupts. This is from the fact that you only have the problem with something plugged into the USB3 port. And something like a thumb drive is gonna be active a lot. I interpreted this - "Plugging into a USB2 port does not have this issue." - to mean plugging the thumb drive into the USB2 port takes problem away. I suppose it's possible that this type of behavior could be from hardware, but I would think that would be OS-specific - i.e., how does the OS handle the interrupts. I could see a rationale for wanting to prioritize USB3, but it strikes me offhand that the likelihood this type of behavior would be a good reason not to do that unequivocally.

[Richard Sinkler]

Strange issue. As described my guess is either the computer motherboard is not correctly handling the addition of more devices on the motherboard or the power supply +5vdc is dropping.

Do you have a main brand computer or custom build?

It's an Acer desktop, i3 processor, 32gb ram, Intel Optane memory , 2tb hard drive. It has 4 USB-2 ports (black) and 3 USB-3 (blue) on the rear panel, and 1 Red USB port and 1 USB-C port on the front. It is max, 5 years old.

[Lee Baucum]

The Erratic Mice - Good name for a band...

[Jim Fogle]

Dave, Great idea. Wish I'd thought of it first!

[Richard Sinkler]

The Erratic Mice - Good name for a band...

I like it. I might change my stage name from "Rusty Strings" to "The Erratic Mouse".

[Jim Fogle]

Richard,

Did you resolve the mouse issue?

[Richard Sinkler]

Nope. I gave up and don't use the USB3 sockets. I even bought a new keyboard and mouse and it still happens.

[Jim Fogle]

Wow, that's tough. I'm glad you have enough USB2 sockets to allow you to not use the USB3.

Once pc computers advanced to the point where having both keyboard and mouse inputs were common I'm surprised nobody thought to combine the two into one USB connection. It would seem rather easy to have the two data lines terminate into one serial controller that would identify the component and then pass through the data from each component. It's not as big a deal now as it use to be when computers only has a few USB ports.

Another thought is it would be nice if one power cord connection could split off and power both the cpu and monitor power supplies.

[Richard Sinkler]

Wow, that's tough. I'm glad you have enough USB2 sockets to allow you to not use the USB3.

Once pc computers advanced to the point where having both keyboard and mouse inputs were common I'm surprised nobody thought to combine the two into one USB connection. It would seem rather easy to have the two data lines terminate into one serial controller that would identify the component and then pass through the data from each component. It's not as big a deal now as it use to be when computers only has a few USB ports.

Another thought is it would be nice if one power cord connection could split off and power both the cpu and monitor power supplies.

My mouse and keyboard have the same USB receiver.

[Jim Fogle]

Ha Ha. I was thinking about wired connections and did not think of wireless keyboards and mouses.
I've had a couple of wireless mouses and keyboards, both cheap no names and name brands and have never been satisfied with the performance of any I've had. As you pointed out in this thread they can become erratic for no known reason. I gave up on wireless and continue to use a wired keyboard and mouse on my desktop and the built-in keyboard and trackpad on my laptop.

You took the time and made the effort to try and figure out what is going on and for that you have my admiration. Using the USB3 port triggers the issue is something I've never heard of.