When you’re getting creative on your computer, it’s essential that your mouse is set up to be comfortable and efficient. Use this card to help you get the most out of your mouse.

YOUR MOUSE PROBLEMS SOLVED

My mouse doesn’t move smoothly and the cursor jumps. Why is this?

First check that the mouse is firmly connected to its correct socket on the PC or keyboard. If this doesn’t solve the problem, it’s likely that the area around the mouse ball needs cleaning. Turn the mouse upside down and clean away any visible dirt. Twist or slide the mouse ball cover to remove it and let the ball fall out into your hand. Carefully remove any fluff or dirt from the rollers inside – a cotton bud is good for this; don’t use anything sharp. Clean the mouse ball by dabbing it with sticky tape or running it under cold water. Dry the ball, replace it and click the cover back in place.

I don’t have much room to move my mouse. Is there an easy way to view documents without dragging the mouse down the scrollbar?

Yes – get a mouse with a wheel on it. To use the wheel, place the cursor anywhere on the document page on your screen, then rotate the mouse wheel with your finger to scroll through the rest of the document. Alternatively, if you find that using the mouse wheel is uncomfortable, press the wheel once and then drag the mouse so you can scroll through your documents with ease.

I’m left handed! Can I buy a left-handed mouse?

There’s no need to buy a new mouse – you can simply swap the button operations. Click Start, Control Panel then Printers and Other Hardware. Click Mouse (if you can’t find the icon switch to the Control Panel’s Classic View). Under Buttons, tick the box next to ‘Switch primary and secondary buttons’. Click the OK button. You can now use the right button to double-click and open files and programs.