Take my mouse..please!

April 2, 2008 3:56 PM

Help with Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse trouble..

So I have this wireless keyboard/mouse deal. It's similar to the current MX Cordless Desktop line, with a rechargeable mouse and a keyboard, but it's a couple of years old.

I'd been using it fine with my PS3 on the rare occasion that I needed a keyboard, but I haven't had it hooked up in a month or so. I finally got around to getting a docking station for my laptop so I can plug it into my TV and use it from the couch. Sadly, no go with the keyboard and mouse. Neither work.

I replaced the batteries on both the keyboard and mouse. The mouse's laser lights up just fine, so I know that at the very least one of them has working batteries. I press the connect button on the base station, followed by the connect button on the mouse, but hte mouse still doesn't work. I think the issue is with the base station, as it has no lights whatsoever, and I vaguely remember the connect button lighting up when pressed, and it should presumably be showing the status of the num lock and caps lock since it's plugged into the computer.

I tried plugging it into a different outlet, but that didn't do squat. Not that the power strip isn't known good, but still. ;)

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this thing work before I go spend a ridiculous amount of money buying a new one?

posted by wierdo to computers & internet (4 comments total)

Did you install the driver?
posted by doctor_negative at 5:06 PM on April 2

No, but the mouse should point without it, although the extra buttons won't work.
posted by wierdo at 5:34 PM on April 2

Gah! I'm an idiot. Your comment prompted me to look in the device manager, where I noticed that I had a "USB Web Cam" plugged in, not a mouse or keyboard or HID device. I guess it helps if you plug in the correct plug.

Maybe I should clean up the rat's nest so I don't look so stupid in the future! Either that or I can be mad at Sony for using USB instead of some proprietary plug for the PS3's peripherals. ;)
posted by wierdo at 5:39 PM on April 2

Just for the hell of it, I will through in my today's Logitech keyboard + mouse combo trouble..

I got an MX3200 combo at after Christmas sales this year, and I've been using the mouse just fine ever since. I had reason to use the keyboard yesterday, and I got no response. The keyboard was obviously working: the connect lite on the receiver blinked in acknowledgment when I hit connect on the keyboard, and the keystroke counter built onto the keyboard (ya, kind of dumb) was counting up for every button I pressed.

Turns out that the keyboard ships in security mode. You have to install the driver, connect the keyboard, and enter the security key sequence to get it to work. Once that is done, moving the receiver to a new machine works perfectly - no need to install the driver at every machine. You just have to get the receiver and keyboard on the same encryption key, or something, and all behaves exactly as it should.

The kind of thing you might call a feature, if they bothered documenting it :)
posted by Chuckles at 7:25 PM on April 2