A DOS mode mouse driver may be interfering with Windows mouse driver. If file autoexec.bat exists in root directory of C drive, open file in Windows Notepad and look for entries like Device=mouse.sys. If file config.sys exists in root directory of C drive, open file in Windows Notepad and look for entries like c:dosmouse.com. To disable statement type letters REM (for remark) in front of line.

If file System.ini exists in folder c:windows folder, open file in Windows Notepad and look in [boot] section for entry Mouse.drv= If file win.ini exists in folder c:windows folder, open file in Windows Notepad and look for entries like load= and run=. If a line refers to a mouse driver, disable statement by typing a semicolon (;) in front of line.

If you operating system is Windows 98/Me/2000, then you can use System Configuration utility and System Information utility to study startup configuration of your computer. To open System Configuration Utility, select Start | Run, and type c:windowssystemmsconfig. To open System Information Utility select Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools and click on System Information.

Check The Display Driver

Sometimes a mouse will work erratically because display driver is not working properly. The first thing you can do is disable graphics drivers hardware acceleration. Select Start | Settings | Control Panel, and open Display utility. In Display Properties dialog box, select Settings tab and click on Advanced... button.

In dialog box which appears, select Performance tab and move hardware acceleration slider control to None. If this doesn't solve problem you might try updating display driver. After locating a proper driver, this is done in same dialog box on Adapter tab by clicking Change button to open Update Device Driver Wizard.

Try a New Mouse

Most problems with mouse are caused by dirt or miscalibration. If cleaning mouse doesn't solve problem, procedures described above may guide you to source of problem. However, a computer mouse is a cheaply manufactured mechanical device. As such they don't last long. If nothing else works, maybe its time to retire that old mouse. ---------------------------------------------------------- Resource Box: Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on Web visit: http://bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank email to bucarotechelp-subscribe@topica.com

To bring up huge blocks of text quickly, it’s easier to use AutoText rather than a macro; not to mention that it’s faster now that AutoText can be called automatically and completed on fly - you can even launch them from a button. You don’t need a macro to save your page settings or to start off your commonly used documents anymore; you just simply create a template for that (or use one of templates that comes with Microsoft Word – like Letter Wizard). And if you want to copy text formatting to other blocks of text, you’ll use Format Painter … not a macro.

With all of these great tools that have replaced need to use macros for common tasks, last question is what exactly would you use them for nowadays? Though some may find a few isolated cases to use one, a macro is mainly a tool mainly for programmers. So unless you find yourself needing to create an automation solution in Visual Basic, macros should become a thing of past. But it’s nice to know that they’re available … just in case!