[woodwork]

I had to reinstall Windows XP in order to fix a previous problem. The installation seemed to proceed without any trouble. However, immediately after the reinstallation, whenever I attempt to boot up, the mouse (USB optical) which previously was fine, is inoperative. At the end of the boot up a screen appears which says,
"The feature is on a CD ROM or other removable disk that is not available. Insert status disk and click ok."'
I don't know what disk is required. Trying the Windows XP disk in the D drive did not help.
If I click OK the following screen comes up,
"..........try to find the installation package status.msi in a folder from which you can install the product Status."
There is nothing wrong with the USB port. Another mouse which works on another computer also fails. With the limited function I have using the keyboard everything else seems intact. I am submitting this post on another computer.
I have no idea how to fix this problem

[kniht]

Do you have an HP printer? If so insert the HP cd in your cdrom drive and direct the 'browse' selection to the status.msi. HP may want you to update but don't. The update causes problems.

[woodwork]

I do have an HP 4700 series printer and an HP 4300 series all-in-one fax machine. The former is wireless, the later is connected via USB. Inexplicably, when I restarted the computer to attempt to implement your suggestion, the screen with the "....Insert Status disk" message failed to appear. During all my previous shut downs and restarts it always did come up. Of course, the mouse is still deader than a door nail.

[kniht]

Have you tried the mouse on a different USB port?

[woodwork]

Thank you for the quick reply. I have tried other USB ports without success - including a port where a wireless adapter is working ok. An interesting observation that I neglected to mention. When I boot from the Windows XP disk in the D drive the optical mouse does light up briefly, which it does not do when I boot up from the hard drive.

[kniht]

Are you able to open Device Manager and take a look at your mouse and driver?

If you have no mouse you can use the shortcut keys:



Press Win key + R - opens 'Run'.

In 'Run' type - devmgmt.msc and press 'Enter'.

In Device Manager press the F6 key.

Now use the down arrow key to navigate to 'mice and other pointing devices'.

When on 'mice and other pointing devices' press the 'right' arrow key to open the sub menu.

Use the 'down' arrow key to select the mouse.

Press alt + Enter to display 'Properties'. While here see if the 'device is working properly'.

Hold down the 'ctrl' key and use the 'tab' key to go to the 'Driver' tab.

Press the 'tab' key to move to the 'Uninstall' button.

Press 'Enter'.

In the warning window that opens 'OK' should already be selected, press 'Enter'.

Press the 'Win' key to bring up the start menu.

Use the 'Up'/'Down' arrow keys to select 'Turn off computer'.

Press 'Enter'.

In the window that opens use the 'Right' arrow key to select 'Turn off'.

Press 'Enter'.

Reboot and Windows should reinstall the driver.

[woodwork]

Thanks for your patience. I was able to open device manager. The device list includes; computer,disk drives, display adapter, DVD/CD drives, floppy disk controller, IDE/ATA controller, Imaging, keyboards, monitors, network adapter, ports (com&LPT), processors, sound video, storage volumes, system devices and USB controllers - but no Mice and other pointing devices, even when I expand "system devices". The USB controllers are said to be working properly. I was able to open the mouse icon in "control panel" which led to a screen labeled "Mouse properties" but this screen had no tab for "driver". Interestingly, the tab for "hardware" on this screen has a box which is supposed to list the mouse and this box is empty. The headings under "Device properties" on this screen are blank. Incidentally, I did try the mouse on a working computer and it works ok.

[kniht]

Using the same keyboard tricks go to your Control Panel and click on Mouse. If anything is listed there you can open properties.

[woodwork]

I missed that option before as I was looking at the screen that came up when I clicked on Mouse in control panel. I just tried using the tab key. Unfortunately when I click on properties there is no response at all.

[kniht]

Can you navigate to 'Add Hardware' and see if Windows will pick up the mouse?

[woodwork]

Hurray, success at last. I can't thank you enough.
Woodwork

[kniht]

Great! I'm glad you got it fixed.