How to Connect a Wireless Mouse to a Laptop
Since technology is advancing day-by-day, computer accessories are being made to function without any wires. A perfect example to be considered here is a wireless mouse. A cordless mouse is a good accessory for a person who is a frequent traveler and wants to use the laptop quite often. While using it on a desktop at home, this device also helps in keeping the table cord-free and neat. A wireless mouse works in the same manner as any cordless device, by sending and receiving radio frequency signals to and from the primary equipment and a transreceiver. The best wireless mouse for laptops are manufactured by Logitech, HP, Microsoft, just to name the major ones.
Parts of a Wireless Mouse
Though connecting a wireless mouse to a laptop may seem complicated, it is quite easy. The setup consists of some parts which primarily include the transmitter and transreceiver. The transmitter is not visible and is fitted in the mouse body itself, much like in the cell phone. The transreceiver may come in different packages. The latest ones are very tiny or are in the shape of a pen drive, whereas the earlier ones were of the size of the mouse. In a majority of wireless mouse packages, there is a CD included, which consists of the essential drivers required for the operating system to recognize the device. Now as you are aware of the parts, let us get to know how to set up a wireless mouse on your laptop.
Connecting a Wireless Mouse to a Laptop
Open the package, and find and insert the batteries into the base of the mouse. See to it that the batteries are inserted according to the appropriate terminals in the chamber. Now, you need to find the transreceiver which would generally be like a pen drive or even like the USB end of the pen drive in modern mouse models. Insert the transreceiver into an empty USB port, after which you need to find the 'On' button located on it. Note that the 'On' button would be located on the mouse as well. Since the button on the mouse might be too tiny or in a closed space, you would need to use a paper clip or pen to push it. You have to activate both the mouse and transreceiver for the setup to function properly. Press the 'On' buttons on both the devices and then restart the system.
If the pack comes with a CD, you need to insert the disc and install the drivers onto the computer. Here, drivers are important to enable communication between the mouse, transceiver, and the OS. After the CD is inserted in the drive, the interface itself will guide you through the process of installation. After having the drivers installed, you might be asked for a system restart for activating the new wireless devices.
If you have purchased a latest mouse, you would not need to worry about installing the drivers. In such cases, the mouse will start functioning as soon as it detects the transceiver. Make sure that the distance between the mouse and the transreceiver is not more than nine feet. This is believed to be the normal range of a wireless mouse though. Nevertheless, modern wireless mouse found today come incorporated with the 2.4 GHz wireless technology, which provides an extended range of about 30 feet.
If you are thinking of going wireless for your home-office computing solutions, it is a good idea to purchase a combo pack which also comes with a compatible keyboard. If you are out of USB ports on your desktop computer, you can use an external USB hub. After you are done using the wireless mouse, simply put it off, remove the transceiver, and tuck it back into the base of the mouse. Since these mouse are smaller than traditional wired ones, they are easy to carry and store.
