Any way to increase mouse tracking speed other than the regular System applet?

[RTAN]

Hi,

I run OS/2 Warp 3 on real hardware: an aging IBM PC 300GL.

I was previously using a Microsoft Home Mouse (serial) and it was fine, but I had to crank up the mouse tracking speed to maximum in the regular Mouse applet in the System settings.

I've subsequently swapped to a Microsoft Basic Mouse (PS/2) and the tracking speed is noticeably slower. So much so that even with tracking speed at maximum it moves really slowly across the screen.

I've re-run Selective Install and told it that I'm now using a PS/2 mouse instead of a Serial mouse but unfortunately that's made no difference.

Is anyone aware of any other method or application that will allow me to crank up the tracking speed *even more* than what the built-in Mouse control panel applet allows?

Many thanks,
Richard.

[Dave Yeo]

Try using AMouse, there's an older version on Hobbesarchive which says it runs on Warp. http://hobbesarchive.com/Home/Download?path=/Hobbes/pub/os2/system/drivers/mouse/Amouse_2-80.wpi.

[Lars]

Either David's suggestion or get

http://www.hobbesarchive.com/Home/Download?path=/Hobbes/pub/os2/system/drivers/mouse//IBM_Single_Mouse_10-163.zip

from hobbesarchive.com and install that (the install.exe is missing, just copy files manually or get an older version of single mouse from hobbesarchive)
and then try the "FORCEPS2PP" or "FORCEGENERIC" or "FORCEIM" parameters (without the quotes) on the mouse.sys commandline.

[RTAN]

Thank you both for taking the time to reply. Unfortunately IBM Single Mouse (any version) requires Warp 4 or greater.

I was able to download an older version of AMouse that installed on Warp 3 and whilst it offers some excellent customisation options for wheel mice it doesn't include any functionality to adjust the tracking speed.

If anyone has any other suggestions I'd be very grateful, otherwise I will simply revert to the Microsoft Home Mouse for now. I was previously using a Logitech PS/2 mouse without issue so perhaps this Microsoft one has just too low a dpi tracking rating for which the control panel slider can't compensate enough.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply!

Richard.

[Pete]

Hi

Does the PS/2 mouse work OK on other systems? - Just wondering about possible hardware fault(s) ...


Regards

Pete

[RTAN]

Thanks, yes it does. But on reflection I think the ball is gliding more than turning. Even though it’s brand new it’s a Microsoft ball mouse (new old stock) and I have a funny feeling it’s just not rotating properly. And that would of course cause exactly the problem I’m experiencing.

So I’ve reverted to my Logitech PS/2 optical mouse and will take advantage of AMouse to see if I can get the wheel working for scrolling.

Thanks!
Richard.

[Bogdan]

Thanks, yes it does. But on reflection I think the ball is gliding more than turning. Even though it’s brand new it’s a Microsoft ball mouse (new old stock) and I have a funny feeling it’s just not rotating properly. And that would of course cause exactly the problem I’m experiencing.

So I’ve reverted to my Logitech PS/2 optical mouse and will take advantage of AMouse to see if I can get the wheel working for scrolling.

Thanks!
Richard.

For Warp 3 systems it's more useful to use the IBM ScrollPoint mouse driver (https://public.dhe.ibm.com/ps/products/os2/os2ddpak_cur/scrollms.exe).

[RTAN]

Thanks Bogdan, I'll be sure to give that one a go!

[Martin Iturbide]

Hello Richard.

Sorry for going other path here. I remember that I used to give IT support to PC300GL long time ago. The device has USB 1.0 (or 1.1) ports on the back. I always wonder if those ports will work with Warp 3. Do you already have USB there? Do you think you want to give it a try for the older USB drivers? Is it a critical machine or you are fine playing with it?

According to the readme, the IBM USB Basic Stack Drivers 10.162, is supported for Warp 3. (But I'm sure some level of fixpack is required in Warp 3).
- https://hobbesarchive.com/?detail=/pub/os2/system/drivers/usb/IBM_USB_Base_Stack_10-162.zip

Regards

[RTAN]

Hi Martin,

Very interesting that you supported this series all those years ago!

I did a fresh install of OS/2 Warp 3 Connect followed by FixPak 40. I then installed the USB drivers from your link. Unfortunately the USV mouse would not work - in fact the USB light on the mouse didn't even come on. I know the USB ports work (well, at least the power part!) because I also have connected a pair of speakers which have a 3.5mm jack for the audio but take power from a USB socket. I temporarily disconnected the speaker USB connector to make sure it wasn't drawing all the power but sadly that didn't help :-(

Anyway, an interesting experiment!

Best wishes,
Richard.

[Martin Iturbide]

Hi.

Unfortunately the USV mouse would not work - in fact the USB light on the mouse didn't even come on. I know the USB ports work (well, at least the power part!) because I also have connected a pair of speakers which have a 3.5mm jack for the audio but take power from a USB socket.

Do you have USBMOUSE.SYS on your config.sys ?
- https://hobbesarchive.com/?detail=/pub/os2/system/drivers/mouse/IBM_USBMouse_10-57.zip
But it is a bad syndrome that the USB light of the mouse does not turn on. But maybe you just can give it try to see what happens.

Regards

[Andrew Stephenson]

A long shot... I suppose you've checked the mouse is free of dirt around the ball? When a mouse has started behaving weirdly here, it has usually been a case of popping the ball and cleaning the socket. Gunk can build up surprisingly fast. Of course, your mileage may differ. 

[RTAN]

Sorry Martin, I've wiped that installation now (rather than trying to "undo" the USB drivers) but I'll go back to it at a future date and update this posting if things change.

And thanks Andrew, I did check the ball and rollers - it was a brand new device so maybe the lubrication on the rollers has also dried up slightly (i.e. preventing them from rotating so smoothly). That would definitely explain how it sticks and pauses, but I think that in general it's just a dpi mismatch.

Best,
Richard.

[RTAN]

Do you have USBMOUSE.SYS on your config.sys ?

Hi Martin,

Well my curiosity got the better of me and I went back and tried this :-)

Thanks for the second link to the IBM USB Mouse drivers - I didn't have those. I installed those, verified that usbmouse.sys was in my config.sys, and rebooted.

This time the mouse lit-up and I could see it move on screen - hooray!

Well... not quite. Unfortunately the pointer would only move up and down, it would not move left or right!

Perhaps with more tinkering I could get it to work but I think I'll keep trying to track down a new-in-box optical IntelliMouse (PS/2 connection) :-)

Thanks anyway for the tip - I really appreciate it!

Best,
Richard.

[CalYY]

Forget about changing mouse drivers, all OS/2 ones are slow. Put this in startup.cmd:

d:\program\mouspeed 4 2 7 4

you can adjust the numbers for speed, acceleration