Question No Mouse Function: A Real Head Scratcher!

[Ken Anderson]

Okay so I’ve been trying to fix this for 2 days now, and I’m completely stumped!

3 nights ago I was streaming from Hulu while straightening up the house when my computer froze. It froze so bad that literally everything stopped: mouse, keyboard, even the power button on the tower. I had to literally unplug the computer from the power cord to get it to go off. When it started back up (amazingly), everything was working except my mouse.

My keyboard is wired but it worked. Everything else worked except the mouse. I inserted a flash drive to make a backup copy of all my data but that didn’t connect either! I know you’re thinking it was obviously a USB issue or a USB driver issue, but I think not. Read on, because this is where it gets weird.

I removed the mouse’s dongle and tested it in another computer and it works perfectly. Come back to my main computer and it still didn’t work. I tried other ports and none worked. So I inserted my restore drive not really thinking because the USB ports weren’t working… but it did work!!! Okay, so maybe the problem was the driver but again, troubleshooting solved nothing. I restored my system and kept all my files. When it came back, still no mouse. So I did a clean reset. Still nothing!!!

I don’t even have “mouse and other pointing devices” listed in the device manager. I’d assume it’s a driver but all the other devices work. So I went and bought a wired mouse because even if I can bypass the problem, at least I could still work from my desktop until I can solve the problem, but that didn’t work either!

I’m approaching dangerously close to the extent of my knowledge here and I can’t find anything online about this problem. Would I be safe to assume it is a bios or a motherboard issue? I have an Asus ROG Strix B-450F motherboard, AMD Ryzen cpu and nvidia graphics card. SSD main hard drive, two internal backups, a NAS and a “server” on a raspberry pi.

Any suggestions? I’m at my wit’s end over this… I need my computer to run my new small business. Thank you in advance for any help you might have!!!

 

[Aeacus]

Would I be safe to assume it is a bios or a motherboard issue?

Not before you've ruled out software issue (which it most likely is).

To rule out software issue completely:
* unplug all other drives, except OS drive
* format your OS drive
* make a clean OS installation

This will get rid of all and any software issues, including bloatware and most of malware (except rootkits). Also is the fastest.

For more long-winded approach, you could try fixing it without clean OS install. But finding the actual needle in a haystack is one big ordeal.

For example, when you boot to BIOS, does your mouse pointer appear in BIOS?
Since if it does, it isn't hardware issue, but instead OS issue.

Another option is to boot into Safe Mode and look if your mouse pointer appears when in Safe Mode.
If it does, then OS kernel, for the most part is okay and issue is with 3rd party software.

My best guess, you have OS corruption. And when you're running Win (you didn't say if you're running Win, GNU/Linux or MacOS), there are CMD commands you can run, in hopes to fixing Win corruption.

 

[Ken Anderson]

Not before you've ruled out software issue (which it most likely is).

To rule out software issue completely:
* unplug all other drives, except OS drive
* format your OS drive
* make a clean OS installation

This will get rid of all and any software issues, including bloatware and most of malware (except rootkits). Also is the fastest.

For more long-winded approach, you could try fixing it without clean OS install. But finding the actual needle in a haystack is one big ordeal.

For example, when you boot to BIOS, does your mouse pointer appear in BIOS?
Since if it does, it isn't hardware issue, but instead OS issue.

Another option is to boot into Safe Mode and look if your mouse pointer appears when in Safe Mode.
If it does, then OS kernel, for the most part is okay and issue is with 3rd party software.

My best guess, you have OS corruption. And when you're running Win (you didn't say if you're running Win, GNU/Linux or MacOS), there are CMD commands you can run, in hopes to fixing Win corruption.

Yes, Windows 10 (sorry, meant to say that must have forgotten). Safe mode was the same thing. No mouse in bios either. I ran these commands in Powershell:

dism /online /cleanup-image /CheckHealth
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
sfc /scannow

Even a clean install hasn’t solved the problem. I wiped everything and started new.

 

[Aeacus]

Even a clean install hasn’t solved the problem. I wiped everything and started new.

Then, the issue is with hardware. Most likely MoBo is acting up.

Oh, PSU make and model (or part number) is? Also, how old the PSU is, and was the PSU bought new or used/refurbished?

 

[Ken Anderson]

Then, the issue is with hardware. Most likely MoBo is acting up.

Oh, PSU make and model (or part number) is? Also, how old the PSU is, and was the PSU bought new or used/refurbished?

PSU was purchased new, Corsair. I will get info asap I’m not 100% sure give me a few minutes.

About 3 years ago.

 

[Aeacus]

Corsair. I will get info asap I’m not 100% sure give me a few minutes.

Model would be important since Corsair sells PSUs from great quality to all the way to low quality. Corsair even used to sell complete crap quality PSUs as well.

 

[stonecarver]

https://www.amazon.com/MZHOU-Express-Expansion-Connect-Expanded/dp/B09WYHRPTT/ref=sr_1_4?crid=17KRNA1F6D9QS&keywords=pci%2Busb%2B3.0%2Bcard&qid=1701030200&sprefix=pci%2BUSb%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-4&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/YEELIYA-PCI-7-Port-USB-C-USB/dp/B08PF8XR73/ref=sr_1_3?crid=17KRNA1F6D9QS&keywords=pci+usb+3.0+card&qid=1701030200&sprefix=pci+USb%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/FebSmart-Self-Powered-Technology-No-Additional-FS-U2-Pro/dp/B071P5C6CS/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=17KRNA1F6D9QS&keywords=pci%2Busb%2B3.0%2Bcard&qid=1701030200&sprefix=pci%2BUSb%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/FebSmart-Self-Powered-Technology-No-Additional-FS-U4-Pro/dp/B072LS4JH7/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=17KRNA1F6D9QS&keywords=pci%2Busb%2B3.0%2Bcard&qid=1701030200&sprefix=pci%2BUSb%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

It's a Band-Aid but would get you up and running.

 

[Aeacus]

It's a Band-Aid but would get you up and running.

I'm skeptical about it since issue isn't with USB ports themselves, but more like MoBo's inability to detect specific hardware.

 

[Ken Anderson]

Sorry for the delay... I was on my way home. This PSU was purchased NEW on 6/11/2019 Corsair RM750x 750 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply 2018

 

[Ken Anderson]

https://www.amazon.com/MZHOU-Express-Expansion-Connect-Expanded/dp/B09WYHRPTT/ref=sr_1_4?crid=17KRNA1F6D9QS&keywords=pci%2Busb%2B3.0%2Bcard&qid=1701030200&sprefix=pci%2BUSb%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-4&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/YEELIYA-PCI-7-Port-USB-C-USB/dp/B08PF8XR73/ref=sr_1_3?crid=17KRNA1F6D9QS&keywords=pci+usb+3.0+card&qid=1701030200&sprefix=pci+USb%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/FebSmart-Self-Powered-Technology-No-Additional-FS-U2-Pro/dp/B071P5C6CS/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=17KRNA1F6D9QS&keywords=pci%2Busb%2B3.0%2Bcard&qid=1701030200&sprefix=pci%2BUSb%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/FebSmart-Self-Powered-Technology-No-Additional-FS-U4-Pro/dp/B072LS4JH7/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=17KRNA1F6D9QS&keywords=pci%2Busb%2B3.0%2Bcard&qid=1701030200&sprefix=pci%2BUSb%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

It's a Band-Aid but would get you up and running.

I actually have one card in a PCIe slot and another expansion added to the drive slot in the front of the tower. They also don't recognize wireless or wired mouse. As far as flash drives: the computer recognizes flash drives I bought at Micro Center, but don't recognize Sandisk drives.

I think, with this information, the mobo is the likely culprit. I even inserted the dongle into the native mobo USB ports and they don't recognize them.

I wonder if my NVIDIA card may have caused the initial issue... you're gonna love this! I purchased that in 2011. So long ago that I can't even pull the purchase receipt as MC only goes back to 2014. Might be time to retire it as I'm sure native GPUs in mobo are likely as good or better now.

 

[punkncat]

"inserted my restore drive and it worked"

Does this unit have a supplemental power supply?

 

[Ken Anderson]

"inserted my restore drive and it worked"

Does this unit have a supplemental power supply?

Yes- but it worked in all the USB ports: supplementally powered and not.

 

[punkncat]

Yes- but it worked in all the USB ports: supplementally powered and not.

I find that aspect odd in that the expectation was that perhaps something has happened with the power to be supplied to the USB port.

Have you tested the power supply on this unit?

 

[Aeacus]

This PSU was purchased NEW on 6/11/2019 Corsair RM750x

Corsair RMx is good quality PSU and it isn't that old either. So, suspicion of PSU acted up, thus damaged the MoBo, is low. Still, everything is possible.
Though, i still can't figure out why your PC completely froze, while recovering almost completely, expect inability to use USB mice.

Checked your MoBo a bit and i see that your MoBo has PS/2 combo port. Now, if you could get your hands on PS/2 mouse, it could work without issues. PS/2 hardware works on completely different priority level than USB devices. At least, it would be worth a try + PS/2 mice are cheap. 10 bucks or so;
amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Perixx-Perimice-209-Wired-Mouse-Resolution/dp/B07WV55HZD

 

[Ken Anderson]

As upsetting as it is, I think I need to just bite the bullet & buy a new mobo. I build graphics for a living so I guess it's a good way to write off as a business expense. Shame: I really loved that computer I hope I can find one compatible with my CPU as it was of pretty good quality when I bought it.