KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q88428: Issues with Windows 3.0 and 8.0 Mouse Driver

Article: Q88428
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 03-OCT-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When installing the version 8.0 Microsoft Mouse driver in a computer running
Microsoft operating system version 3.0, two problems may occur:

- The version 8.0 mouse driver (MOUSE.COM) will not load in an MS-DOS session.

- If Microsoft Mouse software is installed in the root directory, incorrect
  information is written to the SYSTEM.INI file.

If you are using Windows 3.1, you should be using the updated drivers that came
with Windows, and not the 8.0 drivers.

MORE INFORMATION
================

8.0 Mouse Driver Will Not Load in an MS-DOS Session
---------------------------------------------------

The Microsoft Mouse driver (MOUSE.COM) version 8.0 cannot be started from inside
a Windows 3.0 MS-DOS session.

MOUSE.COM version 7.04, which is shipped with Windows 3.0, can be started this
way.

Workaround
----------

1. Load MOUSE.COM or MOUSE.SYS in the AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS file,
  respectively, at boot time.

  -or-

2. Run MOUSE.COM before starting Windows.

  -or-

3. Switch to the Mouse driver version 7.04 (this option is not available to
  Microsoft BallPoint mouse users).

If Mouse Software Is Installed in the Root Directory,
Incorrect Information Is Written to the SYSTEM.INI File
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you install the Microsoft Mouse driver 8.0 files to your root directory
without specifying a directory name, then Windows may return you to an MS-DOS
prompt after you type WIN to start Windows.

When installing the mouse driver software, make sure you put the files in a
directory other than your root directory. For example:

  C:\MOUSE

If you install the files in your root directory, for example

  C:\

it will add the following line(s) to the [boot] section of your SYSTEM.INI file:

  MOUSE.DRV=C:\\MOUSE.DRV or MOUSE.DRV=C:\\.DRV

Workaround
----------

Edit the [boot] section of your SYSTEM.INI file and remove one of the backslashes
(\).

REFERENCES
==========

README.TXT. Microsoft Mouse drivers, version 8.0, Disk 1.

Additional query words: 3.00 3.00a vm

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.