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Q309703: Bicycle Games: Disappearing or Flickering Mouse Pointer

Article: Q309703
Product(s): Microsoft Home Games
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbimu
Last Modified: 01-AUG-2002

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

- Microsoft Bicycle Board Games Version 1.5 
- Microsoft Bicycle Card Games Version 1.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

While playing Microsoft Bicycle Card games, you may experience the following
symptoms:

- Jerky pointer movement

- Disappearing mouse cursor

CAUSE
=====

This behavior can occur if both of the following conditions are true:

- Your computer does not meet the game requirements.

- You are using the Pointer Trails feature.

- You are using a non-standard pointer scheme.

- The video driver for your video adapter requires updating.

- The mouse drivers are outdated or corrupted.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this issue, use the following methods in the order that they are
presented.

NOTE: The following steps are lengthy, so you may wish to print them before you
begin.

Method 1: Check the Minimum Video, Processor, and RAM Requirements
------------------------------------------------------------------

Make sure that your computer exceeds the minimum video, processor, and RAM
requirements that you need to play Bicycle Card games. For additional
information about the minimum system requirements for Bicycle Card games, click
the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q309698 Bicycle Games: Minimum System Requirements

If your computer meets the game requirements, reduce your computer's hardware
acceleration settings.

Method 2: Disable Pointer Trails
--------------------------------

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following
steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product
documentation to complete these steps.

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click Mouse.

3. On the "Motion or Pointer Options" tab, click to clear the "Show pointer
  trails" or "Display pointer trails" check box, and then click OK.

If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Method 3: Change Pointer Scheme to Windows Standard or Default
--------------------------------------------------------------

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click Mouse.

3. Click the Pointer Options tab.

4. In the Scheme box, click Windows Standard or Windows Default, and then click
  OK.

If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Method 4: Set Hardware Acceleration to Basic
--------------------------------------------

Use the appropriate steps below for your version of Windows:

Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Millennium:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click System.

3. On the Performance tab, click Graphics.

  NOTE: The Hardware Acceleration slider has four settings. From left to right,
  they are: None, Basic, Most, and Full.

4. Move the Hardware Acceleration slider until it is one notch to the right of
  None (Basic).

5. Click OK, then click Close.

6. Click Yes to restart your computer.

Windows 2000 and Windows XP:

1. Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.

2. On the Settings tab, click Advanced.

3. On the Troubleshooting tab, move the Hardware Acceleration slider until it is
  one notch to the right of None (Basic).

4. Click Apply, and then click OK.

5. Close the Display Properties window.

If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Method 5: Install an Updated Video Driver
-----------------------------------------

A driver is software that your operating system uses to communicate with a piece
of hardware that is installed in your computer. Most video adapter manufacturers
release updated versions of their video drivers on a regular basis.

An updated driver for your video adapter can increase the performance,
efficiency, and stability of the features of your video adapter.

To identify the manufacturer and the model of your video adapter:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click System.

3. If you are using a Microsoft Windows 95- or a Microsoft Windows 98-based
  computer, click the Device Manager tab.

  If you are using a Microsoft Windows 2000- or a Microsoft Windows XP-based
  computer, click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.

4. Expand "Display adapters".

5. Under the "Display adapters" branch, note the manufacturer and the model of
  your video adapter, and then click OK.

6. Close all of the open windows on the desktop.

For additional information about how to identify the driver version of your video
adapter, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q159487 Games: How to Determine the Version of Installed Video Driver

Contact your computer or video card manufacturer to download and install the
latest video drivers. See the "More Information" section of this article for
information about how to contact your computer or video card manufacturer.

If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Method 6: Install an Updated Mouse Driver
-----------------------------------------

Contact your computer or mouse manufacturer to download and install the latest
mouse drivers. See the "More Information" section of this article for
information about how to contact your computer or mouse manufacturer.

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

For information about how to contact your computer, video adapter, or mouse
manufacturer, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view
the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

  Q60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

  Q60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

For additional information about how to troubleshoot video issues with Microsoft
games, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q263039 Games: How to Troubleshoot Display Issues

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical
support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not
guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by
companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty,
implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these
products.

Additional query words: msgame

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbimu 
Technology        : kbGamesSearch kbBicycleCard100 kbBicycleSearch kbBicycleBoard150
Version           : :
Issue type        : kbprb

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

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