Hy! I was just downloading some files from the net and got myself a virus. Mcaffee got rid of it and all is ok, but from then my mouse is simply not responding. In fact, the computer doesn't even recognize the mouse. I use the most basic 3-button (with wheel) Genius mouse. Under Control Panel -> Mouse -> Hardware tab the field is empty. I taked a look at the Device Manager and there's no mouse listed there, but as I recall there never wasn't one (MAY BE WRONG!), but what I know for sure the ports show just Communication Port (COM 1) and the printer port. I know there was always a COM 3 there too, but it's gone. I'm not a computer expert so please if you could write an answer more-less understadable by us simple mortals. And sorry for my English. Thanks much in advance!

Have you rebooted? Try that first. If it doesn't show up try re-installing it. Under Device Manager it should show as " Mice or other pointing devices". <===Lefty===

Start up the computer. Before the OS starts to load start tapping F8. A menu should come up. There should be an option there to restore a previous registry, 'last know good configuration' or something like that. If you can choose a date, choose one before you downloaded the virus. Others may have suggestions so you may want to wait to see what else is recommended.

I got the mouse with the computer a long time ago, no installation disk was ever present, but wasn't even needed. I plugged the mouse (isn't USB) and started working. Simple and sweet, even on my former Win98. I tried the reboot and the F8 method above, but with no luck.

If restoring a previous registry didn't help maybe the mouse is bad or its port is disabled in cmos/bios setup. Does XP have an 'add new hardware' in control panel? Maybe that would pick it up.

Don't think the mouse is bad. I thought so already, so I tried a friend's mouse (the same 3-button Genius as mine) and didn't worked. Tried even another, wireless mouse from another friend, not working. Don't think that's the problem. I even tried the "add new hardware" already. No luck. The computer simply doesn't recognize whichever mouse I plug in. I thought of something different, maybe manually reinstalling the COM3 port I once used to have (but misteriousely vanished). Didn't help, like there are no drivers to run the port. I researched the whole web, tried to get the driver from WinXP cd... nothing. Can you please explain a bit that cmos/bios setup thing? What exactlly I have to do? As I said, I'm not that expert. Thanks. Please help me 'couse can't take the TAB-TAB-TAB-TAB-TABing on my keyboard anymore :(

When you start up the computer it should show an option to enter setup. Usually you need to hit a specific key like DEL, F1 or F2. The correct one should show on the screen. The setup screens vary, but with an Award bios for example there should be an ADVANCED OPTIONS page. Sometimes there'll be an option there to enable/disable the PS/2 mouse port (round connection). Another page would be INTEGRATED PERIPHERALS which should allow you to configure the com/serial ports. If you're using a serial mouse (trapazoid shaped plug) then you need to make sure the serial port it's connected to is enabled there. Your bios setup may be different but the serial port option will be there somewhere. Not all will have the PS/2 enable/disable option.