Today, almost all wired and wireless mice use USB as the interface to the computer. However, older computers may utilize PS/2 or serial ports. If your mouse is wireless, it can be communicating over Bluetooth, RF (radio frequency), or IR(infrared). To proceed, select your connection type from the list below and follow the instructions.
Computer Mouse Interface Bus. Most personal computers stopped using the serial mouse around the year 2000, in favor of a mini-DIN. For a description of the electrical interface, refer to the RS232 page. Many new Motherboards just use the USB port as the mouse interface. The Mouse interface runs using standard TTL signaling levels. MS Serial BallPoint Mouse Disabler is a product developed by Ppe. This site is not directly affiliated with Ppe. All trademarks, registered trademarks, product names and company names or logos mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. Keyboards and Mice Microsoft Serial Mouse 2.0A (C3KSS1) P/N: 50674 Please ensure that your original part number matches this exactly, or check with the manufactuer for compatiblity. Customers are responsible for compatiblity. This part is guaranteed to be fully functional, original and authentic.
TipIf you want to disconnect a mouse from a computer, do the opposite of the steps provided on this page.
Connecting a wireless USB mouse
A cordless mouse has a small receiver that communicates with the mouse. The receiver connects to the computer via a USB port.
Microsoft Mouse Serial Number
- Look for a USB port in the back or on the side of your computer and plug in the receiver.
If you are unsure what a USB port looks like, there is an example image in the next section.
- Once the wireless receiver is connected to the computer, Windows should automatically find and install the appropriate drivers as long as you're connected to the Internet.
- Make sure there are batteries in the mouse or that it is charged.
- Next, verify that the mouse is turn on. Many wireless devices have an on and off switch on the bottom of them.
If the mouse you want to change how any special buttons work, additional software may need to be installed. If the mouse is not functioning, see our mouse troubleshooting section.
Connecting a wired USB mouse
Install New Mouse Windows 10
Connect the USB cable coming from the mouse to one of the USB ports (shown right) on the back or side of your computer. If you are using a USB port hub, connect the mouse cable to that.
After the mouse is connected, the computer should automatically install the drivers and provide basic functionality. If the mouse you want to change how any special buttons work, additional software may need to be installed.
If the mouse is not functioning, see our mouse troubleshooting section.
Connecting a Bluetooth mouse
A Bluetooth mouse connects to a computer wirelessly using a Bluetooth signal. The computer must have Bluetooth built in or have a Bluetooth adapter connected to it.
To connect a Bluetooth mouse to your computer, follow the steps below.
- Open the Bluetooth utility on your computer and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. The Bluetooth utility, if enabled, can usually be found in the notification area, with an icon that looks like the Bluetooth symbol.
- Turn on the mouse if it has an On/Off switch. Check the Bluetooth utility to see if it detects the Bluetooth mouse.
- When the Bluetooth utility finds the Bluetooth mouse, select the mouse in the Bluetooth device list and click the Pair button.
- If successful, the mouse will be connected to the computer.
If the Bluetooth utility does not detect the Bluetooth mouse, check the bottom of the mouse or inside the battery compartment for a small button. If found, press the button, as it may be required for the mouse to be discoverable by the computer. If no button is found and the mouse came with a software installation disc, install the mouse software on the computer. After installing, check the Bluetooth utility to see if it detects the Bluetooth mouse.
Connecting a PS/2 mouse
NoteBefore connecting or disconnecting the PS/2 mouse, make sure the computer is turned off.
Microsoft Serial Mouse Driver Windows 3.1
Connect the cable coming from the mouse to the green-colored PS/2 port (shown right) on the back of the computer. If your PS/2 ports are not color coded, the mouse port will be the one furthest away from the left edge of the computer case (when viewed from the back).
After the mouse is connected, the computer should automatically install the drivers and provide basic functionality. If the mouse you want to change how any special buttons work, additional software may need to be installed. If the mouse is not functioning, see our mouse troubleshooting section.
Connecting a serial mouse
NoteWhen connecting or disconnecting a serial mouse, make sure the computer is turned off.
Connect the mouse to the serial port on the back of the computer. If you have more than one serial port on the computer, we recommend connecting the mouse to the first port. Once connected, depending on your computer setup, you may need to configure the mouse COM ports in CMOS setup.
Today, most computers no longer have serial ports. Most serial mice are specialized, so to use one, you need to install the software included with the mouse, or from the mouse manufacturer's website.
TipIf you are having problems connecting a serial mouse to a computer either because it does not have a serial port, or the serial port is not working, consider using a serial to USB adapter.
CMOS setup
If you have an older computer (2005 or earlier) with a serial or USB mouse, it may be necessary to configure the ports in CMOS setup. If you have a newer computer, this section can be skipped.
Older computers with serial mice
If the mouse you are using is a serial mouse and it's having issues with being detected, verify that the serial ports or COM ports are enabled and properly assigned in CMOS.
Older computers with USB
If the mouse connects via USB, make sure USB is enabled and if available, also ensure that the USB legacy support is enabled. USB legacy support allows the mouse to work in legacy mode, for example, DOS.
Troubleshooting
If your mouse is not working after following the steps above, additional troubleshooting may be required.
- Computer mouse help and support.
Additional information
- See the mouse, PS/2, serial port, and USB definitions for further information and related links.
These are drivers provided by Microsoft for the Microsoft BusPort, serial, and PS/2 mice. Introduced in 1983, The Microsoft Mouse is historically important as it was one of Microsoft's earliest hardware products (The other being an Apple II Z-80 CP/M card). The first Mouse for the IBM PC was actually from Mouse Systems, not Microsoft. However, most clone mice emulated Microsoft's serial protocol and DOS driver software interface. The first application designed to make full use of the mouse was Microsoft Word for DOS, and they hyped a product called 'Microsoft Windows' (not released until several years later) that was to compete against the upcoming Apple Macintosh and the Mouse Systems based Viscorp Visi On.
Microsoft Home Mouse Serial
Includes a menu overlay tool, simple drawing program, a mouse driven 'Life' game, aPiano program, and Notepad for DOS.
Installation instructions
This version only supports their original Bus Mouse with the bundled ISA Bus adapter.
Note: We previously mis-identified this release as 1.1 because no version number appears in the binaries.
Wanted: Version 1.0