Q: apple mouse scroll problems

Do you have a mighty mouse?

The tiny roller gets stuff on it from fingers, and from the keyboard, then the mechanical

control bits inside the mouse the tiny roller ball rubs on, gets stuff on them, too. The

answer has been to try another finger or one on the other hand, initially; that's only a

temporary fix. The answer is to clean the roller. This can be done without disassembly.

My roller ball wired Apple Mouse (also known as Mighty Mouse for a time) and wireless

both share a similar internal device that gets gunky. The symptoms for both are the same.

Re: How to clean an (old, weary) mouse -- note suggestions and comments in the

linked article on how to clean (sounds like taxidermy) methods; since the comments

also include non-invasive cleaning methods; as I mentioned and also tried successfully.

It is a easier to get a spare clean good used similar Apple mouse (USB) from macsales

or other vendor so you have two; and clean them alternately. I clean my Apple mighty

mouse a few times a month. Helps to extend the period between cleanings by use of

they keyboard up/down arrows; and locate buttons for Home and End of page.

Hopefully this helps with your patience, to know it is possible to make it work again.

There had been other methods of cleaning the mouse without taking it apart, those

web sites no longer exist; so their archived wisdom appears to be lost on us...

I've gotten quite a bit of use from my 50¢ investment in a nice condition Apple scroll mouse.

Mine did not need the roller cleaned, on first try it worked OK. The outside was dirty, though.

Expect to pay more than 50¢ for a mighty mouse USB, from macsales, though.

Good luck & happy computing!

Yes, that's one way... for mine, I keep a bottle of vinegar-based all surface cleaner

(spray bottle) handy and a few squares of paper. For starters, to dampen a section

of paper towel and set it on a flat hard surface, and run the roller ball of mouse up-

side down through the dampened area of the paper towel and then around on the

dry section of the same towel. -- This works in most cases... Also, I have a piece of

clean printing paper and use a section of a sheet (or a cast off 'failed printing' task)

and try this either dampened or dry. An alcohol-based cleaner may work however

it may not be the best solvent for whatever gunk has coated the inner mechanism.

Since I do not have the rollerball set as a mouse button, I can roll it around upside

down on paper, on top of my mouse pad; it will not click-activate anything and so I

do not turn the computer off or unplug the mouse with cleaning it. A fair amount of

pressure can be then exerted on the mouse and its roller ball to help clean it.

{While having only one Apple rollerball (USB) mouse, I do have other new or as new

rollerball mouse products that were inexpensive; plus a few original Apple USB mice}

Glad you were able to work with the mouse and help it past its down moments.