How to open a Wireless Mighty Mouse

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Level 1

15 points

How to open a Wireless Mighty Mouse

OK, the mighty mouse went flying today and didn't stick the landing. The side buttons are stuck and partially popped out, and the mouse itself is unresponsive (I'm guessing because one or both of the aforementioned buttons still has its contacts closed.

I searched and found this: http://code.maxmayo.com/2009/03/how-to-fight-mighty-mouse-scrolling.html

I'm none too pleased with the prospect of literally breaking into the mouse to work on it, and would have preferred that Apple have gone a bit more old-school and used screws for the job, but it is what it is. My question is:

What is the chance that this is a repairable situation? I don't want to spend an hour hacking my mouse if it isn't going to do any good.

Thanks.

Apple iMac 24" 2.4GHz, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 2GB RAM, 1TB HDD, Wireless Mighty Mouse (inop), wired Mighty Mouse (backup)

Posted on Jan 24, 2010 1:58 PM

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Answer 1

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Jan 24, 2010 2:06 PM in response to john7690

Repairing the MM - I doubt it""
why not use an ordinary usb mouse?
If it's less than 12months old maybe a call to AppleHelp & get a replacement, they are very understanding!
AppleHelp -> 1-800-275-2273
....L

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Answer 2

john7690 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 24, 2010 4:21 PM in response to elmac

elmac wrote:
Repairing the MM - I doubt it""
why not use an ordinary usb mouse?
If it's less than 12months old maybe a call to AppleHelp & get a replacement, they are very understanding!
AppleHelp -> 1-800-275-2273

Thanks, actually the mouse and computer are over 2 years old now. It's not that I don't have a mouse, I plugged in the USB Mighty Mouse that came with the computer after realizing that the wireless one was not working. I just like the wireless mouse in general, and Apple's in particular. I just don't feel like springing for a new wireless Mighty Mouse. If the answer is that it's that or pry the old one open, I'll leave that for a project down the road and just use the wired mouse.

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Answer 3

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,667 points

Jan 24, 2010 5:20 PM in response to john7690

I have done this very surgery on my USB Mighty Mouse 3 or four times over the last four years. The first time is the toughest because Apple uses so many points of glue around the mouse. I used an X-acto knife and patience and was inside the mouse in barely ten minutes. After that everything is very straight forward as the photos show. I sparingly glue six points when I reassemble the mouse to facilitate opening it again in the future. The Mighty Mouse is now a backup as I have the new wireless Magic Mouse.

It is not a lot of work or difficult and while you are repairing the buttons it will surely need a cleaning. But a warning, those rollers in the photos are really tiny, so if you loose one in the carpet or under the bed the rollerball is shot! Also, the reason the rollers line up so nicely in his photos is because they are magnetized, so that can fight against you getting them to stay in position when you reassemble the rollerball unit. But it beats buying a new mouse.

Dah•veed

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Answer 4

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Jan 24, 2010 8:49 PM in response to Dah•veed

May I say, You are a genius.. -- L

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Answer 5

john7690 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 25, 2010 5:18 AM in response to Dah•veed

Thanks for the first-hand report and details David.

I will eventually try cracking open the mouse (as I mentioned I have a wired backup). Considering the description of the ball rollers and other tiny components I can somewhat understand Apple not wanting people poking around in there. I'd still rather have the option of course.

The other alternative that I hadn't really considered is the adoption of a Magic Mouse, but I don't know if I'm ready to invest in a new and fairly pricy gadget right now.

Again thanks for the information. I'll go find my X-acto knife and first aid kit 😉

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