Hi! I have a Mac G4. Apple tech said I needed a new vintage apple mouse. Have one, yet arrow is still stuck in upper left corner of screen. Any ideas please?

If your computer product is an old PowerPC architecture and not an Intel build model, any PC

mouse would probably work. If you are trying to use a later mouse shipped with some models

of Intel mac, the mouse may not work. Almost any original white plastic Apple mouse works in

a G3/G4/G5 PowerPC (pre-2006 non-intel core mac.)

The problem may not be the mouse; at least not at first. The correct vintage version Apple

mouse and keyboard (using USB1.1) should be adequate; + any older PC mouse USB with

two buttons should work. An off-the-shelf "mouse in a box" such as kensington or other will

usually work OK with older G4 Macs. I found a few great deals at second hand stores where

almost any clean or new mouse is under $1. and work OK with older Macs.

• Resetting the Power Management Chip in your Mac:

http://thexlab.com/faqs/resetpmchip.html

• How to Reset NVRAM - PRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

Have you tried resetting the PMU (power management reset) and/or the PRAM reset?

If you happen to be using a USB hub, be sure it is powered; or bypass it to test or check

the computer functions. Detach unnecessary peripherals when troubleshooting.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

PRAM reset is NOT recommended unless you know your PRAM battery is under 4 years old. If you reset it when it is not, then you can make it hard to use the internal display. Reseting the SMC is preferable to PRAM unless the status of the battery is known.

Did you try to see if Safe boot mode would allow access? If it will it could help.

• Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support

And did you locate any simple PC two-button mouse or older Mac mouse?

A basic mouse should not need any additional driver software in OS X or

in MacOS9.2 -- if the unit is older and can dual-boot both classic 9 and X.

An Apple single button white mouse earlier than 2005 should do OK.

Something from a bin for about 50¢ can usually work out, I've new ones

that were under $1. from second hand stores. (donated new) also have

a good working USB wired Mighty Mouse that works. 50¢ and I know

how to clean the roller ball. IT also works in Leopard 10.5.8 in a G4 Mini.

An older G4 Power Mac tower may have a PMU reset and not a PRAM reset

however most people won't know the difference. See the link to theXLabs.

Plan on replacing the clock battery in any computer that you don't know history

of, since they can't last unplugged in storage and three years may be a stretch.

Since you did not exactly identify the model year or name of the computer,

to know details is usually most helpful as to formulate or research a reply.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

The older model may need to use suggestions on reset PMU in the XLabs link.

And to replace a clock battery in any unknown older computer, especially if it

has been sitting unplugged more than a year, is usually a common practice...

I used to buy the PRAM or clock batteries by the dozens at wholesale when

repairing hundreds of Macs that I later donated to charity thrift stores miles

away from my somewhat rural location. They also enjoyed the drive into town. 😝