You see a listing of the various pieces of hardware in your system, like
the one shown in Figure 11-3. Depending on the version of Windows you
are running, you may see an icon for Mouse or the politically computer-
correct icon of human interface devices (HIDs).- Click the + (or double-click the icon) to expand the category and show
all installed devices under that icon.
On this Toshiba model the built-in touchpad is from a component manu-
facturer called Alps. The absence of an exclamation point or X mark tells
you that the system has recognized the existence of the device and its
drivers and that things appear to be working properly.- Scan all the items for any red Xs or a yellow exclamation point.
An X indicates that a device has been automatically or manually dis-
abled and is unavailable. A yellow exclamation point tells you the
system perceives a potential conflict of resources.
Depending on the type of problem, the built-in intelligence of the device,
and its ability to communicate with the system and the operating system,
you may see either a mere notification of a problem or conflict, or you
may see a specific problem code or text notification and a suggested solu-
tion. Consult the instruction manual for the device or go online to the
manufacturer’s web site to seek more information.- Open the mouse or human interface device category and examine the
properties.
Do so even if you don’t see any warning signs.- Choose the Driver tab of the device property for your mouse or HID.
You have these options:- Check the date and version number for the device.
Figure 11-3:
The Device
Manager
reports on
hardware
within a
modern
laptop.
Chapter 11: Putting Your Finger on Pointing Devices 181