-------------------------------------------------- Readme File for Microsoft IntelliPoint Version 2.2 March 1998 -------------------------------------------------- (C) Microsoft Corporation, 1998 This document provides late-breaking or other information that supplements the IntelliPoint Online User's Guide and the printed documentation for the following Microsoft pointing devices: Microsoft IntelliMouse Pro, Microsoft IntelliMouse, Microsoft Wheel Mouse, Microsoft Mouse, and Microsoft IntelliMouse TrackBall. ------------------------- How to View This Document ------------------------- To view the Readme file on-screen, open it in Windows Notepad or another word processor. To print the Readme file, click Print on the File menu. -------- CONTENTS -------- 1. IMPORTANT ERGONOMIC INFORMATION 1.1 Important safety information 1.2 Analyzing your workspace 1.2.1 Setting up your workspace 1.2.2 Organizing your desk and shelves 1.2.3 Adjusting your computer monitor for better comfort 1.2.4 Using input devices comfortably 1.3 Ergonomics for your body 1.3.1 Computers and body fatigue 1.3.2 Posture for back and shoulders 1.3.3 Posture for hands, wrists, and arms 1.3.4 Exercises for your body 1.4 Ergonomics for your eyes 1.4.1 Lighting and eyestrain 1.4.2 Exercises for your eyes 2. GENERAL NOTES 2.1 Installing a pointing device on Windows 98 2.2 Performing a minimum installation of IntelliPoint on Windows 95 2.3 Replacing a two-button pointing device with a Wheel Mouse, IntelliMouse, IntelliMouse Pro, or IntelliMouse TrackBall pointing device 2.4 Using an application that does not use the IntelliPoint scroll, AutoScroll, or pan features 2.5 Known problems with Universal Scrolling 2.6 Using the wheel in windows with multiple scroll bars 2.7 Using the wheel with Packard Bell's Media Controller 2.8 Using the PS/2 port on your laptop computer 2.9 Using a BIOS setup program to enable your mouse port 2.10 Using the IntelliPoint Focus feature in Windows 98 3. NOTES FOR WINDOWS NT USERS 3.1 Installing Windows NT 4.0 when IntelliPoint is already installed 3.2 Installing IntelliPoint requires system-administrator security privileges 3.3 Attaching multiple pointing devices in Windows NT 3.4 Using an IntelliMouse TrackBall or a dedicated PS/2 IntelliMouse on Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3 3.5 Driver or service fails to start in Windows NT 4.0 or later ======================================= Part 1: IMPORTANT ERGONOMIC INFORMATION ======================================= 1.1 Important Safety Information Continuous use of a pointing device may cause Repetitive Stress Injuries or related injuries. See the "Important Ergonomic Information" section in both the Online User's Guide and this Readme file for information to reduce your risk of injury. If you feel any aching, numbing, or tingling in your neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, hands, or fingers, consult a qualified health professional. To reduce your risk of Repetitive Stress Injury * Take frequent breaks from use. * Maintain a straight wrist position. * Minimize clicking and dragging. * Use a light touch to click and grip. * Maintain good health habits. Some studies suggest that long periods of repetitive motion coupled with an improper work environment and incorrect work habits may be linked to certain types of physical discomfort or injury. These include Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), Tendinitis, Tenosynovitis, de Quervain’s tendinitis and other related disorders. To help avoid these conditions, follow the instructions in the "Important Ergonomic Information" section in both the Online User’s Guide and this Readme file. These instructions may not only help minimize your chances of experiencing one of these conditions, but they will also help you work more comfortably and effectively. Ensuring that your chair, work surface, keyboard and input device are in the correct positions is important. 1.2 Analyzing your workspace 1.2.1 Setting up your workspace Organize your work area so that it is quiet and comfortable, with ample lighting and furniture suited to your body shape and size. Tips * Locate your desk away from high-traffic areas. * Avoid a noisy setting. * Keep the area under your desk clear of cables and other items so you can sit comfortably without twisting. * Don't place your monitor in front of a window; rather, put it at a right angle to the window and use window shades to reduce glare. 1.2.2 Organizing your desk and shelves Organize your desk space and nearby shelves to help you work more comfortably. Tips Divide your desk into three zones. Zone Location Use for 1 Primary Between elbow Most-used items, including and hand your keyboard and input device 2 Secondary Within arm’s Often-used items reach 3 Reference Beyond arm’s Other materials reach Arrange reference materials for easy access. Place books and other materials between knee and shoulder height on shelves. Avoid reaching and twisting as you lift items from shelves. 1.2.3 Adjusting your computer monitor for better comfort Use the proper lighting and adjust your computer screen and paperwork appropriately to help reduce eyestrain and fatigue. Tips * Place monitor at eye level; lower if you wear bifocals. * Place screen 18 to 30 inches from your eyes. * Place your notes next to the screen at monitor height. * Tip the monitor down to avoid reflecting ceiling lights. Keep your screen clean. * Use high-contrast, natural screen colors. 1.2.4 Using input devices comfortably There are things you can do while using the mouse, keyboard, or other input device to achieve greater comfort. Tips * Use Shortcuts. * Learn as much as you can about your software programs to help you become more efficient at using your computer and to minimize keystrokes and unnecessary clicking and dragging of your mouse. Alternating between use of a mouse or other input device and a keyboard can provide a needed break. * Use a light touch to click and grip. * Press keys and hold the input device gently. * Avoid unnecessary reaching. * Keep the mouse or other input device close to the keyboard to minimize reaching from the shoulder. If you use the mouse or other input device more than the keyboard, place it in front of you, with the keyboard a bit to one side. * Use a palm rest when not typing. * Try to rest your palms and wrists only when you aren't typing, but don't rest them on the edge of a desk. If your keyboard has a palm rest built in, such as a Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite, move your keyboard forward enough so that you can rest your palms on the palm rest. Additional Suggestions These suggestions can help to reduce your risk of Repetitive Stress Injury. * Take frequent breaks from use. * Maintain a straight wrist position. * Minimize clicking and dragging. * Maintain good health habits. 1.3 Ergonomics for your body 1.3.1 Computers and body fatigue Some people who use computers experience discomfort such as back pain, stiff neck and shoulders, sore hands, or tired legs. Much of this discomfort can be avoided, since these symptoms often arise from pushing the body beyond its natural limits. Tips * Change your posture * Changing position reduces muscle fatigue. Maintain good back support and keep your wrists straight. Avoid awkward or twisted positions and frequent reaching. Use a gentle touch when typing or using the mouse or trackball. * Use foot and leg support * Be sure your feet are well supported, either on the floor or on a footrest. You may need a footrest if you raise your chair to keep your wrists in a straight position. Don't let the edge of your chair press into the backs of your knees. Alternate tasks * Do a variety of tasks throughout the day, alternating among several different types of tasks. This gives your body a chance to recover while you remain productive. * Pause regularly throughout the day * To minimize fatigue, take short rest breaks (30 seconds to two minutes) between tasks throughout the day. During your breaks, perform simple exercises and deep breathing to help your body eliminate the effects of fatigue. 1.3.2 Posture for back and shoulders Whether you work standing up or seated, try to minimize awkward postures, forceful exertions, and repetitive motion that can cause discomfort. Tips When you work standing * Be sure to change posture frequently. * Stand on an anti-fatigue mat to reduce fatigue. When you work sitting down * Your chair should support your lower back. Adjust chair height so seat back contacts the most-curved part of your back. (Use a pillow if needed.) * Adjust armrests (if any) so you don't have to hunch your shoulders or slouch down in your chair to use the armrests comfortably. * Use a footrest, if needed, to reduce fatigue in your legs. 1.3.3 Posture for hands, wrists, and arms Hold your hands, wrists, and arms in a neutral position while working to achieve greater comfort. Tips * Be sure your upper arms drop naturally to your sides, so that your shoulders are not shrugging. Raise your chair or lower the table as needed. * Place hands above the keyboard, with elbows at 90-degree angles. * Extend hands straight from the forearm, keeping your wrists straight. * Curl your fingers under slightly. * Having the forearm supported may be comfortable when using a mouse. 1.3.4 Exercises for your body During your rest breaks, try these exercises to help you feel refreshed. Don't do any exercise that feels uncomfortable or causes straining. Tips * Deep breathing. Relieves muscle tension. * Hand and finger massage. Reduces cramping or stiffness and warms your hands. * Executive stretch. Exercises the entire upper body. Clasp your hands behind your head and gently stretch your elbows back, taking in a deep breath as you stretch back. * Shoulder shrug. Reduces tension or stiffness in the upper back and neck. Gently raise your shoulders up toward your ears and then relax your shoulders downward. * Foot rotations. Improves circulation to your legs and feet. While seated, rotate each ankle three times clockwise, then counter-clockwise. 1.4 Ergonomics for your eyes 1.4.1 Lighting and eyestrain Like other parts of the body, the eyes need to be relaxed from time to time. Tips * Lighting. When you work on a computer, the light level should be dimmer than when you work with paper. If you work with both, choose relatively dim room lighting plus an adjustable reading lamp that you can use for paperwork. * Glare. Angle the reading lamp away from your eyes and away from the monitor so that you can't see the unshaded light bulb and so there is no glare on the monitor screen. * Reflections. Remove any reflective materials--such as glass desk pads and picture frames--from around your monitor to avoid distracting reflections. Also, try tilting your monitor downward, or reposition it on your desk, to eliminate reflections. 1.4.2 Exercises for your eyes Take brief (30 seconds to two minutes) but frequent breaks while working at your computer to rest your eyes. This pause gives your eyes a chance to recover from fatigue and help you feel refreshed. Tips * Yawning and blinking. Keeps the eyes lubricated. * Changing focus. Relaxes the muscles of your eyes. With your arm stretched in front of you, look at your fingertips, then at a point far away from you, then back to your fingertips. * Palming. Helps to overcome eyestrain. Support your head in your hands, with your eyes covered, while you breathe deeply. ===================== Part 2: GENERAL NOTES ===================== 2.1 Installing a pointing device on Windows 98 Be sure to install IntelliPoint 2.2 to take full advantage of the wheel and wheel button functionality, as well as other exciting features. See your Getting Started manual for installation instructions. Installing IntelliPoint 2.2 in accordance with these installation instructions on Windows 98 does not install IntellPoint device drivers. When you install a pointing device on Windows 98, it is important to use the Windows 98 device drivers instead of the IntelliPoint 2.2 device drivers. >>>To install Windows 98 device drivers for a pointing device: 1 Click the Start button, click Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2 Double-click Add New Hardware, click Next, click Yes, click Next, and then click Next. The wizard will detect your new pointing device. 3 Click Next, and double-click the mouse icon. 4 Select Microsoft under Manufacturers, and then select the applicable entry for your pointing-device under Models. NOTE: Do not click Have Disk to install the IntelliPoint 2.2 device drivers. Using IntelliPoint device drivers may prevent the Suspend feature from working properly on your computer. 5 Click Next, and then click Finish. 2.2 Performing a minimum installation of IntelliPoint on Windows 95 When you install the minimum functionality for IntelliPoint software on Windows 95 using Add New Hardware in the Windows Control Panel, you may need to define the path for the IntelliPoint files. For example, when installing from Drive A, you need to define A: as the path. For a complete installation of IntelliPoint software, you need to run Setup.exe from your IntelliPoint disk. 2.3 Replacing a two-button pointing device with a Wheel Mouse, IntelliMouse, IntelliMouse Pro, or IntelliMouse TrackBall pointing device When you replace your two-button pointing device with a Wheel Mouse, IntelliMouse, IntelliMouse Pro, or IntelliMouse TrackBall pointing device, you need to install the accompanying IntelliPoint software to fully enable the wheel and wheel button functionality. If you install your Wheel Mouse, IntelliMouse, IntelliMouse Pro, or IntelliMouse TrackBall pointing device without installing the IntelliPoint software, the wheel and wheel button may not work. NOTE: When you replace your two-button pointing device with a Wheel Mouse, IntelliMouse, IntelliMouse Pro, or IntelliMouse TrackBall, you may not see a message informing you of new hardware installed when you restart your computer. >>>To fix this problem: 1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2 Double-click System, click the Device Manager tab, and then click Mouse. 3 Select the serial device, for example Standard Serial Mouse, and then click Remove. 4 Restart your computer. If your computer does not detect your Wheel Mouse, IntelliMouse, IntelliMouse Pro, or IntelliMouse TrackBall after restarting, try running Setup.exe on your IntelliPoint disk. 2.4 Using an application that does not use the IntelliPoint scroll, AutoScroll, or pan features If you are unable to scroll, AutoScroll, or pan in an application, check the Universal Scrolling Exceptions list to see if that application is listed. Applications on the Universal Scrolling Exceptions list may work in different ways at the same time when they have Universal Scrolling turned on, for example scrolling (through Universal Scrolling) and zooming (through the application). Adding these applications to the Universal Scrolling Exceptions list turns off Universal Scrolling, enabling them to use only the built-in application functionality to work with the wheel or wheel button. >>>To view the Universal Scrolling Exceptions list in the IntelliPoint software: 1 Click the Wheel tab. 3 Ensure that the check box for Wheel or Wheel Button is selected. 4 Under Universal Scrolling, click Exceptions. 2.5 Known problems with Universal Scrolling Microsoft endeavored to provide Universal Scrolling in all applications; however, some applications may encounter difficulties. * Some applications enable you to scroll only when the pointer is placed over a scroll bar. When you attempt to scroll by rolling the wheel inside the window, nothing happens. In these applications, place the pointer over a scroll bar, and then roll the wheel. * Some applications enable you to AutoScroll or pan only when the pointer is placed over a scroll bar. When you attempt to AutoScroll or pan by clicking the wheel button inside the window, an origin mark may appear, but does not enable you to AutoScroll or pan. In these applications, place the pointer over one of the scroll bars, and then click the wheel button. * You may not be able to scroll, AutoScroll, and pan in all windows of some applications. * Some applications provide an option to hide scroll bars. Universal Scrolling may not work when this option is applied. To restore Universal Scrolling in this instance, restore the scroll bars within the application. * Some applications may not AutoScroll or pan with SnapTo selected. When you attempt to AutoScroll or pan, the origin mark disappears and becomes a pointer over the default button. To AutoScroll and pan in these applications, turn off SnapTo in the IntelliPoint software. 2.6 Using the wheel in windows with multiple scroll bars Windows that contain frames can have multiple scroll bars that may require you to click the content within the window to activate scrolling with the wheel. A frame is a separate, scrolling area within the window. For example, when using Microsoft Internet Explorer, if your window contains multiple frames with scroll bars, you may need to click the content of the window to activate scrolling with the wheel. 2.7 Using the wheel with Packard Bell's Media Controller The wheel and wheel button do not function properly with Packard Bell's Media Controller. If you have problems with the wheel or wheel button when using Packard Bell's Media Controller, connect your Wheel Mouse, IntelliMouse, IntelliMouse Pro or IntelliMouse TrackBall to the mouse port on the back of your computer instead of to the PS/2 port on Packard Bell's Media Controller. 2.8 Using the PS/2 port on your laptop computer Many laptop computers have an internal (PS/2) pointing device (IPD) that may cause your mouse or trackball to work improperly when attached to the PS/2 port. The problem is most likely because both the IPD and your mouse or trackball are trying to use the PS/2 port at the same time. To fix this problem, try one of the following: * Disable the IPD or select Simultaneous mode, using the BIOS setup program. Not all laptop computers have this feature. See your laptop computer's documentation to change settings with your BIOS setup program. * Connect your pointing device to the serial port. 2.9 Using a BIOS setup program to enable your mouse port If you enable your mouse port (PS/2 port) using a BIOS setup program, your computer will detect a PS/2 device when you use Add New Hardware, even without a PS/2 device connected. When your computer detects a nonexistent pointing device, you will see an exclamation point beside the PS/2 Mouse icon in the Device Manager tab in the Control Panel. >>>To display the PS/2 Mouse icon: 1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2 Double-click System, click the Device Manager tab, and then click Mouse. To avoid this problem, do not enable your mouse port using your BIOS setup program. 2.10 Using the IntelliPoint Focus feature in Windows 98 The IntelliPoint Focus feature, located on the StepSavers tab, only works with icons on your desktop in Windows 98. The Focus feature does not work with title bars. ================================== Part 3: NOTES FOR WINDOWS NT USERS ================================== 3.1 Installing Windows NT 4.0 when IntelliPoint is already installed If you upgrade to Windows NT 4.0 from Windows NT 3.5x with IntelliPoint, the Windows NT 4.0 default Mouse Properties software replaces the IntelliPoint software. Although Windows NT 4.0 works with the Wheel Mouse, IntelliMouse, IntelliMouse Pro, and IntelliMouse TrackBall, not all of the IntelliPoint features are available with the Windows NT 4.0 Mouse Properties software. To have access to all of the IntelliPoint features, reinstall IntelliPoint. 3.2 Installing IntelliPoint requires system-administrator security privileges You need system-administrator security privileges to install IntelliPoint software on Windows NT systems. For information on system-administrator security, see your Windows NT documentation. 3.3 Attaching multiple pointing devices in Windows NT If you attach both a Wheel Mouse, IntelliMouse, IntelliMouse Pro, or IntelliMouse TrackBall pointing device and a second mouse of a different type (such as a Microsoft Mouse without a wheel), you may encounter the following problems: * If you reset the right button to be the primary button using the Button Selection feature on the Basics tab in IntelliPoint, the second mouse may not recognize the change. * Use the first mouse to set Orientation on the Productivity tab in IntelliPoint. The second mouse does not recognize any changes you make using the Orientation feature. NOTE: This does not apply to an external mouse attached to a laptop with an internal pointing device. 3.4 Using an IntelliMouse TrackBall or a dedicated PS/2 IntelliMouse on Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3 IntelliPoint must be installed to use the wheel or wheel button on Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3. You may have a dedicated PS/2 IntelliMouse if you purchased it from an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). To fix this problem, install IntelliPoint. 3.5 Driver or service fails to start in Windows NT 4.0 or later When you install IntelliPoint and then restart your computer, you may receive a message saying that a driver or service failed to start. This message is caused by the system trying to find all of the devices on each PS/2 or serial port. Receiving this message does not affect the performance of your pointing device. >>>To fix this problem: 1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2 Double-click Devices. 3 Select the mouse port not in use, mssermou, and click Startup. 4 Select Disabled, and then click OK. 5 Close all applications and restart your computer. >>>To see if you have mssermou warnings in your Event Viewer: 1 Click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools (Common), and then click Event Viewer. 2 Scroll down to locate mssermou entries. >>>To prevent mssermou warnings in your Event Viewer: 1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2 Double-click Devices. 3 Select mssermou, and click Startup. 4 Select Disabled, and then click OK. 5 Close all applications and restart your computer. NOTE: Disabling mssermou will prevent your computer from automatically detecting a serial mouse if you connect one to your computer.