[genieworx]

I have been having this problem for a while.. It started a year back when my original mac usb mouse started flashing and it started getting stuck randomly. Sometimes the keyboard would get stuck as well other times its just the mouse.. So the solution was just unplug the mouse fromthe keyboard or sometimes unplug the keyboard from the computer and replug in.. Sometimes it would start working or other times i will just have to change the cable over to the second usb port and it would work..
Anyways i assumed it was a mouse problem so changed the mouse to a waicom pad.. and it worked great for like 6 months and occassionaly it would do the same thing.. a few days back it has completely stoped responding and the light on the pad starts flashing..
Either my computer is messing the usb devises i connect or something must be going on.. anyone have any idea what i might try to get this fixed....

thanks

[BigBadBiologist]

You could try using a PCI USB card.

[reader50]

Try going through a powered USB hub. You may be drawing right around the power limit for a USB port. The powered hub will pick up the power demand. Going through the hub will also address if the keyboard's cable is failing (not too likely). Note: plug the keyboard and mouse directly into the hub if you can. So the mouse isn't drawing power through the keyboard, but has it's own powered port on the hub.

If the USB port on the Mac that the keyboard plugs into has loosened up, that could also cause your symptoms, and using a powered hub would not address that. However, a loose USB root port is the least likely cause.

Note that corded mice used heavily will wear out their cords. It's not unusual to buy a new corded mouse every year or two under heavy use.

[ecrelin]

Sorry Mod and no offense but, your line should read "idiotically used" mice instead of heavily. I've been supporting Macs for over twenty years and although there were some very bad cable connection designs (well, whole mouse designs like the puck) the only real cable wear was from abuse, properly used cabled mice will last as long as the button switches or the life of the connection protocol, I have a box full of perfectly fine ADB mice of all flavors. And how would that cable problem relate to the tablet? Sorry to run on, I have no answers, just another question.
I have someone using a PowerMac G5 dual 2.0 that is having intermittent usb problems similar to the original poster's, no flashing but just completely stopping when the mouse is plugged into the back of the 20" display and going through the DVI cable. Cured instantly by plugging the mouse directly into the USB bus. Anyone else see anything like this?

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by ecrelin 

the DVI cable. Cured instantly by plugging the mouse directly into the USB bus. Anyone else see anything like this?

Do you mean ADC cable? DVI doesn't carry a USB signal.

[ecrelin]

It is a late 2005 23" Cinema Display that has DVI in parentheses in its description in MacTracker. The two USB ports on the back must be going through whatever cable is connecting it to the machine so if it is indeed ADC then so be it. Either way I am under the impression that there seems to be a disconnect in that circuit unless it is directly connected to the main USB bus through that jack. If that is the case and there is no software interface to fail then I may simply be doing the same thing as unplugging the mouse and putting it in another USB port and then it is acting just like the original poster's problem. Are there actual PCI pins dedicated to USB on that bus or are they virtual?

[ecrelin]

BTW who came up with the genius monikers? I have been on this board for 7 years and a mac consultant since 1986, in days past I was something else but now I'm a fresh faced recruit just because I don't flaunt my opinions and post ongoing insipid conversations?
Oh well its still a valuable resource even if it tries to be too cool…