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Your mouse is responsible for a lot of your computer input. Here are a few important rodent things you need to know:
- To move an item on the Windows desktop — a process called dragging — click the left button, move the mouse, and then release the button. On laptops with a touch pad, you can tie your fingers up in knots trying to replicate the click-move-release shuck 'n' jive. Chances are good that the touch pad recognizes a swift tap as the beginning of a drag. Check the documentation and practice a bit.
 | Windows has a feature called ClickLock that can come in handy if you have trouble holding down the left mouse button and moving the mouse at the same time — a common problem for laptop users who have fewer than three hands. When Windows uses ClickLock, you hold down the mouse button for a while (you can tell Windows exactly how long) and Windows "locks" the mouse button. To turn on ClickLock, follow these steps: |
• Choose Start --> Control Panel --> Printers and Other Hardware --> Mouse.
• On the Buttons tab, select the Turn on ClickLock check box.
• Immediately click the Settings button and adjust the length of time you need to hold down the mouse button for ClickLock to kick in.
Note that you can test the ClickLock time length setting by clicking next to Settings for ClickLock and dragging the box around.
- You can roll over items on the desktop too quickly! When you're spelunking around Windows XP trying to get a feel for what's happening, go slowly. The word for it is hovering — that's when you let the mouse pointer sit in one place for a few seconds. You'll be surprised at how often Windows flashes information on the screen in response to hovering.
- Although almost everyone catches on to single-clicking, given a few tries, many people have trouble with double-clicking, and here's the reason why: Windows isn't that smart. If you click twice, Windows has to figure out whether you wanted to make two single-clicks or one double-click — and that's surprisingly difficult. Windows watches as you click. You have to click twice, quickly and without moving the mouse in between clicks, for Windows to identify the two clicks as a double-click. If you have trouble getting Windows to recognize your double-clicks, you're probably moving the mouse just a bit too far between the clicks for a double-click to "take."
 | If you have consistent problems with Windows recognizing your double-clicks, try adjusting the double-click speed: |
• Choose Start --> Control Panel --> Printers and Other Hardware --> Mouse.
• Click the Buttons tab.
• Double-click the folder on the right side, as a test to see how much leeway Windows gives you.
• Adjust the Double-click speed slider as needed to suit your leisurely lifestyle.
- The best way to get the feel for a new mouse? Play one of the games that ships with Windows, like Minesweeper or Solitaire. Try clicking in unlikely places, double-clicking, or right-clicking in new and different ways. Bet you'll discover several wrinkles, even if you're an old hand at the games.
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