I've used a Kensignton Turbo/Expert mouse since like 1995. They've always been rock solid until now.

Suddenly they don't work on my 16" MBP running Catalina.

It USED to work. Now it doesn't. I have tried:

Rebooting.
Running Cocktail.
Running Disk Utility.
Uninstalling and reinstalling the KensingtonWorks software
Installing Steermouse, a third party mouse controller
Uninstalled Wacom software just in case there was a conflict
Using Bluetooth
Using the wireless dongle
Using an entirely different Expert mouse
Using an entirely different dongle
Plugging the dongle into my OWC TB dock.
Plugging the dongle into my Anker 7 port powered hub
Plugging the dongle directly into the MB

I'm out of ideas.

There are two weird things too.
1. When I switch the mouse to bluetooth, it connects! So the computer "sees" it. It just doesn't move the cursor.

2. After around 5 minutes, the mouse starts working.

I mean. What the actual @#$%&???

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I hate myself for even suggesting this but...have you tried removing the ball and blowing it out?

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Central VA

Quote
CJsNvrUrly
I hate myself for even suggesting this but...have you tried removing the ball and blowing it out?

Hah. We have a giant compressor here that I regularly use to blow it out. So yes. I tried that yesterday. Using full press b/c at that point I was so frustrated I didn't care if it caused it to explode.

But didn't do a thing. I usually keep it pretty clean. The real test though was using the other trackball we have in our studio. Identical trackball but about two years newer. EXACTLY the same behavior.

So thats two identical trackballs. No software installed. Does that make it an Apple or a Kensington thing? The fact that bluetooth sees it makes me think its making a connection. Its almost as if the OS is going through some kind of check or something for the mouse that is keeping it from starting. So it connects, its just non functional...for around 5 minutes. Then like I said, it works fine.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2021 08:37AM by bazookaman.

Hmm...That's the one I use on my desktop. I'll have to boot up and see what mine does. I'll let you know.

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Central VA

Quote
CJsNvrUrly
Hmm...That's the one I use on my desktop. I'll have to boot up and see what mine does. I'll let you know.

And I've used it too. Its worked fine. It even worked when I switched to Catalina. So I'm not sure what I introduced into the system that made it stop.

I did update the KensingtonWorks software, but I've since eradicated all traces of it from my system.

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I've really been disappointed with the latest Kensington software, a mere shadow of it's former self.

They dropped a lot of little features that made using their trackball a joy.

I think the older four-button light gray TurboMouse and the software at the time was the best combination of the best trackball ever made and the most feature rich software.

I've got the wired ExpertMouse, and from time to time I think about getting the wireless version.

Still thinking...

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Using the wired USB Expert Mouse (1.0) with TrackballWorks 1.5.0 on
Mojave. Used it since before Mavericks, it just works as long as it gets
cleaned every few months or so.

So I'm not sure what I introduced into the system that made it stop.
That will not be a fun task to undertake!

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39°36'17"N 75°44'43"W

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macOS Catalina v.10.15.7
KensingtonWorks v.2.1.19

Everything is functioning normally. Now that I'm on my desktop, I do remember having some Trackball wonkiness some time ago. I vaguely remember downloading and installing the latest driver for it and having to reconfigure in System Preferences several times, every time I started my machine up again, it seemed. It must've finally "clicked" cuz it's working fine now. Keep trying and good luck!

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Central VA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2021 03:48PM by CJsNvrUrly.

I found a couple threads on Apple boards describing similar issues. Saying its the Kensington software. While I don't disagree with that, I don't understand why the issue persists AFTER I've eliminated the software from my computer.

Unless I am misremembering, when you plug in a trackball (wired or wireless) it STILL functions as a mouse. It just doesn't gain any of the functionality until you install some software. So with no software at all the mouse should still work at a minimal level.

Today I searched my computer for Kensington and tbw and found several files that the uninstaller did not uninstall. And Kensington support didn't tell me to toss. I didn't reboot my machine b/c I couldn't afford to waste time waiting for my mouse to become usable so I'll see how it goes tomorrow.

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just for reference, the installer file I used was "trackballworks-1.5.0.dmg"
and is dated 9/28/18.
I do recall a newer package that wouldn't work and I rolled back to 1.5.0.
direct d/l link for TBW1.5.0 [www.kensington.com]
(compatible up to Catalina)

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39°36'17"N 75°44'43"W

DuckDuckGo
The search engine that doesn't track you.

DemComm Records 2021 Greatest Hits
includes:
Taxman by Joe & Nancy's Rich Ice Cream Band
The Humpty Dance by The Harris-Brown Hookup
Lets Spend The Night Together by The Fang-Swalwell Gang
Díaz-Canel Is A Friend of Ours by The AOC Squad
My Old Kentucky Retirement Home by MitchMcC & The Soggy Boxer Boys
Burning Down The House by Merrick & The Goons
Back In the USSR by Bernie's Red Square Trio

Quote
MrNoBody
just for reference, the installer file I used was "trackballworks-1.5.0.dmg"
and is dated 9/28/18.
I do recall a newer package that wouldn't work and I rolled back to 1.5.0.
direct d/l link for TBW1.5.0 [www.kensington.com]
(compatible up to Catalina)

Well. I installed that version and it seemed to have worked. I guess it was the Kensington software. Oh well. I guess I'll stick with the old version.

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