Any USB DOS mouse drivers (useful for some boot disks, etc)?

(Before anyone asks: yes, I know there are a couple of DOS newsgroups on
the microsoft server, but they are unpopulated (been "there" already). So
I'm looking for that here, since I'm using WinXP, and this seems the best
place to ask).

I'm looking for a USB mouse driver for DOS access (for a new Dell without
USB legacy BIOS support). Some boot disks use DOS, but I can't find any
USB mouse drivers that work for me. I've been doing some research on the
net, and in the Dell user forums, and know some such drivers do exist, but:

1. There is no legacy USB support "option" in my new Dell Windows XP
computer's BIOS, but the "USB controller" option in BIOS is enabled, of
course.

2. I've tried "usbmice" (with OCHI and UHCI drivers), and also DUSE, but
none of them work on my PC with a simple optical mouse. Does anybody know
of any others?

3. If a driver doesn't exist that will work on this PC, would it instead be
possible to add some I/O card (or a PS/2 card) and get a PS/2 mouse instead,
or something along those lines, to allow for mouse support (in these DOS
boot disks, or other DOS apps)?

Thanks, if anyone has any ideas!

Bill

Hu
Sun Apr 13 15:44:38 PDT 2008


"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:ulW%236PFnIHA.1768@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
(Before anyone asks: yes, I know there are a couple of DOS newsgroups on
the microsoft server, but they are unpopulated (been "there" already). So
I'm looking for that here, since I'm using WinXP, and this seems the best
place to ask).

I'm looking for a USB mouse driver for DOS access (for a new Dell without
USB legacy BIOS support). Some boot disks use DOS, but I can't find any
USB mouse drivers that work for me. I've been doing some research on the
net, and in the Dell user forums, and know some such drivers do exist, but:

1. There is no legacy USB support "option" in my new Dell Windows XP
computer's BIOS, but the "USB controller" option in BIOS is enabled, of
course.

2. I've tried "usbmice" (with OCHI and UHCI drivers), and also DUSE, but
none of them work on my PC with a simple optical mouse. Does anybody know
of any others?

3. If a driver doesn't exist that will work on this PC, would it instead be
possible to add some I/O card (or a PS/2 card) and get a PS/2 mouse instead,
or something along those lines, to allow for mouse support (in these DOS
boot disks, or other DOS apps)?

Thanks, if anyone has any ideas!

Bill
Sorry if this evades your question, but does your Dell have PS2 mouse port?
Most of the Microsoft mice come with a green USB to PS2 converter dongle. If
this does not work, does your Dell have a serial port? Most of the earlier
MS mice were serial, and anyone with a serious computer junk box should have
several. (These will be opto-mechanical mice with rubber ball, lacking
scroll wheel) Way way back MS made bus mice that came with an 8 bit ISA
interface card, but modern motherboards won't support this.
If you are real bold you could try "Cables To Go 1-Foot USB To Dual PS/2
Keyboard/Mouse Adapter" that Tiger Direct has for $10. They claim it works
with MS, Mac, & Sun platforms.

Bill
Sun Apr 13 15:51:47 PDT 2008

Hu Ru wrote:
> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:ulW%236PFnIHA.1768@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> (Before anyone asks: yes, I know there are a couple of DOS newsgroups on
> the microsoft server, but they are unpopulated (been "there" already).
> So
> I'm looking for that here, since I'm using WinXP, and this seems the best
> place to ask).
>
> I'm looking for a USB mouse driver for DOS access (for a new Dell without
> USB legacy BIOS support). Some boot disks use DOS, but I can't find any
> USB mouse drivers that work for me. I've been doing some research on the
> net, and in the Dell user forums, and know some such drivers do exist,
> but:
>
> 1. There is no legacy USB support "option" in my new Dell Windows XP
> computer's BIOS, but the "USB controller" option in BIOS is enabled, of
> course.
>
> 2. I've tried "usbmice" (with OCHI and UHCI drivers), and also DUSE, but
> none of them work on my PC with a simple optical mouse. Does anybody
> know
> of any others?
>
> 3. If a driver doesn't exist that will work on this PC, would it instead
> be
> possible to add some I/O card (or a PS/2 card) and get a PS/2 mouse
> instead,
> or something along those lines, to allow for mouse support (in these DOS
> boot disks, or other DOS apps)?
>
> Thanks, if anyone has any ideas!
>
> Bill
> Sorry if this evades your question, but does your Dell have PS2 mouse
> port?
> Most of the Microsoft mice come with a green USB to PS2 converter dongle.
> If
> this does not work, does your Dell have a serial port?

No to both. But fortunately I finally got the mouse to work.

> Most of the earlier
> MS mice were serial, and anyone with a serious computer junk box should
> have
> several. (These will be opto-mechanical mice with rubber ball, lacking
> scroll wheel) Way way back MS made bus mice that came with an 8 bit ISA
> interface card, but modern motherboards won't support this.
> If you are real bold you could try "Cables To Go 1-Foot USB To Dual PS/2
> Keyboard/Mouse Adapter" that Tiger Direct has for $10. They claim it works
> with MS, Mac, & Sun platforms.

Thanks, but somewhat luckily I got this mouse to work, by simply using the
old Microsoft Mouse driver file "mouse.exe", dated 1999!

smlunatick
Mon Apr 14 07:51:39 PDT 2008

On Apr 12, 12:16=A0am, "Bill in Co." <not_really_h...@earthlink.net>
wrote:
> (Before anyone asks: =A0yes, I know there are a couple of DOS newsgroups o=
n
> the microsoft server, but they are unpopulated (been "there" already). =A0=
So
> I'm looking for that here, since I'm using WinXP, and this seems the best
> place to ask).
>
> I'm looking for a USB mouse driver for DOS access (for a new Dell without
> USB legacy BIOS support). =A0 Some boot disks use DOS, but I can't find an=
y
> USB mouse drivers that work for me. =A0 I've been doing some research on t=
he
> net, and in the Dell user forums, and know some such drivers do exist, but=
:
>
> 1. =A0There is no legacy USB support "option" in my new Dell Windows XP
> computer's BIOS, but the "USB controller" option in BIOS is enabled, of
> course.
>
> 2. =A0I've tried "usbmice" (with OCHI and UHCI drivers), and also DUSE, bu=
t
> none of them work on my PC with a simple optical mouse. =A0 =A0Does anybod=
y know
> of any others?
>
> 3. =A0If a driver doesn't exist that will work on this PC, would it instea=
d be
> possible to add some I/O card (or a PS/2 card) and get a PS/2 mouse instea=
d,
> or something along those lines, to allow for mouse support (in these DOS
> boot disks, or other DOS apps)?
>
> Thanks, if anyone has any ideas!
>
> Bill

Most every USB mouse / keyboard will work with most any "stardard"
mouse drivers providing that the PC/computer's BIOS is correctly set
for "Legacy USB support.." / "Use USB keyboard / mouse...."

Bill
Mon Apr 14 11:45:29 PDT 2008

smlunatick wrote:
> On Apr 12, 12:16 am, "Bill in Co." <not_really_h...@earthlink.net>
> wrote:
>> (Before anyone asks: yes, I know there are a couple of DOS newsgroups on
>> the microsoft server, but they are unpopulated (been "there" already). So
>> I'm looking for that here, since I'm using WinXP, and this seems the best
>> place to ask).
>>
>> I'm looking for a USB mouse driver for DOS access (for a new Dell without
>> USB legacy BIOS support). Some boot disks use DOS, but I can't find any
>> USB mouse drivers that work for me. I've been doing some research on the
>> net, and in the Dell user forums, and know some such drivers do exist,
>> but:
>>
>> 1. There is no legacy USB support "option" in my new Dell Windows XP
>> computer's BIOS, but the "USB controller" option in BIOS is enabled, of
>> course.
>>
>> 2. I've tried "usbmice" (with OCHI and UHCI drivers), and also DUSE, but
>> none of them work on my PC with a simple optical mouse. Does anybody know
>> of any others?
>>
>> 3. If a driver doesn't exist that will work on this PC, would it instead
>> be
>> possible to add some I/O card (or a PS/2 card) and get a PS/2 mouse
>> instead,
>> or something along those lines, to allow for mouse support (in these DOS
>> boot disks, or other DOS apps)?
>>
>> Thanks, if anyone has any ideas!
>>
>> Bill
>
> Most every USB mouse / keyboard will work with most any "stardard"
> mouse drivers providing that the PC/computer's BIOS is correctly set
> for "Legacy USB support.." / "Use USB keyboard / mouse...."

OK, except my Award Phoenix BIOS has no such settings (NO Legacy settings),
but as someone else posted, some of it may be built in anyway. It's a new
Dell. So it appears that at least some of the new BIOS's don't have that
setting anymore (mine is Award Phoenix)