Mouse Working Intermittently

Recently my mouse has started working only intermittently. More precisely, it works for a few seconds, enough to do one or two things maybe, then it stops for a few seconds, locks up and the pointer won't move, as if it it's exhausted and needs a bit of a rest. Less often, even rarely, the cursor = mouse pointer moves, but the buttons don't work, and sometimes the mouse pointer and buttons don't work but the scroll wheel does enabling scrolling up and down if the cursor is on the right part of the screen.

It is possible to work like this if you are patient but everything takes twice as long and it tries my patience.

My mouse is a USB-connected optical wheel mouse with two main buttons and at least one other small button that causes the page to go back if I inadvertedly press it (I try not to use this button)

I am almost certain that if I restart my computer the issue will go away, but I don't want to want that although it is overdue

I am running a few IE11 tabs a couple of FF tabs and a few Opera tabs and a couple of notepads, file explorer, a couple of simple Excel spreadsheets, nothing really new since this problem developed. Task Manager indicates little CPU is used, up to 7GB of the 8GB is in use, and CoreTemp shows the CPU temp about 50C.
Is it possible to say what is wrong, and apply a "hot fix" ?

Dumb_Question
8.September.2019

HP Pavilion dm4-1164tx Laptop with remote kb mouse and monitor - Intel core i5-450M - 8GB RAM - 500GB HDD (?) (plenty of empty space) - Windows 7 Professional 64bit

 

Is the lens clean? A small piece of hair or some fuzz/ gunk will cause similar issues.
What of the scrolling surface? Non-glossy is better. Anything spilled recently?
Tried another usb port? Are the insides of the ports (male and female) clean?

Have you tried a different mouse?
Have you tried this mouse on a different machine?

The OS may need a restart.

 

Thank you for your reply, Imandyman
I have used the mouse everyday, all day for a few days in this condition. It rests on my thigh which has been covered in various (non-glossy !) fabrics and even cardboard though with the latest I feel the surface can be concave and not give a good surface. I have tried reconnecting the mouse to the same port, inspecting the connector on the mouse. Before this problem, the mouse was never unplugged from the USB port anyway: there was no reason to. No spills.

I have not tried a different mouse: I'm thinking of buying a spare anyway though I have several different types, e.g, ball mouse (which does not work so well), P/S2 connected, etc. but this is the best one I have.
I have other machines, but I haven't tried the mouse on any of them.

The O/S does need a restart anyway !

Dumb_Question
8.September.2019

 

If a restart doesn't correct it maybe the mouse has gone bad, can be proved by trying on another machine. Or if the mouse proves good you may need to run the System File Checker (SFC) or check for bad spots on the hard drive (chkdsk).

 

I got a new mouse. It was very cheap, but brand new. It feels very light. It has two buttons and wheel. The left button works for simple things. I can't get it to select text. It was too jumpy so I slowed the speed down. The wheel doesn't work. I haven't tried the right button on account of not being able to select text. I guess I haven't set it up correctly. Seems to work all the time though with no pauses every other few seconds for 'a rest' !

an example of copy (from unfinished text) and paste - 'brand new', but seems sticky when I try it from your post above, so ca
n't do it (set up issue).

Dumb_Question
21.September.2019

 

OK
I can't persuade the new (unbranded) USB wired mouse to scroll. I no longer think it's a set up problem. I've checked CP>mouse and nothing wrong there. mouse wheel settings is one line/ page mode off

Rotating the wheel has never and still doesn't do anything (no effect).

Pressing the mouse wheel brings up the double headed arrow pointer which locks scroll to edges of the screen- I DO NOT WANT THIS. Everything about this unbranded mouse looks like it a simple Microsoft mouse: ms drivers (apparently)

Dumb_Question
21.September.2019

 

Two mice acting bad on the same machine..... Have you tried each on another machine you mentioned you have?

 

thanks again Imandyman. Why don't I think of the obvious ?
I should have tried the first mouse 10 daYS AGO ! now I have 2 mice to check.
the mice show 'different' bad symptoms.

Dumb_Question
21.September.2019