How to troubleshoot mouse pointer display issues in Microsoft games (309703)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
  • Microsoft Age of Empires II Expansion: The Conquerors
  • Microsoft Age of Empires, Gold Edition
  • Microsoft Age of Empires III
  • Microsoft Age of Empires III Expansion: The War Chiefs
  • Microsoft Age of Mythology
  • Microsoft Age of Mythology: Gold Edition
  • Microsoft Age of Mythology: The Titans
  • Microsoft Bicycle Board Games Version 1.5
  • Microsoft Bicycle Card Games Version 1.0
  • Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe
  • Microsoft Dungeon Siege 1.0
  • Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna
  • Microsoft Dungeon Siege II
  • Microsoft Fable: The Lost Chapters PC
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002
  • Microsoft Freelancer
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Halo: Combat Evolved
  • Microsoft Impossible Creatures
  • Microsoft Links 2003
  • Microsoft Links 2003 Championship Edition
  • Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Black Knight
  • Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Clan 'Mech Pak
  • Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Inner Sphere 'Mech Pak
  • Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries
  • Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Vengeance
This article was previously published under Q309703

SUMMARY

This article describes how to resolve most of the known mouse pointer display issues in the Microsoft games that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

When you try to start or to play any one of the games in the "Applies To" section, you may experience the following symptoms:
  • Jerky pointer movement
  • Disappearing pointer
  • Flickering pointer

MORE INFORMATION

To troubleshoot mouse issues with Microsoft games, use the following methods in the order they are presented.

Note The following steps are lengthy. Therefore, you may want to print them before you start.

Method 1: Look for any known issues

There may be specific issues that are documented or troubleshooting steps for your game that may help you resolve mouse pointer issues. To view any known issues for your Microsoft game, visit the following Microsoft Web site, and then select your game or search for your game:

http://support.microsoft.com/games

If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 2: Disable pointer trails

Note Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
  1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Mouse.
  3. On the Motion tab or on the Pointer Options tab, click to clear the Show pointer trails check box or the Display pointer trails check box.
  4. Click OK.
If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 3: Change pointer scheme to Windows Standard or Default

  1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Mouse.
  3. On the Pointer tab, in the Scheme box, click Windows Standard or click Windows Default.
  4. Click OK.
If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 4: Set Hardware Acceleration to Most

Use the appropriate steps below for your version of Windows:

Microsoft Windows 2000 and Microsoft Windows XP

  1. Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.
  2. On the Settings tab, click Advanced.
  3. On the Troubleshooting tab, move the Hardware Acceleration slider two notches to the left of Full.

    The details for this setting explain all pointer and advanced drawing accelerations are disabled.
  4. Click Apply, and then click OK.
  5. Close the Display Properties window, and then test the game.

Microsoft Windows 98 and Microsoft Windows Millennium (Me)

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click System.
  3. On the Performance tab, click Graphics.

    Note The Hardware Acceleration slider has four settings. From left to right, they are: None, Basic, Most, and Full.
  4. Move the Hardware Acceleration slider until it is one notch to the left of Full. This is the Most setting.
  5. Click OK, and then click Close.
  6. Click Yes to restart your computer.
  7. After the computer restarts, test the game.
If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 5: Troubleshoot display issues

If these methods do not resolve the issue, the issue may be video related. For more information about how to troubleshoot video issues with Microsoft games, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

263039 Games: How to troubleshoot display issues

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/23/2006
Keywords:kbConfig kbprb KB309703
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