How to troubleshoot mouse pointer display issues in Microsoft games

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

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 the Microsoft game that you have, visit the following Microsoft Web site, and then select your game or search for your game: 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. Open the Mouse item in Control Panel. To do this in Windows Vista, click Start
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   , type main.cpl in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
   
   To open the Mouse item in Control Panel in Microsoft Windows XP, Click Start, click Run, type main.cpl, and then click OK.
2. 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.
3. Click OK.

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

Method 3: Change pointer scheme to Windows Standard or Default

1. Open the Mouse item in Control Panel. To do this in Windows Vista, click Start
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   , type main.cpl in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
   
   To open the Mouse item in Control Panel in Windows XP, Click Start, click Run, type main.cpl, and then click OK.
2. On the Pointers tab, in the Scheme box, click Windows Standard or click Windows Default.
3. Click OK.

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

Method 4: Set Hardware Acceleration to Most

Windows Vista

1. Click Start
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   , type desk.cpl in the Start Search box, and then click desk.cpl in the Programs list.
2. Click Advanced Settings.
3. On the Troubleshoot tab, click Change settings.
   
   
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   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
4. In the Display Adapter Troubleshooter dialog box, drag the Hardware acceleration slider two notches to the left of the Full setting, and then click OK three times.

Microsoft Windows 2000 and 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

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 as follows: 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: To learn more about how to troubleshoot problems that you may experience when you play Microsoft games in Windows Vista, follow the instructions in the "Troubleshoot game problems" topic in Windows Vista Help and Support. To view the topic, follow these steps:

1. Click Start
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   , and then click Help and Support.
2. In the Search Help box, type Troubleshoot game problems, and then click Search Help.
3. Click the appropriate topic.