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How to Open a Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 4?

Forum Computer Peripherals : Other Peripherals - How to Open a Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 4?

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dl_   12-22-2004 at 06:15:03 PM

I have a Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 4, i want to open it for clean but i dont know how to open it. Anybody know open area of it?

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aLawLz187   12-22-2004 at 11:45:19 PM
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I have a optical blue mouse <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=26-105-128&depa=0" target="_new">Click</A> and it opens by taking off the skids on the bottom and using a screwdriver to take out the screws and then it just pops open. most likely the same for your mouse. have you used compressed air to clean it?

-lawler

A64 3500+ / K8N Neo2 Plat / BBA 9600pro / 2x512mb HyperX ddr500 / Audigy LS / Samsung 120gb

Wanna buy a Thermaltake XaserIII SuperTower Blk Edition w/ 420w psu UNOPENED, tell me.

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dl_   12-23-2004 at 12:58:57 PM
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folken   12-30-2004 at 01:04:00 AM
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Just like alawlz187 said, there should be screws under the pads on the bottom of the mouse.

<A HREF="http://www.folken.net/myrig.htm" target="_new">My precious...</A>

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lb19984   01-04-2005 at 02:16:05 AM
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why wouls you need to clean the inside?




<A HREF="http://www.freewebs.com/lb19984/" target="_new">My Rig</A>

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folken   01-04-2005 at 07:38:41 AM
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I'm actually sort of curious about that myself. The whole idea of an optical mouse is that you don't have to clean it regularly if at all. I've been using the same mouse for years and have never even thought about cleaning it.

<A HREF="http://www.folken.net/myrig.htm" target="_new">My precious...</A>

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MetalAges   01-26-2008 at 05:05:15 PM
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I know this is 2 years since the last post, but in case anyone is googling (like I was) and needs an answer for Intellimouse 2.0:

I've had mine quite a long time now. My wheel was getting stuck on turns so I knew there was a build up of junk from over the years in there.

On mine:

  • Remove the batteries. Unscrew the screw inside the battery compartment.
  • Lift the shell off the mouse.
  • Life the secondary shell off the mouse (almost looks like it isn't there but it is, tilt it to the right).
  • You now have access to the inside to clean.


Sure enough, mine has built up little dust strings and tiny hairs. Once I cleaned them away it works like a champ again. Make sure to unlock the wheel so you can tilt it and get underneath, also lift the white plastic covering and get inside there.

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picture_perfect   02-02-2008 at 02:42:19 PM
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i can tell someone how to open the ms 3.0 and i can't tell them how to close it back up.

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AlexR   03-03-2009 at 06:01:23 AM
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Ok. I had the same problem. The wheel felt gluggy and wouldn't turn properly. Remove the two oval skid pads at the rear of the mouse (the ones closest to your wrist) Ignore the others. Insert a flat bladed screwdriver into the black-on-black join on the underside curve of the mouse. (NOT the grey-on-black carapace join Gently (it is very easy, if it isn't you have the wrong join) separate the two parts.

Separate the top part of the mouse and the bottom part by moving the bottom part towards you and the top part away from you. There are small plastic lugs pointing backward on the bottom of the mouse that hold the top part on.

To clean the wheel, lift off the white plastic cover that surrounds the wheel, and blow the dust away with your breath. Put cover back on, and reverse all this to put it back together.

My mouse now works better, but is still old and shows its age. This method works but compressed air would too, even if it would be more expensive.

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kdk_warhead   03-12-2009 at 10:08:21 PM
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Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 has 4 screws. One under each pad. This is what i did (if you want the solution right away then go directly to step 5)

Step 1: Cleaned the wheel and the hole in the cover. Didn't work.

Step 2: Antifriction spray. Didn't work.

Step 3: I reduced the notch a little (using a small dremel). Didn't work.

Step 4: Screamed and kicked my wife. Didn't work. Just joking ;)

Step 5: Used the Dremel to enlarge the hole in the circuit board under wheel and THAT did the trick :D . Apparently the "bearings" get worn down over time and then the wheel get to low in the housing and touch the circuit board which course to much friction.

It feels like I have used this mouse for ever and it's still working great in any other aspect so i will try to keep it running as long as possible.

Update:
It wasn’t worn bearings. It’s the rubber that expands over time. That’s way it still didn’t work when I put the cover back on. I removed the rubber and boiled it in water for 10 minutes. That supposed to shrink some types of rubber but it didn’t work and it was almost impossible to put it back on again. I ended up cutting away a section and clue it back on the wheel. I also had to dremel the sides. This was time consuming so I can’t recommend it.

The best way is to leave the rubber as it is and use the Dremel to enlarge the hole in the circuit board and in the cover.


Message edited by kdk_warhead on 03-14-2009 at 10:02:09 AM
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