Mouse Connected to Disabled COM Port Functions Properly

• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

You may experience either of the following situations:

• Although the current hardware profile indicates that the PS/2-style or serial port to which the mouse is attached is disabled, the mouse functions properly.
• Although the current hardware profile indicates that a particular serial port is disabled, you can communicate with that port from an MS-DOS prompt.

CAUSE

When you start Windows 95 with a hardware profile in which the port that the mouse is connected to is disabled, the Windows 95 mouse driver searches all the appropriate ports for a mouse. If the driver locates a mouse, the driver loads and the mouse works correctly.

Similarly, accessing a serial port from an MS-DOS prompt bypasses the virtual communications driver, accessing the port directly. Therefore, you can communicate with the port even if it is disabled in Device Manager.

RESOLUTION

If you do not want to use a mouse in Windows 95, remove the mouse in Device Manager and then disconnect the mouse from the computer.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.