Seeing as this post is the highest search under Google for "MX518 Broken" and I receive PM's on a semi regular basis, I figured I'd update this thread for those who still use the venerable Logitech MX518 (or G5) and need more information on how to get the mysterious freezing problem fixed.
Mice affected: Logitech MX510, Logitech MX518, Logitech G5 first gen (one thumb button)
The problem:
- A TOTAL mouse freeze: No button clicking, mouse movement, or scrolling registers.
- Unplugging and replugging does not fix the issue.
- Using the PS/2 adapter results in the same problem, only instead of replugging the mouse to fix the issue, the system needs to be restarted.
- Using other USB ports has no effect.
- Other USB devices (Gamepads, keyboard, MP3, etc) all work fine without problems.
- Reinstalling mouse drivers and USB drivers does not rectify.
- Changing USB settings in WIndows and BIOS does not rectify the problem
- This problem also occurs on other computers.
The actual problem:
The USB cable at the top of the mouse is loose from its wiring inside the body. This often occurs for people who play at very low sensitivities or have their mouse cord hanging behind the desk in a way that constantly pulls on it.
You can verify that this is your problem by pushing the cord near the body back into the mouse. If the freezing magically goes away for a few minutes, then congratulations! You own a defective Logitech MX518!
The fix:
Apparently, swapping the cord from any other USB mouse can fix the problem, however that requires some DIY skills and an extra cord. I don't know how to do that, but if you are lazy like me and would rather send away for a replacement, call Logitech's support number for your country (available at http://www.logitech.com) and request an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization). If your rep doesn't know about the problem, let them know it's a well documented issue. In USA, they will ship you a free replacement without requiring the return of the defective mouse! In Canada and other locations, you may have to send the mouse back. I personally was given a free express shipped replacement the first time, but in subsequent attempts have had to return the product first.
I have successfully RMA'ed four defective MX518s this way and currently use the swap and ship system: When one MX518 dies, I unbox my brand new backup and send away the broken one! This way I will never be without a working mouse.
Feel free to post with more information below. I will bump this thread for those who haven't seen it already!
It may truly be hardware related... To check, I'd try your exact mouse on another computer, such as a friend's or neighbor's. Use the same / similar mouse surface for this test.
When I say hardware related, your optical lens on the underside of the mouse might have gotten dirty or cloudy. To clean, you get good optical cleaner and a cotton swab... do NOT use paper towel (too abrasive). Make sure to blow-dry (with canned air) that optical recess out. I've had a mouse or two seemingly "fail" on me, only to find that the herki-jerkiness and freezing is caused by something as small as a hair lodged in the optical recess. The hair refracts or obstructs the focused LED enough that the optical lens gets light scatter, and the mouse freaks out.
Also, has the mouse been dropped or banged (like, getting TK'd or blown up by some n00b who has no business getting the best of you, and you... vent your frustration. I know the feeling) recently? You might have unseated either the optical lens itself, or the LED's focusing lens... so it's a bit out of kilter. The coordinate reading matrix might be freaking out, and sending coordinates that the mouse driver is just going, "WTF?" to, and freezing.
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Want to speed up commerce in the USA? Privatize the US Post Office, and turn it into a free-enterpise company that has to actually compete on the open market, instead of hide behind the government's skirt.
Are your sure your usb ports are wired correctly?If your using the front case usb ports.I know i had some trouble once with my front usb ports once turned out i had 2 wire's going to the wrong leads.My usb leads wires have these little tiny single plastic clips that slide on to the post lead.
Well, I tried cleaning the mouse lens with a Q-Tip and some water and drying it off with a spray can, and it worked fine for about half an hour (before it was 2-10 min). I thought I was free, but it just froze again. maybe I didn't clean it well enough or something. Any other ideas?
I second Jake's suggestion, take off all the drivers which came with it and try it without them. If you have no problems you can maybe hope for a driver update from Logitec.
I am currently using the mouse without drivers: It locks up slightly more frequently, but it seems to right itself after a few seconds. Annoying because I lose my button assignments in games, but I can live with it. And it's nice not having to replug the mouse every 30 seconds.
Ok update: I took the mouse in to the retailer, and he tested it from Saturday until now. He says it works absolutely flawlessly. The talk around the store is that it's a driver problem but that seems weird to me because I've uninstalled and reinstalled them so many times. I've done the same with USB drivers to no avail.
Another thought of mine is that it may be an IRQ setting conflict. I moved my sound card over to another PCI slot and took out an expansion Ethernet card I don't use and am using an MX510 with no problems.
I'm getting the mouse back hopefully today and am going to repair Windows to see if that helps. Hopefully this will be the last stage of troubleshooting.
I had the exact same problem with two 518s. The first one worked fine for about a year then started randomly freezing, I figured it was just broken and bough another one. So now it's been another year and it's having the same problem.
Ok so I'll cut the crap, here's the good news. The problem is the usb cord is getting cut off at the neck of the mouse (if you take out the cord you'll notice that it freezes when you pull it and works when you squinch it). All you have to do is open it up and swap it with any other mouse cable.
Btw, the plug has two hooks keeping it in place, just pry the outer plastic away from them to wiggle it out.
Yes, I did eventually find that it was the issue. Although I have never swapped the cables between mice, I have successfully RMA'ed two of them in the past two years and am about to send back another. The problem is quite obviously documented at Logitech and they have done a great job of streamlining the RMA process to get things done much more quickly. I did, however, keep a stock of them handy. I have two of them new in box waiting for this one to die!
wow didn't know about the flaw of the MX518. Hey bonfire nicejob on updating, I'm sure it will help many people.
Also, you can always buy razer brand mouses, I've been using the Razer diamond back for about 4 years now and It has been great!
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