How to. . . train your mouse

When you get a new PC, you might not find your mouse operating up to the standards you are used to. Here are some tricks that can improve its performance.

1. If your mouse is moving sluggishly, try adjusting its speed. Go to Control Panel and select Mouse. In the Mouse Properties window that opens, select the Pointer Options tab, then "Select a pointer speed." Drag the control to your speed comfort zone. At the bottom of the window, click Apply, then OK.

2. If your pointer occasionally goes off screen or you can't find it, under the same Pointer Options tab, go to the bottom of the list and click "Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key." Now, when you press CTRL, a circle will momentarily surround your pointer, so it can be easily located.

3. If you double-click folders and they don't open, in the Mouse Properties window select the Activities tab. Try dragging the control by small amounts toward the Slow end until the folder in the Test Area easily opens and closes when you double-click it.