Mouse clicks suddenly stops working
Lately, I've been experiencing issues with my USB wireless mouse. While working on something, or even sometimes while the system is idle, the mouse buttons will stop working. I can move the mouse around all I want, and the cursor will move on-screen, but I cannot click on anything. When this occurs, sometimes I can scroll, other times not. Throughout, the keyboard still continues to function. The only way to get the mouse to start working properly again is to either restart the computer or restart the X server by pressing CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE. There is nothing wrong with the mouse, it works fine while plugged into other machines. I have all the latest updates according to the Software Updater. Any ideas?
EDIT: Also thought I'd note that when another mouse is plugged in while the mouse is not functioning, it is unable to click as well. The strange thing is, though, Firefox still works with the mouse as it should, while other applications do not.
System Specs:
- Compaq Presario SR2170NX
- Dual Intel Pentium 4 Processor
- 2 GB RAM, 2.4 GB swap
- iHome USB wireless mouse
- Ubuntu 12.10 (This is a clean install, about 2-3 weeks old.)
Solution 1:
This is not an answer, per se, although it does have an easier workaround to recover.
I started having this same (I believe) problem with 14.04. It seems like the current active window works OK, but won't close or move, and other windows won't work at all with the mouse. Keyboard works fine.
If I close the working window, and reopen, it no longer works.
No clue as to cause, but my quick, non-destructive workaround is to switch to a VT and back: For example, Alt + Ctrl + F5, then when you get the login prompt, simply press Alt + F7 to switch back to the GUI, and everything is back to normal, with all windows still open.
Let me know if this works for you (or anyone else reading this).