Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!caesar.cs.montana.edu!milton!whit
From: whit@milton.acs.washington.edu (John Whitmore)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Experience with alternative mice?
Summary: Cable repair possible
Keywords: My cat ate my mouse!
Message-ID: <2391@milton.acs.washington.edu>
Date: 14 Mar 90 05:47:07 GMT
References: <669@obi-wan.ACA.MCC.COM>
Reply-To: whit@milton.acs.washington.edu (John Whitmore)
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Lines: 27

In article <669@obi-wan.ACA.MCC.COM> mark@obi-wan.ACA.MCC.COM (Mark Scheevel) writes:
>Sunday morning my wife and I were awakened by the sound of one of our
>cats playing with something in our bedroom; after yelling at her (the
>cat!) a few times, she gave up and left, and we went back to sleep.
>It wasn't until later when our daughter announced that "the computer
>won't work" that we discovered what the cat had actually been up to:
>the mouse cord was completely severed about 4" from the mouse!
>
	And Apple won't replace the cord?  Those turkeys!  The mouse
comes apart, and the cord unplugs, in a few seconds.  But nooo, 
that would mean stocking another part in the warehouse, and we 
don't need to do that because we can always sell you a new mouse...
	Okay, try this: open up the mouse, and unplug the cable.
Observe the strain relief that the cable goes through: it is
a tight fit, but you may find you can pull the cable out of the strain
relief.  Then insert the free end of the other segment of the 
cord, and pull it through the strain relief.  If this has all worked,
you have a cord 6" shorter than the original, looking unblemished.
	Now put the original connector onto the cord (solder to
the individual contacts; they can be pulled out of the connector, I 
think), and reassemble the mouse.
	If the lessened cord length bothers you, use a joystick
extension cable (for the nine-pin mouse)-Radio Shack will have these.
Last step: retrain your cat (or at least get it some less
pricey toys).

I am known for my brilliance,             John Whitmore
 by those who do not know me well.