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  #1  
Old March 6th, 2015, 09:43 PM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
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Track Ball Insanity!

I have an OLD Kensington Track Ball.

Model #64215 Version 5.0
Last Driver & Software version 6.22

Yes, it is 15 years old now.
But it has never given me any trouble.

Only now I'm migrating my own personal PC from XP SP3,
To Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit.

Only I find out that Kensington does not have 64-bit Drivers, or Software
for this older model Track Ball.

I've been scouring the web looking for a solution that will allow me to still use this old relic.
But have had no luck.

Why don't I just replace it with a new one?

#1) I paid $130.00 for this Track Ball.
{Which was a lot of money back then.}


#2) The latest Track Balls that Kensington has to offer are not as well made.
{I've replaced or repaired a dozen of the newer ones, because of plastic bearing beads that wear out quite fast.}
{The Older 64215 has Steel Bearings, that are nearly indestructible.}


#3) It took me about 5 years to find a Track Ball that was easy for me to use, was durable, worked good for mechanical drawing, and regular drawing, Web browsing, and comfortable for my hand.

I'm looking at the Kensington Expert Mouse Ultimate Trackball.

But after seeing how poorly designed the bearing are on the other Track Balls they've come out with.
I'm somewhat reluctant to plunk down another $100 or more.

Thus,
I want to know if any have come up with a Driver/Software solution for the older Track Ball.
Or.......
If you have the Newer Kensington Expert Mouse Ultimate Trackball.
Have you run into any problems with it?


Signed: Ensign Tzap
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  #2  
Old March 6th, 2015, 10:42 PM
Murf's Avatar
Murf Murf is offline
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Is that a Serial connecting mouse or Ps/2 or have both on it? I think maybe a serial connector to the mouse then Ps2 to the computer?

Have you been here?
http://list.driverguide.com/list/com...ge3/index.html
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  #3  
Old March 7th, 2015, 02:13 AM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Murf View Post
Is that a Serial connecting mouse or Ps/2 or have both on it? I think maybe a serial connector to the mouse then Ps2 to the computer?
It can do either Ps2 or 9-pin serial.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Murf View Post
Forgot about Driver Guide.

I did go check out the link.
Only found one driver that may even remotely work,
but it is for Vista.
I may just down load it anyway, and give it a try.
Though I'm not too optimistic that it will work.

Been trying to use XP compatibility mode,
but since the Track Ball isn't on the Windows 7 list.
It won't even try to find it, or use the install program.

I have tried forcing Windows 7 to see the *inf install program.
But that too has failed.

It really irks me too.....
When I look at the spec's on Professional Business Track Balls that are hundreds of dollars.
They have the same heavy duty parts that this old Kensington has in it.


Signed: Ensign Tzap
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  #4  
Old March 7th, 2015, 05:38 PM
Digerati Digerati is offline
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Quote:
Why don't I just replace it with a new one?

#1) I paid $130.00 for this Track Ball.
{Which was a lot of money back then.}
I hate to say it, but this is just the cost of progress.

Until recently I had a whole store room full of old, but still perfectly good, CRT and 4:3 LCD monitors (including a gorgeous 17" Samsung Porsche Design monitor that cost me nearly $800 when new - a bargain at the time), CRT TVs, VCRs (including a Betamax VCR), CD players and drives, stereo receivers, bigger than I will EVER need hard drives that are too small, wired mice and keyboards, cell phones, wireless phones, laser printers, power supplies, thumb drives, digital and film cameras, notebooks, RAM, CPUs, graphics cards, motherboards, cases and more.

Clearly, all that stuff cost me many $thousands when new. I ended up taking it all to a local electronics recycling center where I got $80 - mostly for precious metals and bulk weight and an empty store room. The only thing that made me feel good about was I new the hazardous waste would be properly disposed of, instead of dumped in a landfill.

I surely sympathize with you but letting go of our favorite, but obsolete things is just a fact of life - and essential if we want to stay current, or in this case, safe and secure with a modern OS.
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  #5  
Old March 7th, 2015, 11:31 PM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
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Yeah, I know Digerati.

I just replaced my 20" MITSUBISHI Diamond Pro 920 CRT Monitor with a ViewSonic 19" Flat Panel Screen.

Don't like it as much as the old CRT.
The colors don't look right on this newer 19" Flat Panel.
Blacks aren't Black.
They're more like a dirty Grey.
And the viewing angle stuff kinda sux's too.

Well.......
Digerati have you {Or anyone else} messed around with, or own a Kensington Expert Mouse Ultimate Trackball?

As I stated.
Quote:
#2) The latest Track Balls that Kensington has to offer are not as well made.
{I've replaced or repaired a dozen of the newer ones, because of plastic bearing beads keep wearing out.}
This is a big sticking point for me.
I want something that is durable, and going too last.
But yet is comfortable and easy to use.

I haven't had one of these Ultimate Trackballs come in for repair.
So, I'd like some feedback from people who own, or have owned one.


Signed: Ensign Tzap
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  #6  
Old March 8th, 2015, 04:20 PM
Digerati Digerati is offline
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No, sorry. I have not used a trackball in many years. And yeah, there are a lot of qualities with a good CRT monitor that many folks still prefer. But I am not aware of any widescreen CRTs still on the market. Plus, CRTs are big, heavy, power hungry heat generators that just don't fit with today's computing environments.

You didn't say which Viewsonic, but for sure, you get better viewing angles and better colors and blacker blacks when you go with their larger, more expensive models. Same with Samsung and other makers.
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  #7  
Old March 9th, 2015, 06:24 PM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Digerati View Post
No, sorry. I have not used a trackball in many years. And yeah, there are a lot of qualities with a good CRT monitor that many folks still prefer. But I am not aware of any widescreen CRTs still on the market. Plus, CRTs are big, heavy, power hungry heat generators that just don't fit with today's computing environments.
Before I had the Diamond monitor. I had a 22" CRT Hitachi NSA Grade Monitor.
Heavy as h*ll to move.
But was great for gaming, or doing any drawings.
Had to let it go when the CRT started going out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Digerati View Post
You didn't say which Viewsonic, but for sure, you get better viewing angles and better colors and blacker blacks when you go with their larger, more expensive models. Same with Samsung and other makers.
The ViewSonic is a VX1935mw.
Got it from the local E-Cycler for $30.

Still no luck with getting my old trackball working the way I want it.
The Drivers from DriverGuide won't work under Win 7 either.

Signed: Ensign Tzap

Last edited by Ensign Tzap; March 10th, 2015 at 12:03 AM.
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  #8  
Old March 9th, 2015, 06:39 PM
Digerati Digerati is offline
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It seems you choices for a new one are limited - and all seem to have mixed reviews.
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  #9  
Old March 11th, 2015, 04:26 AM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Digerati View Post
It seems your choices for a new one are limited - and all seem to have mixed reviews.
Yeah,

I did a bunch of digging on the Kensington Expert Mouse Ultimate Trackball.
There have been multiple reports of failed Scroll Rings, and Bearings failing, or popping out.

Thou.....
I came across a Kensington 64214 Turbo Mouse Pro USB Trackball with 6 Direct Web Buttons USB for Windows or Mac selling on Amazon.

$600.00 New in the box.
Used ones are going for $165.00 to $195.00.

I kinda understand why this one is highly sought after,
but I'm seeing my own 64215 going for $50 to $100 on the used market.

I found this CT Trackball.

It has the same Hardware in it as my old Kensington.
But costs $309.00 to $375.00.

Still no luck finding a driver software for Windows 7 64-Bit.


Signed: Ensign Tzap
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  #10  
Old March 11th, 2015, 04:53 PM
Digerati Digerati is offline
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Quote:
$600.00 New in the box.
But they are small, so get two!
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  #11  
Old March 12th, 2015, 03:06 AM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
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UPDATE:

Tried connecting it up to the Serial Port.
No change.

I've tried Xmouse as well.
No luck with it either

I can get the Trackball to work with Microsoft PS/2 Mouse Driver,
or the Microsoft Serial Mouse Driver.
But the Pointer Speed is not fast enough.
I have to jog the ball several times just to get from the top to the bottom of the screen, or from the left side to the right side.
{Very frustrating}
Since when I put it back on a XP SP3 machine.
I can easily move the cursor the full area of the screen with very little hand movement.

Is there any other third party software around like Xmouse.
But will allow you to adjust or fine tune the Pointer Speed or Acceleration?
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  #12  
Old March 12th, 2015, 02:41 PM
Digerati Digerati is offline
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It is up to the hardware maker to supply compatible drivers for newer operating systems so you might try contacting Kensington. I note on their web page, they have a new trackball driver dated February 2015. But note too a lot of legacy hardware (and software too) is just not compatible with new operating systems.

But also, many hardware makers refuse to continue development of drivers for legacy hardware because committing the resources is not cost effective when there are so few of the old devices still in use. And that's true because they get $0.00 in return for the time and labor expended.

But it is also true they don't continue legacy support in part, because they want you to buy new hardware.

From what I can find while looking for a solution here is the new Trackballworks software from Kensington works for some folks, but not others. And for some of those "others" Xmouse works. But for many, nothing but a new trackball works.
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  #13  
Old March 13th, 2015, 04:25 AM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Digerati View Post
It is up to the hardware maker to supply compatible drivers for newer operating systems so you might try contacting Kensington. I note on their web page, they have a new trackball driver dated February 2015. But note too a lot of legacy hardware (and software too) is just not compatible with new operating systems.

But also, many hardware makers refuse to continue development of drivers for legacy hardware because committing the resources is not cost effective when there are so few of the old devices still in use. And that's true because they get $0.00 in return for the time and labor expended.

But it is also true they don't continue legacy support in part, because they want you to buy new hardware.

From what I can find while looking for a solution here is the new Trackballworks software from Kensington works for some folks, but not others. And for some of those "others" Xmouse works. But for many, nothing but a new trackball works.
I tried the latest version of Trackballworks software.
It installed just fine, but can't see the trackball since it isn't using a kensington driver.

I have also gotten my old version of MouseWorks 6.22 to install using XP Compatibility Utility.
But comes up with the same issue, and won't even try to install the old Kensington driver to replace the Microsoft driver.

I'm going to go back and read the old MouseWorks Install and setup Text file.
Maybe I need to install the Software first.
Then plug the Trackball in, and see if Win 7 will then use the old 32-bit Kensington drivers.

UPDATE:

Still no luck getting this to work the way I want.

But while I was on ebay, I'm seeing even more outrageous prices on the older Kensington TrackBalls.

Some Hackers must know something the rest of us don't.


Signed: Ensign Tzap

Last edited by Ensign Tzap; March 13th, 2015 at 09:22 PM.
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  #14  
Old March 14th, 2015, 10:01 PM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
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UPDATE:

Well after doing some more web mining.
I think I know why the older TrackBalls are in such high demand now.

Seems that the Gamers are hacking them for their gaming systems.
Either modding game pads and adding a Trackball to it.
Or simply modding the TrackBall too hookup to their game system.

Even seeing Trackballs being used in MAME's (M)ultiple (A)rcade (M)achine (E)mulator.

Well,
Still no luck with the Kensington.

After Looking at several Trackballs.

Found this one.

QTronix Libra 90 Trackball, Black - Wired USB or PS/2

It lists for $30.
But I need too find the Spec's on it first.

If it meet's my requirements then I might just get it.
{Though it seems more like a down grade.}


Signed: Ensign Tzap


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  #15  
Old March 19th, 2015, 03:35 AM
Ensign Tzap Ensign Tzap is offline
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UPDATE:

Well......
Still doing some more web mining.

The QTronix seller doesn't include software with their TrackBall.
Sent an E-mail to the company, but no reply as of yet.

Meanwhile......
Waiting for more Info on this TrackBall.

Found out it is a DT-225 made by APEM Inc.
DigiKey carries two Models: one Black/USB Connector, one Grey/PS/2 Connector.
http://www.digikey.com/product-searc...T225&x=15&y=10
Just need too know what OS's they will support.

On the Third Party Mouse Software front......

I came across these guys in Japan.
http://plentycom.jp/en/index.html

Their SteerMouse and CursorSense mouse software sound like just what I'm looking for.
The site states that the SteerMouse will work with Windows PC's.
But I'm seeing mostly stuff for Mac.

I'd contact these guy's.
Only I can't seem to get the Contact Link on their Support page to work.

Can someone try their Contact Link, and post the E-mail address here?
Or Just PM it to me?
If you can get access too it that is?

Thanks.


Signed: Ensign Tzap
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