One minute you’re filling out a ridiculously long form, or fervently writing a massive blog post… when your finger slips, or you squeeze your mouse in frustration… and you hear the distinctive “click” noise, and suddenly you’re browser brings you back to the last page you were on… A glimpse of hope pops up, a window asking you if you’d like to “Resubmit your form input?” …  you click it, but alas, all your work is gone, all thanks to the third mouse button that nobody even asked for. I feel for you, I really do… Let’s put a stop to the problem that brought you here, it’s time to disable the back button on your mouse!

STEP 1:

Press and hold on your keyboard to bring up the “Start ? Run” window.

STEP 2:

Type “main.cpl” in the Open: box then hit the OK button.

STEP 3:

If you have a Microsoft® mouse and you have the Intellipoint® software already installed, you will see a window like the one pictured below. If you have a Microsoft® mouse and do not see the window, or you have a different brand of mouse, see below.

STEP 4:

Use the Large thumb button: pull down menu to choose  a new action it will perform. You can choose to disable the button entirely (pictured on the right) or pick whatever strikes you as being more functional and less catastrophic if accidentally clicked.

For example, the Flip3D option, lets you switch between open windows using a 3D flipbook style interface.

STEP 5:
Click the Apply button in the button left hand corner of the screen… Now squeeze and misclick away hamburger hands, you’re in the clear!

WHAT ABOUT ME?

If you have a Microsoft® mouse and see a more basic window, with no mentions of a third button, you need to head on over to the Mouse and Keyboard Hardware Download Software page. There you will select your hardware and operating system and will be provided a link to download the appropriate version of Microsoft’s fanciful mouse driver, dubbed Intellipoint®. (You can also check out FileHippo.com’s page for Intellipoint®)

If you do not have a Microsoft® Mouse and have checked all of the tabs in the mouse window that appears and there is no mention of a third mouse button you need to download the mouse driver for your mouse from your mouse’s software vendor.

Mouse Driver Links for Common Vendors (subject to change):

• Logitech > Support + Downloads > Downloads > Mice:
• Belkin: Support: Search: Downloads
• Kensington – MouseWorks download for Windows
• Targus | Support Downloads and Drivers