IS THERE POWER?
Wireless devices, unlike their corded bretheren, need batteries. Naturally, your devices will not work consistently if their power is patchy or inadequate. The first thing you will want to do if you are having trouble with your wireless keyboard or mouse is to make sure the batteries are not worn down and are installed properly.
The two most common types of wireless mice are optical and laser. On an optical mouse, if you see a red light coming from the bottom of the mouse, you should be good to go. On a laser mouse, there is usually a power indicator light on it somewhere to let you know the power status.
Checking if there is power to your keyboard is a bit more complicated. Usually hitting the Caps Lock, Num Lock or Scroll Lock keys will cause a light on your keyboard to go on. If it does, you have power. If it doesn't, you should probably replace the batteries.
Note: Some models of wireless keyboards have the Caps Lock, Num Lock and Scroll Lock lights on the mouse charging station and/or wireless receiver. If you don't see any lights when you hit one of those keys on your keyboard, check the mouse charging station or USB receiver when you toggle those keys. The indicator lights might be there. If your keyboard doesn't have indicator lights for these buttons, you may want to just replace the batteries with new ones. With wireless accessories just go ahead and put in fresh batteries if the device isn't working. Unless, of course, you just replaced them.
RESYNC YOUR DEVICES WITH THE USB RECEIVER
Your keyboard and mouse send their wireless signal to the USB receiver that came with your setup. The receiver will be plugged into one of the USB ports on your computer. Sometimes the receiver gets out of sync with the wireless devices, causing them to stop working.
Resyncing the setup is fairly easy. There is usually a "Connect" button somewhere on the USB receiver. Press that button. Usually there will be a light on the receiver that will start flashing when the "Connect" button is pressed. Then press the "Connect" button on the keyboard and/or mouse. This will stop the flashing light on the USB receiver. Your receiver is now synced with the keyboard and/or mouse.
Some brands of wireless accessories may have an adapter without a “Connect” button on it. In those cases, there should be a program installed on your computer that is used to pair the devices. Refer to the directions that came with your mouse and keyboard to find what program to use to reconnect your devices.
If you continue to have trouble with your devices, you may want to try connecting the receiver to another USB port on your computer. It usually takes a minute or two for your computer to recognize a device plugged in to a USB port. Be sure to give it time after you switch ports before resyncing.
Note: Some newer keyboards and mice are able to connect via Bluetooth to a computer equipped with a Bluetooth radio or adapter. If your mouse and keyboard are connected in this fashion, you will want to refer to the directions that came with the accessories to put them into pairing mode and connect them to your computer.
TEST YOUR DEVICES ON ANOTHER COMPUTER
If your devices have power and were resynced to your USB receiver, it could be there is something wrong with one of the devices. To be sure it is a device problem, you will want to try to connect your devices to a different computer. If you have the same problem with the devices on two different computers, it is likely a mechanical problem with the device itself.
