Logitech M705 Wireless Mouse: Are the batteries dying, or does the device have a hardware failure?

I have a Logitech M705 wireless mouse. I'm first time using a wireless mouse, so I don't have much experience with the hardware features and behavior.

It is rated that it runs for 3 years with the same batteries. I think this "3 year" rating is calculated for a very low usage and activity; like 2 hours a day. I'm using it for about 12 hours a day, so I expect it to run out of batteries in a much shorter time in my case. I have been using it for about half a year. Recently (for the last two weeks), it started to make some peculiar behavior when clicking and drafging objects.
- When I click something, it sometimes double click it.
- When I drag something from one place to another (or selecting some text), it sometimes drops the object in the halfway (when selecting text, the text which had selected up to that time becomes unselected and it starts to select the rest of the text from that moment), but it goes on being in the "left-button-pressed" state. It is like, the pressed button switches to "unpressed" state for a moment, then returns back to the "pressed" state. When one of these faults occur, it occurs several times sequentially.

There is no problem in pointer movement, scrolling or right-clicking.

Since the batteries last for a very long time for this device, I don't expect it to stop working in an instance. I expect it to give these kind of syndromes of a time period.

My question is;
Is this how batteries run out for a wireless mouse?
Or, is this another kind of hardware/software problem?

hkBattousai

Posted 2012-03-18T11:33:09.593

Reputation: 2 711

If you can, install the Logitech software that will provide a monitor icon in your Windows icon bar. 2) When my Logitech batteries die (I have several different Logitech mice) the mouse just quits -- goes from working fine to not working at all in an instant. I pick it up and see no light on the bottom. 3) Sometimes, on a laptop, "weird mouse behavior" is due to unconsciously having your other hand on/over the touchpad.

< – Daniel R Hicks – 2012-03-18T14:18:45.970

Are you talking about when the rechargeable batteries wear out and need to be replaced or when they run out of juice and need to be recharged? – Lèse majesté – 2012-03-18T18:04:01.807

@Lèsemajesté I asked what happens when voltage level of the batteries drop down into a critical level where the mouse starts to malfunction. – hkBattousai – 2012-03-18T20:13:50.390

That just means it needs to be recharged. If the battery needed to be replaced, it just won't hold a charge, i.e. you charge it to full and less than an hour later it's out of juice again. That's what the 3-year battery life is referring to. But that's to do with the chemical properties of the battery wearing out after a set number of recharge cycles. It has nothing to do with voltages. – Lèse majesté – 2012-03-18T20:20:42.573

1It's dumb to use rechargeable batteries in most mice. You have to disassemble to recharge the batteries, and a standard alkaline will last 3-6 months in most mice (apparently longer with the M705), while rechargeables generally won't last as long between charges. – Daniel R Hicks – 2012-03-18T20:44:16.193

@DanH: Actually, Engadget found that rechargeable AAs last 4x to 6x longer than non-rechargeable batteries. They cost a bit more, but they're still cheaper in the long run. Also, many wireless mice come with receivers that double as charging stations. And even if it didn't, having to remove the batteries to recharge is a stupid reason to not use rechargeable batteries (unless you just throw your mice away when the batteries die). – Lèse majesté – 2012-03-18T21:23:01.793

@Lèsemajesté -- The very early wireless mice often came with charging stations, but I've not seen a rechargeable unit in years. And, while rechargeable batteries may last longer before replacement, a single charge will rarely last as long as an alkaline, given that the self-discharge rates of rechargeable batteries are quite high. – Daniel R Hicks – 2012-03-19T02:56:35.130

@DanH: This one is. The MX Air, which is currently one of Logitech's top rated mice is also rechargable. Likewise with the MX5500, the Marathon M705, and many others. Perhaps it's not as common with laptop mice, but those are typically designed to be smaller and cheaper. Also, low-self-discharge NiMH and rechargeable Alkaline-Manganese batteries (RAM) have comparable self-discharge rates to regular Alkaline batteries.

– Lèse majesté – 2012-03-19T06:43:24.177

Answers

I've had to have my M705 replaced by Logitech two times due to the issues you are describing. The mouse button switch wore out. (they don't make them like they used to) And I only had the first mouse for 9 months and the second for 5 months. Both were replaced before even the original batteries had ran out of power.

Note that I have an existing question: Logitech M705 left mouse button doesn't stay down when pressed

I recommend calling Logitech, going though their questioning, and getting them to send you a replacement.

Dan D.

Posted 2012-03-18T11:33:09.593

Reputation: 5 138

1I've got four Logitech mice (various models), one over 3 years old and the others well over 2. Three of the four used daily in my work. Never had a problem with any of them, other than the batteries dying. – Daniel R Hicks – 2012-03-18T14:23:35.013

1Yes, the older models have better switches. After thinking about it, I think that this mouse (the M705) might apply more force to the switch than the switch is rated for when the mouse button is clicked. Which might explain why the two I had to replace didn't even out live their original batteries. – Dan D. – 2012-03-18T19:40:06.853

1(I also other Logitech mice such as a wireless RR67A which I got in 2003 which still work and which I used more than either of the two M705s I had replaced. my main problem with the RR67A was that it ate batteries which is one of the reasons I choose the M705) – Dan D. – 2012-03-18T19:40:18.380

1I have a Logitech mouse which is at least 4 years old that started to exhibit exactly the same symptoms. I think you have a defective button switch. – Wayne Johnston – 2012-03-18T23:01:40.160

@hkBattousai My Logitech mouse is definitely over 5 years old, the only thing i've ever done is replace the batteries. Not sure how long its supposed to last, but its doing v. well. Perhaps I should get a new one ? – Simon – 2012-12-31T10:49:07.547

To answer the original question, in case someone actually stumbles upon it:

The SetPoint software which can be downloaded from the downloads link in the question should provide information on the battery status and have an estimate of number of days the mouse can be used. In addition to that, once the batteries reach the critical stage, it should also provide pop-up which will inform the user that the batteries are almost dead. Do note that the meter is calibrated for alkaline batteries and may provide incorrect information with other chemistries. Manufacturer provides an illustrated use guide for the software here.

If the use of that software is for some reason not desirable, the LED on top of the mouse should provide information when the battery level is low. Unfortunately, the product page doesn't go into details on how exactly this is achieved, but usually the LED will have two colors. One for use when mouse is just turned on and to signal that mouse is working and another which is only used when battery is low.

AndrejaKo

Posted 2012-03-18T11:33:09.593

Reputation: 16 459

I had this problem. I read another post on a different site suggesting the use of compressed air to clear the laser. So I blew hard on the laser, once, and it sorted the problem out immediately. If only all problems were this simple. Paul

Paul Newton

Posted 2012-03-18T11:33:09.593

Reputation: 31

Your case appears to be different than that of what the question author had. I had an M705 whose middle mouse button failed, and the laser and tracking sensor had nothing to do with it. – bwDraco – 2012-03-25T14:06:15.563

Wireless mice (mouses?) sometimes build up static electricity in the micro switches and cause eratic behaviour like the poster describes with dragging and double clicking problems. You need to discharge that static ... here's how:

Turn on/off switch to off. Remove batteries. Click all buttons and clickers and wheels for at least one minute each. Re-insert batteries. Turn on/off switch to on.

Use your mouse and you will be surprised that it works perfectly.

Dennis

Posted 2012-03-18T11:33:09.593

Reputation: 1

This came out to be a frequently seen problem with this specific mouse model as Don D. explained.

I was lucky that the guaranty period wasn't over, so I sent it to the service and they repaired it for free. They replaced the inner mechanism of the left button. It looks the same from outside. But now the left button is slightly harder to push and makes a different (thicker) sound compared to the right button. The right button hasn't ever done any problem; it may be due to less usage frequency.

If you have this problem with your Logitech M705 mouse, go to you service before its guaranty period is over.

And... I'm still using the same batteries when I asked this question... Battery life of this mouse is indeed amazing!

hkBattousai

Posted 2012-03-18T11:33:09.593

Reputation: 2 711

My M705 mouse flashes a red light when the battery is low. I never installed the software. Generally speaking the mouse works for a little while like this then starts to act up. If after turning off the switch on the bottom of the mouse and back On again, and if it still doesn't flash a red light, it should be green, then "When I click something, it sometimes double click it." sounds like the button microswitches are getting flakey and they can usually be cleaned. For that, the cleaning process is well-documentded on the web.

user182756

Posted 2012-03-18T11:33:09.593

Reputation: 1