Rapidly Reveal the Location of the Mouse Pointer

At times that pesky mouse pointer can be a little hard to spot, especially if the background of the screen you are viewing is complex, overly cluttered or there is too much ambient light. In fact, many computer users, particularly those with vision impairments, might find that the mouse pointer is sometimes irritatingly illusive.

However, Windows XP has a built-in remedy that can overcome this problem. You can configure your mouse so that an easily spotted circle animation reveals your hiding mouse pointer when you press the "Control" key.

To enable this feature, first click "Start" and then click "Control Panel".

If the Control Panel is in Category View:

Click "Printers and other Hardware" and then click "Mouse".
In the "Mouse Properties" window, click the "Pointer Options" tab.
Click to place a tick in the "Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key" checkbox.
Click "OK" to save the change and exit the "Mouse Properties" window.
Exit the Control Panel.

If the Control Panel is in Classic View:

Click the "Mouse" icon.
In the "Mouse Properties" window, click the "Pointer Options" tab.
Click to place a tick in the "Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key" checkbox.
Click "OK" to save the change and exit the "Mouse Properties" window.
Exit the Control Panel.

Now, if you misplace the mouse pointer on the screen, just hit the "Control" key and a shrinking circle will clearly reveal its whereabouts.

If you decide that you do not need this option, simply return to the "Mouse Properties" window as instructed above and remove the tick from "Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key" checkbox.

XP Tips - Computer Tips for Windows XP