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JLFarrell 0 Newbie Poster

None of the other "can't find mouse" descriptions apply to my problem. After using SnowLeopard on a Mac Mini for 1.5 years, twice now I've found my computer turned off after leaving it on overnight. Ok, that could be a power glitch. No one else touches this computer, so that isn't something to investigate either.
The problem occurred - on two occasions now - when I turned the computer back on -"No mouse connected -.Looking for a wireless mouse or trackpad" Wha? I'm using an Apple mouse connected to my keyboard, just the combination I bought at the Apple Store. One comment on an older thread (tangentially related) noted a possibility of a low-voltage USB port. That was insightful but it probably isn't what' happening here. Other ideas about "try this" that require the keyboard can't help here either because, when this happens, the keyboard is inert until the "un-find-able" is found.
In both cases the way I recovered was by just shutting down the Mac and turning it back on -- but it took 3 or 4 times! An intermittent wiring connection in some cable can't be ruled out. I hope not, because those are hardest to find. So the question arises: Is there anything in the OS that sometimes does but sometimes doesn't like being ignored for hours? And even if so, is there anything in the software that sometimes can but sometimes can't see its own (Apple) drivers? Finally, should I buy an apple wireless mouse for the next time this happens? Any and all insight is very much appreciated. JLF

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Dani AI

Generated

This kind of intermittent “keyboard + mouse vanish together” usually points to the keyboard’s built‑in USB hub or a USB power/wake problem rather than Snow Leopard “forgetting” its drivers. When the mouse is plugged into the keyboard’s pass‑through the keyboard becomes a single point of failure: a bad cable, flaky hub, or sleep/wake power glitch can make both devices disappear at boot.

Suggested triage (simple → deeper):

  • Move the mouse away from the keyboard and plug it directly into the Mac’s USB port; reboot and check whether it appears.
  • Try a different USB port, a different mouse or cable, or a powered USB hub to rule out under‑powering.
  • Open About This Mac → More Info… → System Profile (System Profiler) → USB to see whether the bus shows the keyboard/mouse when they’re plugged in.
  • Check Console.app (Applications/Utilities/Console.app) for IOUSBFamily or USB errors around the time of the failed boot — those log lines identify hardware/hub failures.
  • Perform an SMC reset (Mac mini: shut down, unplug power for ~15 seconds, plug back in, wait a few seconds, then start) and a PRAM reset (restart and hold Command+Option+P+R until the second startup chime). Safe‑boot (hold Shift at startup) can help rule out 3rd‑party kexts.

About wireless: a Bluetooth mouse avoids the keyboard hub, but only if it was paired previously and Bluetooth is active at login; a single Bluetooth mouse alone won’t help if the wired keyboard is needed for a password. For reliability, either plug input devices directly into the Mac or use a paired Bluetooth keyboard+mouse (or replace the keyboard if its hub/cable proves flaky). If the problem persists, run Apple Hardware Test or take the Mac/keyboard in for hardware diagnostics — intermittent hub/cable faults are common and usually hardware fixes.

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