Who took my mouse pointer?

Original Article @ Microsoft.com

3 ways to keep your cursor in plain sight

Is your mouse pointer, also called the “cursor,” always disappearing from your screen? Not a problem. You can customize your pointer so you can find it in a snap.

In this article, you'll find ways to change your pointer in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. If you have Windows XP, visit Customize your mouse settings. These tips will make working with your pointer easier, saving you time and frustration.

1. Change the way your pointer looks

With Windows, you can customize how your mouse pointer looks, including picking its shape, speed, and visibility

Change mouse settings

You can customize pointer’s shape, visibility, and other characteristics, such as motion and visibility.

Windows 7

1.    Click the Start button , and then click Control Panel.
2.    Click Hardware and Sound, and then under Devices and Printers, click Mouse.
3.    In the Mouse Properties box, click on the "Pointers" and "Pointer Options" tab, and adjust options.
4.    In the "Pointers" tab, you can change the shape and size of your cursor by changing the "scheme."
5.    In the "Pointer Options" tab, you can change the speed, visibility, and other characteristics of your pointer.

Windows Vista

1.    Click the Start button , click Control Panel, and then click Control Panel Home.
2.    Click Ease of Access.
3.    Under Ease of Access Center, click Change how your mouse works.

Make the mouse easier to use

Follow these instructions to enlarge the pointer and change its color.

Windows 7

1.    Click the Start button , click Control Panel, and then click Ease of Access.
2.    Under Ease of Access Center, click Change how your mouse works.
3.    Make the changes you want, and click OK.

Windows Vista

1.    Click the Start button , click Control Panel, and then click Control Panel Home.
2.    Under Hardware and Sound, click Mouse.
3.    In the Mouse Properties dialog box, click the Pointers tab, and then, under Customize, select an option or click Browse.
4.    Click OK.

2. Locate your pointer with one click

To make it even easier to find your pointer, you can change your settings so that you can find your pointer in the future by clicking your mouse.

Locate your pointer

Windows 7

1.    Click the Start button , and then click Control Panel.
2.    Click Hardware and Sound, click Devices and Printers, and then click Mouse.
3.    In the Mouse Properties box, click the Pointer Options tab.
4.    Under Visibility, select the Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key check box, and then click OK.

Note: After you complete these steps, just press the CTRL key whenever you need to find the pointer, and it will appear.

Windows Vista

1.    Click the Start button , and then click Control Panel, and then click Control Panel Home.
2.    Under Hardware, click Mouse.
3.    In the Mouse Properties box, click the Pointer Options tab.
4.    Under Visibility, select the Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key check box, and then click OK.

Note: After you complete these steps, just press the CTRL key whenever you need to find the pointer, and it will appear.

3. Make sure your mouse is comfortable to use

Do you find using your mouse to be awkward or uncomfortable? Then it’s a good time for you to evaluate the ergonomics of your desktop.

The Microsoft Healthy Computing Guide provides valuable tips about how to work more comfortably and reduce your risk of injury.

You can browse for and buy ergonomic mice, keyboards, and other PC accessories at the Microsoft Store.