Depending on your Windows Vista configuration, when you type information into most software such as Notepad or Microsoft Word, your mouse pointer may disappear.

Many people appreciate this behavior as the mouse pointer may cover up text as it is being typed. While keying in a large document, the mouse pointer may not be needed, so why add another distracting onscreen element?

Others may find this behavior irritating, especially if they frequently need to use the pointer to cut, copy, paste, and/or move text. Or, in word processors, the pointer may frequently be needed to adjust paragraph margins, line spacing, text formatting, etc. Since one may not remember where the mouse pointer was before starting to type, when moving the mouse to display the pointer once again, it may take a few extra seconds to re-find it.

To toggle this behavior:

1. Open the Windows Vista "Mouse Properties" dialog box.

2. Click the "Pointer Options" tab.

3. Underneath "Visibility", check or uncheck "Hide pointer while typing" as needed.

4. Click "OK" to close the "Mouse Properties" dialog box.

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