Your mouse is probably not a device you give too much thought—until it becomes a useless brick on your desk. If yours can't connect to your PC or only works intermittently, it's a problem. Do you need to get a new one? Not necessarily. While swapping in a cheap wireless mouse is an easy fix, there are a few things to try before you shell out for a new ergonomic or gaming mouse.

Like any other peripheral, a mouse needs power. If your wireless mouse isn't working, first make sure it's actually turned on—wireless mice usually include a power switch on the bottom. If it's on, many mice have onboard indicator lights, so check if there's a red or yellow light somewhere. If it's just out of juice, open up the battery bay and swap in some fresh batteries. Otherwise, you'll need to plug it into a power source—look for the charging indicator light to come on.

(Credit: Tom Brant)

Many wireless mice require a dongle to work. These 2.4G mice come with a small receiver that plugs into a USB port and communicates with the device. They're typically small enough to be stored within the battery bay on the mouse itself, so open that up and see if a small connector is hidden within. If you find one, pull it out and plug it into the computer. Switch on the mouse and it should connect. If you've lost this dongle, many mice can also connect via Bluetooth.