Do you have a pointing device whose middle button is unsupported under Windows 95? If you do, you'll want to try Cool Mouse 97.

When I recently installed an older Logitech three-button trackball, Windows was able to detect the device and install the correct drivers, but the middle button was completely useless. I then installed CoolMouse and it brought that middle button back to life. It can now be used for double-clicking and a whole lot more. It gives your middle button powerful window management features which are lacking in Windows 95. These include "rolling" up a program into its title bar, quickly minimizing any program to the system tray and automatically scrolling a window by simply holding down the middle button.

There was an unexpected surprise with this program, I was able to minimize the Desktop to the system tray.

Although Cool Mouse can be run like a conventional programs, I recommend setting it to run automatically from startup. The program is well behaved as it runs minimized in the system tray. Features can be easily changed by simply right clicking on the Cool Mouse icon. Online help is quite thorough and also includes a troubleshooting guide.

Update (March 1999): The author has released a newer version and version 2.1 has been removed from his site. It can still be found elsewhere, but my advice is not to wait and download it soon.

Update (August 2001): The author's name appears in search engines, but this product does not appear to exist as of August 2001.

Platforms
Windows 95 and 98. Does not work in Windows NT.

Author
Kirill M. Kirillov - home page used to be located at www.surfport.com/solver but does not exist anymore.

Pros
Provides functions for the middle mouse button.
Freeware

Cons
Windows 95 and 98 only, no NT version.

Copyright © 1999 Irwin Romanek All rights reserved.