So my father got a computer his friend no longer wanted. It is a windows 98 and it works fine....with the exception of it not having a mouse with it. I've tried plugging in other mouses but it doesn't register. It is the same with USB serials too.

It will be awfully hard to work on my new/old computer only by using the arrows keys and the tab button to navigate around.

Can someone please help me?

Win98 does have USB issues in so much it was not properly integrated into 98 or the USB standard wasn't fully worked out - I forget which.

Are you sure:

0: (Can't be bothered to renumber the points below) You aren't using some modern techno multi buttoned mouse that maybe 98 cannot understand?

1: the mouse is connected into the correct socket? Don't want to sound like I'm dumbing you but these things can happen.

2: the mouse is a known 'good' mouse?

3: Does it show up with a problem in 'my computer>properties>hardware'?

4: Clutching at straws here - is it possible you have some BIOS setting that requires itself to be set to recognise a mouse??

HTH

How old is this machine?

Does it have PS2 connectors or the old 9 pin Serial connector? (Which was usually accompanied by an AT type (large) keyboard connector.)

If PS2 there may be an ENABLE/DISABLE bios setting for it.