Retro Wireless Apple Mouse

It's been a while since we created our last Instructable but we're back! In this guide, you'll learn how to put an old wired Apple ADB mouse to good use with upgraded wireless capabilities! Don't forget vote for us in the Fix & Improve it Contest and to visit our blog: http://www.unconventionalhacker.com 
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Tools used: 
Phillips Head Screwdriver                   Dremel
Electrical Tape                                   Hot Glue Gun
Soldering Iron                                     Desoldering Iron (optional)

Clean the exterior of the mouse. These things pick up a lot of grime over the years, especially if you buy yours secondhand like us. We recommend using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Twist to remove the plastic dial and ball from the bottom of the mouse.

Remove four Phillips head screws from the four corners on the bottom of the mouse.

Once the bottom is removed, unplug the wire at the top of the motherboard; the wire is not needed for this project so it can be disposed of.

The motherboard can now be lifted out of the casing and the disassembly process is complete.

This guide is for the Dynex DX-NPWLMSE Wireless Mouse, but any small wireless mouse should suffice.

The top casing is held in place by magnets and easily snaps off revealing three screws and a battery port.

Remove the three screws and then lift the remaining top casing.

The motherboard is now exposed. Remove the scroll wheel by tugging upwards on the right axle and dispose.

 Once the motherboard is fully removed, you're now ready for the next step.

The lens for the laser to track correctly now needs to be attached to donor board. We simply used electrical tape to hold it in place.

The assembly that recognizes scroll wheel input must be removed due to clearance issues with the Apple mouse button. You can either gently & cautiously snap it using pliers in a bend back-and-forth motion or desolder and remove it using the appropriate iron. 

The Dynex mouse's motherboard is a little too wide for the laser to line up with the opening at the bottom of the Apple mouse, so we used a dremel to shave the right side of the motherboard slightly. Fortunately, there is a lot of empty, unused room to do so. Be careful not to cut through any traces or contacts!

There are multiple pegs and plastic parts that must be removed for the donor board to fit properly. Follow the photographs and carefully remove them using pliers and a Dremel. 

The cover that once held the trackball in place has to be cut for the laser lens to see through. Use your Dremel to remove a small portion on the right side.

Since there are two buttons on a regular mouse, the Apple mouse button won't line up with the button on the motherboard of the donor mouse.

We used a piece of plastic and glued it to the bottom of the button to line up with the button of the Dynex mouse motherboard. Putting it in the appropriate place at the right length may be tricky, so we recommend using a bit of tape for a trial and error method before adhering it permanently. 

Place the motherboard from your donor mouse into the casing of the Apple mouse.

Once the laser is lined up with the opening at the bottom of the mouse, you can then use hot glue or another adhesive to properly situate the motherboard inside the casing.

The Dynex mouse originally used a single AA battery, but the fitting was a little too snug for our liking, so we bent the top contact a bit to accommodate a smaller AAA battery. 

Place the top casing on top of the bottom casing and insert the four screws on the bottom of the mouse.

Once you've finished all these steps, you now have a fully functioning Apple ADB wireless mouse!

Note: The mouse is only capable of doing left-click. Download this free program to right-click in Windows.