Hi, laptop - keeps crashing at totally random intervals, has done it occasionally in previous couple of years but now getting more often. Works fine using touchpad, but problem seems to occur when USB mouse plugged in. No PS/2 port. Came in with no service packs, tried with SP1, then SP2, & still crashes. No USB problems shown in Device Manager. USB(1.1) drivers are dated 2001, but as they are generic they don't find any more recent ones. Tried 3 different USB mice, no effect, doesn't happen with USB stick or USB modem , only crashes with mouse. Anyone got any other ideas of what we could try? "I know that I'm mad, I've always been mad"

Wild guess!! An IRQ problem? Do yourself a favor BACKUP!

Maybe the USB port's shorting out somewhere? This has happened with a few of the PC's I've had over the years.

No IRQ problem - device manager shos all's well. Shorting's a possibility but don't want to dismantle laptop to find out. Shall try USB2.0 card & see if that's a way around it. "I know that I'm mad, I've always been mad"