The cursor of my old Win 98 computer, which is not online any more, started to behave strangely. Shortly after the computer starts, the cursor is starting to live its own life, following the mouse movements, but jumping, until it finally freezes, and so does the computer. After rebooting, the same happens. In order to remedy this I searched Microsoft support, and downlowaded a document that should help me to fix this problem, a step by step advice. It didn't work so well. Now, the computer starts in safe mode. Would like to hear if anybody else has experienced this problem, and fixed it. Thank you!

Are you using an optical mouse? What did you download? A document shouldn't cause the computer to boot into Safe Mode. Did you install anything? If so, uninstall that patch/fix/update.

Life's more painless for the brainless.

Thanks for your rapid reply. I use a ps2 cordmouse sonnected to the computer. I downloaded to THIS (the other) computer, made a hardcopy, and followed the step by step tips in this document. How to make copies of different register files, how to reinstall these files when the suggested operation was completed and so forth.
The document's title is "Document no. 321122. The Microsoft mouse pointer moves irregularly or does not react when using a Microsoft pointing device". Did not install anything.

Sometimes it is quicker to just reinstall 98 over the existing. Don't format just reinstall.

The only thing you should loose is the mouse problem.....if it is software related.

Hope this of some help.

That is what I intended to do. But when I try, there comes a message "Windows 98 already installed", and no choises if I would like to overwrite or not. This is when I click Start - run. When I try to reinstall from Add/remove software, It looks for Win 98 from diskettes even though I tell it to get it from CD. And now, when in safe mode, it dosn't seem to recognize the CD drive at all.

I have felt a temptation to remove "Windows 98 SP2" using Add/remove software before trying to reinstall. But what happens if I do? Will the computer go bananas or simply die?

Take care with removing Win98 updates as they are no longer available at the MSoft download site. Only some critical upates are still downloadable.

Is this a Laptop computer? If so, is the issue with the integrated pointing hardware or an add on mouse?

Separate CRT, keyboard, mouse. 1999 type configuration.

Still haven't stated if this is a Laptop or not. It may make a difference.

No, it's not a laptop. Sorry if I didn't make myself clear :o)

OK, This will not solve the problem but should at least bring you back to where you were prior to the attempted fix. You can try performing a registry restore.

To perform a registry restore. Reboot and hit F8 while booting. Select command prompt. Type command\scanreg/restore and hit enter. Highlight a date that is prior to installing that program. Hit enter and you should be in business.
Try leaving a space after the word Scanreg. If you are at a pure command prompt the entire string should look like this:
C:
C:cd\windows
c:\windows
C:\windows\command
C:\windows\command\scanreg/restore
When getting the command prompt from the boot choices you are already in the C: drive, so it's not necessary to change drive letters.

Yes, thanks much! This took me out of Safe mode at least. Appreciate! These good old DOS commands are really magic! Although the cursor is still following its own nature, I can use the keyboard until I find something that can tame the cursor. Thanks again!

Try removing the mouse from within device manager and Windows should install it upon a reboot.

Shouldn't "Device manager" be found under "Control Panel"? It isn't there. Or am I wrong?

Look in control panel for System then device manager. Or you can right click My Computer and device manager will be a tab at the next screen.

OK OtheHill.. I thank you for your assistance following me all the way up to this point. I'm now leaving for pentecost vacation, and will be back on Tuesday. I have really appreciated your kind help so far. Upon my return I will look up the device manager and see what happens. Thanks!

OK then we will look for you next week.