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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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?
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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.
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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!
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Try removing the mouse from within device manager and Windows should install it upon a reboot.
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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.
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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!
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Hello... returned from Penteost holidays. OtheHill, I have followed your advices. Shortly after reboot, the mouse appears in the system device window. But when using the computer (and the mouse) for only a couple of minutes, the cursor takes its own ways and finally freezes. Then the keyboard freezes as well. I must restart the computer again. I really appreciate your efforts to folllow me up.
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It is a ball mouse. I have checked for viruses. It is now more than half a year since the computer was disconnected from the net, and the virus program, Norton, was upgraded shortly before.
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Take the ball apart and clean out the fuzz and other junk. The ring around the ball twists counterclockwise.
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This was the first thing I did when I understood that something was wrong. I have also brought the mouse to the dealer's store, where it worked fine.
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My suggestion is to try a bootable CD such as Knoppix. If your mouse acts funny there it has to be a controller problem.
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Referencing back to response #4. Insert your Win98CD while in Win98. If the CD autostarts then set it go. If it doesn't then browse the CD and find a blue setup icon. Doubleclick on the icon. A message should appear saying it will now check your components. Let it run. When it gets to the point wher the screen is asking where to install Win98 be sure to install to the SAME folder name and path as the existing Win98 installation. I suggest you perform a sustom install because you can select or deselect any of the components that are optional. Hope this is clear. This type of installation should not affect ny of your programs of files.
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Well gentlemen. Thank you for your efforts in order to find a solution to my "problem". As none of your suggestions helped, I believed more and more that something was really wrong with the mouse, even if my friend had tested it, and it worked. Today, I bought myself a new mouse and plugged it into my computer, and everything was OK. Later today, my friend measured the cable, and found a broken connection. I am ashamed of myself, and feel like I have cheated you. But a warmhearted thank though, for your support and ideas.
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No problem, LOL I wish I would've thought of that. I guess we overlook the most simplest causes to problems sometimes.
Anyhow I'm glad you got it sorted.
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