I am having an intermittent problem. The biggest problem seems to be an intermittent mouse freeze on start up. It starts when I log into windows whereby every 4th letter I type in password then freezes up, I wait 3 or 4 secs, cursor works again and I can type again. Eventually I get to desktop but mouse freezes about every 5 seconds for about 5 seconds. During this time my wireless network hasnt connected and in event viewer all I am getting is an error about initialising microsoft fax??? I disabled that from servises on start up but mouse prob still happening. This happened a few weeks ago with a different mouse so I installed a new one...same prob! I have zone alarm pro running. All windows updated. Sometimes I turn on pc and all runs ok. Looked in task manager when its happening but pc doesnt seem to be using anything...idle processes running at 98. Can anyone help put this right please? Thanks

Open msconfig and uncheck startup items that are not needed; google the names of items your not sure about.
The fact that the computer is freezing whilst you are entering your password would suggest that something else is wrong; what kind of anty virus / anty spyware software do you have installed?

Hi
I only reinstalled windows about 3 months ago..we only use firefox. My anti virus/spyware is zone alarm pro. I also use spybot and ad aware sometimes to check there isnt any stuff left behind. My checks dont reveal anything serious at all, minor cookie stuff is all.
Thanks

Does it still happen in Safe Mode?

How long has this been happening?

Netgear has some faulty drivers for some of its wireless cards that cause the mouse and keyboard to do exactly as you describe.

WinSimple Software

Hi
Yes same in safe mode. I have a netgear super G wirelss router and a broadcom internal network card. Its been happening for a few weeks since I reinstalled windows.
Thanks

We can eliminate the Netgear router as being the problem because only some Netgear wireless cards are affected by the driver problem.

This happens no matter what Safe Mode option you select?

Did this start happening immediately after reinstalling Windows (e.g. the first bootup after reinstallation of Windows) or after you installed drivers and programs?

Check Event Viewer for any warnings or errors. You can get to it by going to Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Event Viewer. Check all sections.

WinSimple Software

Hi
No it didnt start immediately after reinstalling windows. It started a couple of weeks later. I haave put in the new broadcom card in tower since I reinstalled but thats all thats different . Think mouse prob before that though!
Event viewer looks fine apart from this microsoft fax failed to initialise error!!
Thanks

I'm sorry for asking so many questions, but details are important. Did this start happening after the broadcom card was installed? If so, maybe you should remove it and see if it still happens.

WinSimple Software

I am pretty sure it was already a problem before the broadcom was installed. I will take it out tomorrow and have a look but pretty sure it was before that! I have no exclaimation marks in device manager either.
Thanks

While you're at it, it may be a good idea to remove all PCI/PCI-e cards and USB devices while you're at it. It's a shot in the dark but strange things can happen if a PCI device goes bad, which I've seen happen just on its own.

WinSimple Software

Funny you should say this. Just before I reinstalled windows I was having probs with usb ports not seeing devices or accepting them then dropping them. I reinstalled not because of any major probs tho more for space and becos I hadnt done it in 3 yrs!
Thanks

Hmm. You don't by any chance use a USB mouse and keyboard do you?

WinSimple Software

Wireless keyboard, usb mouse.
Thanks for your help

Is the wireless keyboard USB? If so, your whole problem might be that your USB controller is acting flaky. If you have a PS/2 mouse and/or keyboard, you might try using either of them. If any of the symptoms go away, it's probably your USB controller that's the culprit. Do you have alot of USB devices plugged in? If so, the USB controller may be overloaded and incapable of supplying the necessary current to simultaneously power all connected devices.

WinSimple Software

Hi
No I only have keyboard and mouse plugged into usb. I only occasionally use another usb for memory cards. Is there a test to check state of usb ports? Like a downloadabale programme or something?
Thanks

None that I know of. I'm suspecting that the problems you mentioned in reply #10 and the mouse/keyboard freezes are related.

What I can suggest at this point is to either:

Buy a PCI based USB Card (they have them at Staples and Radioshack), install it into the PC, then plug your USB mouse/keyboard into that and see if you still have the same problems.

Or:

Try a PS/2 keyboard and/or PS/2 mouse if your motherboard supports it. If you choose this method, most likely atleast one of your symptoms will disappear, depending on which PS/2 device you decide to use.

I recommend the first option because it will enable us to isolate the problem to the USB controller.

WinSimple Software

The last mouse before the one I am using now was a PS/2 mouse and thats when the problem started - ie with the PS/2 mouse...I switched to a usb mouse - same problem.
The problem has gone away again the last 3 days but this is how it goes, no doubt it will come back...few days ok, couple days freezing, a few days ok etc
Thnaks

Ok it sure sounds like a hardware problem because it happens in Safe Mode (where only generic drivers are used and no programs are started other than the basic programs needed to run Windows).

Have you removed all PCI/PCI-e cards yet? If not, remove EVERY PCI card and the USB mouse. Connect your old PS/2 mouse. Boot back up and go into the BIOS and look under every category to see if there is an option to disable your USB Controllers. If there is, disable it and save your settings. Bootup to the XP log-in screen. Your USB keyboard won't work until you re-enable the USB Controllers in the BIOS. If your mouse still locks up, there's got to be a motherboard problem.

WinSimple Software