Computer problem...Help requested

[serryjw]

My 'puter has been to the doctor an has no idea why my mouse keeps freezing.....I can unfreeze it bymovingit around but it does it constantly...and idea?

[trotsky]

1. Have you cleaned it?

If it's not an optical mouse, the wheels inside (which the mouse ball turns) may be gummed up and non-responsive.

[Mojambo]

2. What brand of Mouse

and what operating system?

[Philosophy]

3. Does it have a wire or is it wireless? nt

[Nomad559]

4. Need more Info on your system

If you have an adapter, try using the USB port for the mouse.

[havocmom]

5. How's the temp memory on your puter?

do you empty out the temp files/cache regularly? My mouse will get wonky when the memory needs a dusting.

Also had trouble with Internet Explorer trying to run itself in the background when I finally got Havocdad to try Firefox. Took several tries to get all of IE out of the program files. Now that it is good and gone and no longer trying to run itself the mouse is fine. Just for fun, hit control/alt/delete when you are not doing anything important and see what all shows up as running. If a program is running that shouldn't be at that time, look into why that is. It's a place to start.

They have mouse ball cleaning kits.... oh, the fun we could all have with THAT one!

Good luck.

[Swamp Rat]

6. Is it an Apple Computer?

If so, go here for a forum that may help you:

http://discussions.info.apple.com/

[okieinpain]

7. that's not the mouse freezing, that's your computer intermittently

locking up. the next time the mouse stops working try doing a "ctrl + Esc" to see if the start menu works. if it does and the mouse is still not working then you have a problem with the mouse. but if the menu, and mouse, are not responding then your system is locking up intermentently.

it could be spyware, a virus, or some type of system conflict.

what type of Windows are you using (windows 98, Me, 2000, or XP)

[Big Kahuna]

8. First hint.

Stay away from any computer technician that refers to her or himself as "a Doctor".

1. Your problem may be as simple as a dirty mouse ball (ewwww!!!)

You can remove the ball, and clean it gently with dishsoap and a dish scrubbie. Be sure to dry it off before returning it to it's socket.


2. Borrow or steal a known-working mouse from a friend, workplace or mortal-enemy. If it solves the problem. Keep the mouse.


3. If you are experiencing an extraordinary number of pop-ups and the top section of your web browser has acquired a lot of new "Search Tools" You are the victim of Spyware.. The latest scourge of cyberspace.

I would suggest using "Spy Bot Search and Destroy 1.3" from http://www.safer-networking.org to remove spyware. Also try un-installing any applications with the words "search", "save", "bargain", "buddy", "WhenU", and "sync" in their names.

4. You probably have one or several trojans on your system. I usually suggest one of the mainstream virus scanners (McAfee, and Norton), but I have heard great things from a lot of techies about a new virus scanner called eTrust.

You can also try the free online virus scan at http://housecall.antivirus.com which is quite good, after-the-fact, but does nothing to prevent infections.

Good luck!

[TA]

9. I had a similar problem

Also sent it to the PC doctor but came back with the problem unfixed after they totally reloaded the OS and lost all my data. It's an HP running Windows XP Home edition. Been going on for over a year. The final fix was downloading a BIO upgrade. Wasn't to hard to do for a non PC expert (me). Got the BIO package from the HP web site. Good luck on finding a fix, my problem drove me nuts.

[serryjw]

10. Response to ALL

Thanks guys for all the input. I will respond to all


It is a wired Microsoft gateway 2000 mouse. The second one I’m using since the problem started.
I’m still using Win’98 OS
I automatically empty cache nightly with all the surfing I do.
I have McAfee virus protection and a firewall. I also run McAfee’stinger’ weekly and that has not helped.
I used the term ‘doctor’ but I have been going to the tech for 2 years and he is wonderful and honest as the day is long. He has saved me many times when porno got me before I put virus and firewall on computer. I was VERY infected with spyware but it looks like that is finally gone. I get a pop up once a week now.