XP freezes but mouse remains active
The Seabat
odd time will completely freeze the desktop but the mouse cursor still
responds. I can't even use CTRL+ALT+DELETE to get into task manager.
The keyboard has no effect, either. We have to reboot to get function
back. One boot Windows froze at the black WindowsXP startup screen.
I clicked on the boot checker in msconfig and have unchecked all but
the needed anti-virus (Avast!) in startup. I checked all of them to
make sure that none were needed for Windows to operate. I've run a
full system scan with Avast! (current definition files) and scanned
with SuperAntiSpyware and Spybot Search & Destroy for malware.
She is not doing anything intensive on the computer, jus checking her
email and some light web surfing. She has an AMD dual core chip and
the temps are within normal settings, around 54C. Has a SATA hard
drive and Antec power supply (450W). No PCI cards of any kind
installed, all onboard video, audio, etc. This is a new home built
computer that has been running about five, six months now without any
problems at all. She is not a power user. Has 1GB of Mushkin RAM.
Haven't run Memtest, could that be a problem?
I don't understand, if Windows freezes why does the mouse continue to
move? It's a USB mouse, PS/2 keyboard if that's pertinent. Seems that
the airflow through the case is OK, all fans working.
Any ideas?
--
The seabat
Filtering GoogleGroups & Goobers with extreme prejudice!
Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org/
Alias
You can either run MemTest or swap known good working RAM and see if it
clears up. It seems like it is a memory problem. Another tip is to
remove the RAM and use a pencil eraser to clean the copper and/or remove
and put back in the RAM to clean off any corrosion.
Alias
Don Phillipson
news:o6i1u4551o9nc00or...@4ax.com...
> Howdy: Have a neighbors computer running Windows XP Home SP2 that at
> odd time will completely freeze the desktop but the mouse cursor still
> responds. I can't even use CTRL+ALT+DELETE to get into task manager.
> The keyboard has no effect, either. We have to reboot to get function
> back. One boot Windows froze at the black WindowsXP startup screen.
First, try a different keyboard. When the symptom is an inoperative
keyboard you need to find whether the trouble is in:
1. Hardware = this particular keyboard
2 Hardware, on the motherboard, in the kb circuit
3 Operating system software
4 One particular installed software application.
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)
db
be at boot up.
if when you boot
the system and
cannot enter the
bios/cmos menu,
then it is likely that
the keyboard is no
longer functional.
--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
"The Seabat" <sea...@NOSPAMboardermail.com> wrote in message news:o6i1u4551o9nc00or...@4ax.com...
Anna
"The Seabat" <sea...@NOSPAMboardermail.com> wrote in message
news:o6i1u4551o9nc00or...@4ax.com...
Seabat:
It's difficult, if not impossible, to tell from the symptoms that you
describe whether the problem arises from a software issue (possibly a
corrupted OS), or defective hardware is causing the problem.
1. The very first thing you (she) should do is backup the HDD. Possibly
clone the drive to another HDD should one be available. Or at the very least
copy off the drive as much data as she wants/needs while you have the
opportunity.
2. Download the HDD diagnostic utility from the disk's manufacturer and
check out the HDD. You could be dealing with a defective HDD.
3. Have you tried running the sfc /scannow and/or the chkdsk /r commands? Or
is that not practical because of the ongoing "freeze" problem?
4. Have you attempted to run a System Restore to some period prior to this
problem arising? Or does the "freeze" prevent you from doing so?
4. Certainly no harm in running memtest just to check there's no memory
problem.
5. Since this is a homebuilt PC, I take it the user has a retail XP
installation CD (or a non-branded OEM copy). Have you considered running a
repair install just on the chance you're dealing with a corrupted OS? Any
indication the system would "freeze" if you undertook a repair install?
6. If still no-go and it doesn't appear that there's a software issue
involved here, nor does there seem to be any problem with the HDD or memory,
you might want to disconnect the HDD and any other storage devices
(including optical drives) from the system, ditto for any peripheral
devices, and work *only* with the PSU, processor/heatsink, RAM, keyboard, &
mouse connected. No other connected devices.
Ensure as best you can that all installed components are properly seated &
connected.
Power on, access the BIOS and check the settings to ensure all are properly
set. Let the system run for at least an hour during which time you can
access the BIOS settings while navigating from one screen to another, and in
the process determine all settings are appropriate to the system. Check the
temps with the BIOS hardware monitor settings to see all is normal. If no
untoward events during this period it should give you some assurance there's
no hardware issue involved here at least with the PC's basic components
(although this process is not completely definitive). If the "freeze' does
occur during this time, then it's apparent you have a hardware issue on your
hands, possibly a defective PSU to hazard a guess. Do you have one to
substitute?
In any event, keep us informed of your progress (or lack thereof!).
Anna
The Seabat
The mouse moves and that is all. It will not "do" anything. I just
mentioned that the keyboard is froze also, just like windows.
The Seabat
Thank you all for the suggestions. Unfortunately she left for the VA
hospital in San Antonio this morning and won't be back till Tuesday.
But I will follow your leads and report back as soon as possible on
the results. Thanks and please bare with me.
undisclosed
I know this post hasn't been updated recently, but I am having the exact
same issue and haven't been able to figure it out. Did The Seabat ever
get this issue resolved?
--
sociololgize
Shenan Stanley
Please *quote* some part of the message you are replying to in the future or
state your own problem in a new post. The above is *all* we see of your new
posting when using a newsreader of sorts.
Is this the entire conversation you are referencing?
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/browse_frm/thread/4d5174d80a541fa0/
If so - what have you done from all the suggestions previously given?
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
undisclosed
Reply to
thread:'http://www.technologyquestions.com/technology/windows-xp/352384-xp-freezes-but-mouse-remains-active.html
' (http://tinyurl.com/ouosjq)
XP Home SP2, AMD 2800, 2GB RAM. The OS freezes even with no
applications running and is totally non-responsive but the mouse moves -
required hard powerdown/reboot to restore. Upon reboot, OS didn't even
know an improper powerdown had occurred. Same symptoms as described by
The Seabat posts.
After troubleshooting memory (memtest86) and all the other suggestions,
I uninstalled Avast! 4.8 (free home edition) anti-virus and the freezing
stopped. There were no other AV programs installed and I never did
figure out why this was happening, but I ended up installing the AVG 8.5
free AV software and haven't had any more freezes.
Wanted to share this because I couldn't find much about this particular
symptom. I still don't know the root cause other than there must have
been some conflict with the Avast! SW. I liked it since it included
anti-rootkit and AVG free does not.
--
sociololgize
BillW50
undisclosed typed on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:07:54 +0100:
That must be one in a million! Because I have put Avast on dozens of
computers and it is well behaved. AVG's later versions gave me some
problems. But all it takes is one program or driver to break something.
Sorry to hear that.
--
Bill
Asus EEE PC 702G8 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
Windows XP SP2