Wife's PC Problem
 

My wife has a fairly new computer and is having some problems. She is running Windows XP and in the past month she has been having hangups. She can move the mouse but cannot select anything. She can't type and cannot close programs. This doesn't seem to be with any specific program that she is aware of. I'm just wondering whether anyone might have a quick fix or some ideas. I'm sure it's not a virus.

Thanx

John

try reloading the mouse driver.

I'll give it a try. Stranger things have happened. However, I don't know if that would cause the keyboard to stop working.

John

John, are the keyboard and the mouse wireless?

Bill :)

I would turn the system off. Then unplug and replug everything. Sometimes sockets are hard to get stuff fully plugged into. They try it.

I'm also puzzled by how she could have a fairly new computer running XP. That OS is getting pretty old. You could be having some compatibility issues.

the keyboard and mouse are not wireless. The PCM is about 2 years old as I recall. It replaced a PC that was running Xp and we didn't change when we purchased. I am using Xp on my PC and i'm happy with it.

John

I would open the PC up and clean the contacts with an eraser of the boards that plug into the motherboard. I would make sure the motherboard is free from dust as dust conducts electicity. I would reload the mouse driver and or try another mouse.

If it freezes up in all programs, then I would consider if it's worthwhile for a motherboard repair.

Try starting in safe mode and see if you have the same problem. If you do then mulligan is probably correct. But I would delete the old driver before reinstalling.

I would also run a defraggler program and several anti virus programs. Not because I think they will fix the problem but because they are easy to run and just maybe it will help. You could have a bad spot on the disk that is causing the problem so the defraggler could help.

Agreed.. but make sure that you do the following:

- Use a wired keyboard and mouse, preferably the ones that came with the machine.
- Download the new drivers directly from the manufacturers website.

Good luck!

I would go to the restore program and restore the computer to a date that everything was working. Then I would defrag.

Windows XP
 

Beware that in about a year Microsoft will no longer support XP and Microsoft Office 2003. Which means no security updates...

To install Windows 7 or 8 you will have to format the disk and reinstall all programs and data files....

Is your number lock on

If you do an upgrade to Windows 7 or 8 you do not have to reinstall all your programs. Now does the XP machine have the processor power, memory and hard drive space to handle the upgrade to 7 or 8?

Granted a total new install of either Windows 7 or 8 will give you a totally clean machine but you will need to install all your programs.

VG

I had some of the same problems and was going nuts until a god friend suggested the bios battery might be going bad or weak. I changed it and all is now perfect. Since you're running XP it seems like it might be old - worth a try.

What would I look for to find the bios battery. I have no problem opening up the PC. Also where do you get a bios battery?

John