Mouse cursor freezes completely, mouse still works - xp driver prob?

[sblmnl]

Apologies in advance for a long post but this seems like a bit of a mystery. I have searched and tried a few things but I'm a bit stuck where to go next. I have listed out the problem and what I have tried so far below:

The problem
What happens is the mouse cursor randomly freezes in position, and stays that way until I reboot, even if left overnight. The "real" mouse will still work while the cursor is frozen but it is not visible ie, I can move the mouse, right and left click to select things, tabs, arrows and hotkeys/shortcut combinations all work as normal - I just can't see what it's pointing at. There is no error message.

The only common factors I've been able to identify is that I have at least one windows explorer window open; and that I'm actively using the mouse. It often happens when I am switching between either two windows explorer windows, or explorer and another application (not the same application, and sometimes it happens when no applications are running anything) Other things I have noticed:

- The freeze happens while the cursor is in different states ie "arrow" pointer, hourglass or whatever, it changes while it's frozen in place sometimes too, depending what the "real" mouse is doing. So it seems like its still receiving information in some form, just not the part which is telling it to move around.

- It happens sometimes hours after the last reboot, and sometimes almost straight away. Don't think it is heat related, as apart from this the PC seems to be running normally.

- The problem did seem to become less frequent after a clean reinstall of XP (last time I posted in here! about 2-3 months ago) but it started happening again fairly quickly, so that could be a red herring.

I don't have any custom cursor animations, I just use the xp defaults.

Wireless interference/hardware
I have tried four different wired and unwired mice and the problem occurred in exactly the same way with all of them, so this seems like the least likely cause.

- Microsoft wired PS2 old-skool (ie, the kind with the rubber rollerball underneath) wheel mouse
- A4 wireless optical PS2 wheel mouse
- Dell wired optical USB wheel mouse
- Logitech MX610 wireless laser USB wheel mouse

Application conflict/virus
- CPU % are normal and virus/spyware checks come up clean.

- Nothing much in Event Viewer at the same time as this happens - though this is hard to be 100% certain as I can't open Event Viewer without a mouse until after I have rebooted, which generates a lot more events.

- Nothing unusual in Task Manager *every* time the problem occurs -just the usual system stuff and local services like alg.exe, svchost.exe. couple things related to NAV and something called wdfmgr.exe which is being called by svchost - its something to do with WMP10 (any ideas how I can disable this from running all the time by the way? its not in the Startup list).

- The 2 wireless mice (Logitech and A4) both have software which runs in the background to provide additional features and configuration options. I already tried disabling the a4 mouse's background app amoumain.exe but it made no difference to the problem, and for my new Logitech wireless mouse it's not relevant, as the problem was happening before it was even installed and it is still happening.

Drivers
My xp install should still be pretty clean, this is the mouse driver installation sequence:

1) The normal microsoft xp drivers included in win xp service pack 2 (in January), plus whatever updates it has done since
2) Latest A4 drivers installed over the top (in January),
3) Uninstalled the A4 wireless mouse 2 days ago via Control Panel
4) Installed the new Logitech wireless drivers from the CD.

Currently installed (there may be others):

c:\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\mouclass.sys ver 5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) - All 4 mice use this - but I used a fresh SP2 download to make the slipstreamed xp CD installed in January, and the problem is still happening
C:\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\mouhid.sys ver 5.1.2600.0 (XPClient.010817-1148) - I guess this is a MS USB driver, the Dell wired USB and Logitech wireless USB both use it
C:\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\LHidKe.sys - Logitech HID driver, used by the Logitech wireless USB mouse
C:\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\i8042prt.sys ver 5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) - a microsoft port driver- MS wired PS2 mouse uses it
C:\WINDOWS\System32\Drivers \L8042mou.sys - ver 2.42.230.0. Logitech PS/2 Mouse Filter Driver - MS wired PS2 mouse
C:\WINDOWS\System32\Drivers \LmouKe.sys - ver 2.42.230.0 - Logitech Filter Driver - MS wired PS2 mouse and Logitech wireless USB mouse both use this
C:\WINDOWS\System32\Drivers\amusbdev.sys A4 USB RF-Mouse filter driver - A4 wireless PS2 and Microsoft wired PS2 <- this is a left-over A4 driver, supposedly uninstalled.. would this cause the problem for the USB mice though?

In short there doesnt appear to be any single driver that is causing the problem but given there seem to be so many mouse drivers installed, I'd guess conflict is a possibility? I have Registry Mechanic but it hasn't found any problems with mouse drivers.

I want to run the Logitech wireless USB mouse with the Dell wired USB one as a spare - any suggestions? I dont know my way around the registry or what to do now.

[yoni5002]

Hey have you checked the bateries of the wireless mouse... I use 2 keyboards and mouses at the same time, 1 wireless and 1 ps2 I never have problems and I use system mechanic as well.... Whn the batteries in the wireless mouse are not good the the mouse stops and If I restart the system it starts working for a little bit as well.... So make sure to uninstall the wireless keyboard and mouse drivers, make sure you use only the USB port and let windows install the drivers, do not use the drivers included with the Mouse and Keyboard kit... just let windows use its own.... and do not install any other plug but the USB port... try that and see what happens... and of course check the batteries as well...

Hope this help

Yoni5002
________

[sblmnl]

Thanks for the reply, changing the batteries was the first thing I tried, and the Logitech mouse I am currently using is brand-new with brand-new batteries. As I said I get the same error with a WIRED mouse too, both USB and PS2.

I am at the stage I will try anything but I just dont know how to do what you suggest - could you be more specific please? You say to uninstall the drivers, and let windows use its own. Which drivers, and how exactly? The "Uninstall" option in Control Panel doesnt seem to uninstall all of them.

Is there an easy way to check which mouse drivers are currently installed?

[yoni5002]

Ok this is what I want you to do...

Right click "My Computer/ Properties". Select HARDWARE TAB and click DEVICE MANAGER... New the Device Manager Windows will come up!!

Look for the keyboard and Mouse...they both have a ( + ) on their left... Click on the keyboard (+ box) and something will scroll down... CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is what you have to uninstall... Right click the drivers and select UNINSTALL. Do the same with the mouse and restart the computer manually cos' you won't be able to use that mouse until the next reboot probably. Now, INSTEAD rebooting your computer you better turn it off!!.... You said you have wireless keyboard and mouse so you probably have a USB port right? Connect only the USB plug from the mouse and keyboard... do not use the PS2 port... turn on your computer and everything should be fine...

Hope this help

Yoni5002
________

[sblmnl]

Thanks I learned something, didnt know you could uninstall them that way :-) Sorry but before I do what you suggest there are a couple of things Im not clear on: -

1) Do you literally mean I should uninstall ALL of the drivers? ( see th list I posted - there are both Microsoft and 3rd party ones, PS2 and USB/HID).

2) Keyboard - I didnt mention it at all, it's actually not wireless or USB like you thought, its a wired PS2 Compaq and I don't have any problems with it. Can you confirm that it makes a difference to what you suggested, ie do I really have to uninstall the keyboard drivers too?

3) If you do really mean I should nuke ALL drivers, then how do I reinstall the "windows drivers" that you think I should just use?

4) By "windows drivers" can I check you mean only C:\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\mouclass.sys and C:\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\mouhid.sys which seem to be the Microsoft ones used by the USB mice - so these are what I'm trying to end up with? (plus a kb driver I guess - havent investigated those yet as I wasnt having any trouble with the kb).

Sorry about more questions but I just don't want to end up with NO functioning mouse/keyboard at all :-) and as you can see I'm not too familiar with this stuff - all I've ever needed to do before is install and update drivers, never had any problems like this.

Thanks very much for the replies so far, very much appreciated.

[yoni5002]

The drivers will be loaded up automatically after you restart the computer. You won't have to search for the at all. Windows will take care of it and you will use your mouse as usual... So don't worry about looking for the drivers in the System32 folder... You will be able to use your mouse as usual like If you hadn't uninstall the drivers before the reboot.

So don't worry and do the uninstall, reboot

Hope this help

Yoni5002
________

[sblmnl]

So far I uninstalled the mouse drivers only but it seems to have solved this very annoying problem..

Thanks very much for your patience :-)

[yoni5002]

Thank you for let us know. I'm glad you solved your problem

[r0nni3]

yoni5002: IT IS NOT battery/hardware mouse related. Let me put this simpler : randomly (after 5 hours or just 1 min after boot-up,or whatever time...) the mouse cursor "divorces" the "real" mouse. I mean the mouse cand be used...i know it is there, i can still click/right click on stuf or scroll...but it is no longer represented on screen by our beloved cursor. The cursor freezes on some place on the screen, and therefore we are now using an invisible mouse. That's the whole problem. I concluded it doesn't have ANYTHING to do with the hardware (the mouse you use). It's just a XP bug/error. It happened to me half an hour ago. I have a fresh XP SP2 (installed it 4 days ago)...and the error occured. It happened before and it happens now. I truly believe it is an undoccumented XP bug... And it is truly annoying! Once the thing happens your cursor gets stuck someplace on screen and you continue with an "invisible real mouse"...until next restart. Since it first happened I enabled the option to "Show the pointer position when I press the CTRL key". Just to really know where the mouse is..until restart.
Pls anybody experiencing this: post a reply here. I am really eager to find out what the thing is all about.

PS: i have P4 3 ghz on Gigabyte GA-8IPE1000 :P. Although i DON'T THINK it has anything to do with the mobo. I'll think, for now, it is JUST a coincidence...

[yingsty]

i am having the same problem. mostly when i am running limewire the download speeds go to zero and soon after the mouse freezes, it also occasionally happens at other times as well.. i called microsoft and they provided no help. i have a logitech wired usb mouse. im running a compaq presario with a celeron 2.93 1340mb ram nvidia fx5500 vid card . i have tried restoring to an earlier point, updating graphic and mouse drivers, norton, spybot,and registry mechanic scans. shutting down near everything in msconfig. i am at the end of my rope. it is very aggravating someone out there must have an answer.

[jobforacowboy]

i have this problem as well but my keyboard locks up too and it might just lock for a couple of seconds then about 5 minuites later they both lock up completely and say i hit the start key then the I key while it was frozen, if it does unfreeze it will do that command. also when it freezes if i was say holding my left mouse button and the letter f it would hold those two things down and if i was on microsoft word the page would be filled with f's until i reboot. this problem has only been a problem for 2 weeks and i've have XP for about 3, or 4 years.

[eacdavide]

I have been searching Internet for a week to try to find solution to this problem- it is driving me insane!

My Laptop which is an IBM Thinkpad A21 also Freezes with Windows XP and a Logitech Optical Scroll Mouse.

I tried to attach the wired mouse through the USB port and I also used a dongle to use the PS2 port.

Same thing happens with either connection. When I am using the scroll wheel or more typically dragging a windows scroll bar to move down in a large document (MS Excel or other long file) is when it happens.

After about an hour the PC freezes and I can't do anything but re-boot. It takes me three times to reset the power button before I re-boot (seems like I am going into hibernation, but I never get there).

I have not yet tried to do what Yoni5002 suggested (the PC is at work).

Will let you know.

Thanks,
Dave

[samiti]

About the only solution I've found is a temporary fix to continue working somewhat normally after this happens.

That is to turn on mouse trails and set the speed so it's as fast as it will go. The "ghost" pointer will still be on screen, but at least you can see where the mouse is.

[r0nni3]

I've been talking with a friend about this xp bug. He told me that, when it happens, he opens a fullscreen application by using the keyboard (e.g. game)....and then exits. And the pointer is alive again. Try it.
Tell me if it works :P

[NetKnockout]

I'm having the same freezing/ sticking problem with my mouse! I have searched all over for an answer, and while I found many I didn't find one that works...: ( I don't think it has anything to do with my actual mouse, as I have tried several different mice... The mouse completely at random gets "stuck" for a jiffy, (1/100th of a second) or two and then will free up, sometimes it just jumps around by it's self, and there are other times that it freezes and can only be unfroze by rebooting... I have done several virus scans, adware scans, registry scans, etc... My pc, is only about 6 months old... I'm not an "expert", but I know my way around my computer rather well, and I believe I have covered all the bases in attempting to diagnosis and solve this issue... The problem only started about two weeks ago, and thus I did a system restore going back a month, thinking I must have done something... Though, the problem is still here, unfortunately!!! I've checked the task manager, and I recognize all the running processes except one, OFFPROV.exe, though it checked out to be a legit program... I ended the OFFPROV.exe process anyhow, seeing how I had not seen it there before, but I still have my little mouse issues!
I have ran defrag, checked the drivers, check for device conflicts, etc., yet I cannot find a logical cause nor solution...: ( I checked the event viewer, and did find these two error messages, each several times:

The Computer Browser service terminated with the following error:
This operation returned because the timeout period expired.

The following boot-start or system-start driver(s) failed to load:
fasttx2k

COMPUTER SPECS
HP a1130n (XP- Pro) SP2
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ processor
1.0GB PC 3200 DDR SDRAM
250GB 7200RPM Serial ATA HD
16x DVD+R/RW
DVD ROM 16x max speed
2nd HD with Windows ME and 80GB

(From PC Pitstop, stats and information on my pc, including running programs at the time of this post, (and yes the problem is occurring now)

This system performs extremely well on our benchmarks and appears to be among the fastest systems available! See the information below for your system details and advice on how to tweak the hardware and software for best performance.

Main BoardDescription Your Results
Brand/Model HP Pavilion 061 PX769AA-ABA a1130n
Type Desktop
BIOS Phoenix Technologies, LTD 3.12 04/11/2005
System Board MSI ALBACORE 1.0
ProcessorDescription Your Results
Brand/Model AMD Athlon 64 3500+
Nominal Clock Speed 2167 MHz
Measured Clock Speed 2167 MHz
External Clock Speed 199 MHz
CPU Load 0%
Speed Rating 7093 (103% of 610 similar)
Windows ConfigurationDescription Your Results
Common Name Windows XP Pro SP2
Full Version Windows XP Pro SP2
First Install Sun Jul 24 2005
Free Resources 90%
Fonts Installed 414
Windows Scripting Version 5.6.0.8820
PCPitstop Version 161
CPU Load 0%
Name Vendor Complete File Name
Realplayer RealNetworks, Inc. C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
QuickTime Icon Apple Computer, Inc. C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
ATI Hotkey Utility ATI Technologies Inc. C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
Office XP speech Microsoft Corporation C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
Office Data Provider Microsoft Corporation C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\Msinfo\OFFPROV.EXE
GoogleToolbarNotifier Google Inc. C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier ... \GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
MSN Messenger Microsoft Corporation C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
Nikon CoolPix Monitor Nikon Corporation C:\Program Files\Nikon\NkView6\NkvMon.exe
ScreenPrint32 Provtech Limited C:\Program Files\ScreenPrint32 v3\ScreenPrint32.exe
Spyware Doctor Helper PC Tools Research Pty Ltd C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\sdhelp.exe
snoopfreesvc.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\SnoopFreeSvc.exe
Media Center Remote Microsoft Corporation C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRecvr.exe
America Online, Inc. C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1152132551\ee\aolsoftware.exe
(Various) Microsoft Corporation C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllhost.exe
Microsoft Corporation C:\WINDOWS\system32\wjview.exe
AOL Connectivity America Online C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
HP tray icon Hewlett-Packard Co. C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
SnoopFree SnoopFree Software C:\WINDOWS\SnoopFreeUI.exe
Print spooler Microsoft Corporation C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
AOL WAN Miniport America Online, Inc. C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe
Symantec products Symantec Corporation c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
Symantec Common Symantec Corporation c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
Internet Explorer Microsoft Corporation C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
Windows Explorer Microsoft Corporation C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
Microsoft Media Center Microsoft Corporation C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehSched.exe
MCRD Device Service Microsoft Corporation C:\WINDOWS\ehome\mcrdsvc.exe
Local Security Authority Microsoft Corporation C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
Service control process Microsoft Corporation C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
Service host process Microsoft Corporation C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe