Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.general (More info?)

I've had no reply to my previous post. Perhaps someone would be kind enough
to direct me to the correct group for this question?
(Or do I have to call microsoft?)

Viz:
------------------------------------------
When my windows 2000 system starts, I cannot start a program from the
quicklaunch items at the bottom of the screen. Clicking on Start also does
nothing. This goes on indefinitely. I can move the cursor, but that is all
the mouse will do.
(I am generally using a usb ms intellimouse).
If I click on a desktop item (eg notepad), the program will come up
correctly but the minimize, maximize and close buttons etc. at the top right
will not function if clicked on with the mouse. The menu items do not
function; the program buttons grey out, but the program is otherwise
unaffected.
However, if I press control + escape (to open the start menu) then I can
immediately use the mouse and the computer then operates absolutely normally.

This is on my Dell laptop, and the effect extends to the built-in touchpad.

I have all the latest updates, CA E-trust antivirus, CA Pestpatrol which do
not find anything wrong.

Perhaps I have inadvertently blown away something important, but SFC does
not report it.

Sorry for posting this again but it is driving me mad.

Thanks

Ian

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.general (More info?)

Try another mouse and keyboard. Maybe there is a stuck key on the keyboard
affecting the mouse.

> This is on my Dell laptop, and the effect extends to the built-in
> touchpad.

Er, will it work with an external keyboard? Have you turned the laptop
upside-down and "persuaded" the crumbs to come out of the keyboard? Maybe
Dell support can help (not with the crumb removal, of course :-).

Andrew

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.general (More info?)

No, the problem is deeper than a crumb. The external usb mouse (optical) and
the built in touch pad exhibit the same behaviour. Just hitting the ctrl +esc
keys to bring up the start menu is sufficient to activate the system and I
can then use all the mouse controls normally from then on. It is not time
related (slow boot eg) because I can leave it overnight and the mouse contols
and touch pad are still not working. Then pressing esc+ctrl makes them work
normally.

I have run out of ideas.
Thanks,
Ian

"Andrew Morton" wrote:

> Try another mouse and keyboard. Maybe there is a stuck key on the keyboard
> affecting the mouse.
>
> > This is on my Dell laptop, and the effect extends to the built-in
> > touchpad.
>
> Er, will it work with an external keyboard? Have you turned the laptop
> upside-down and "persuaded" the crumbs to come out of the keyboard? Maybe
> Dell support can help (not with the crumb removal, of course :-).
>
> Andrew
>
>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.general (More info?)

> "Andrew Morton" wrote:
>
>> Try another mouse and keyboard. Maybe there is a stuck key on the
>> keyboard
>> affecting the mouse.
>>
>> > This is on my Dell laptop, and the effect extends to the built-in
>> > touchpad.
>>
>> Er, will it work with an external keyboard? Have you turned the laptop
>> upside-down and "persuaded" the crumbs to come out of the keyboard? Maybe
>> Dell support can help (not with the crumb removal, of course :-).
>>
>> Andrew
>>
"chromian" wrote
> No, the problem is deeper than a crumb. The external usb mouse (optical)
> and
> the built in touch pad exhibit the same behaviour. Just hitting the ctrl
> +esc
> keys to bring up the start menu is sufficient to activate the system and I
> can then use all the mouse controls normally from then on. It is not time
> related (slow boot eg) because I can leave it overnight and the mouse
> contols
> and touch pad are still not working. Then pressing esc+ctrl makes them
> work
> normally.
>

You could try putting a shortcut to taskmgr.exe in your startup items folder
to see if there are any processes using a suspicious amount of CPU time;
have you checked for spyware, viruses etc? For spyware/adware, try both
"Spybot Search and Destroy" and AdAware (both available through
www.download.com). An on-line virus checker ("Housecall" ) is available
through www.antivirus.com.

Andrew

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.general (More info?)

Thank you very much for your reply Andrew. I actually broke down and called
Microsoft. They diagnosed a bad MS Intellimouse. So I bought a new Logitech
and it seems to have done the trick.
It could be that the mouse was not actually bad, in which case I may have a
spare for the future. But the main thing is that the problem has gone away.
Why it was also affecting the built in touch pad operation is beyond me.
Thanks again.
Ian

"Andrew Morton" wrote:

> > "Andrew Morton" wrote:
> >
> >> Try another mouse and keyboard. Maybe there is a stuck key on the
> >> keyboard
> >> affecting the mouse.
> >>
> >> > This is on my Dell laptop, and the effect extends to the built-in
> >> > touchpad.
> >>
> >> Er, will it work with an external keyboard? Have you turned the laptop
> >> upside-down and "persuaded" the crumbs to come out of the keyboard? Maybe
> >> Dell support can help (not with the crumb removal, of course :-).
> >>
> >> Andrew
> >>
> "chromian" wrote
> > No, the problem is deeper than a crumb. The external usb mouse (optical)
> > and
> > the built in touch pad exhibit the same behaviour. Just hitting the ctrl
> > +esc
> > keys to bring up the start menu is sufficient to activate the system and I
> > can then use all the mouse controls normally from then on. It is not time
> > related (slow boot eg) because I can leave it overnight and the mouse
> > contols
> > and touch pad are still not working. Then pressing esc+ctrl makes them
> > work
> > normally.
> >
>
> You could try putting a shortcut to taskmgr.exe in your startup items folder
> to see if there are any processes using a suspicious amount of CPU time;
> have you checked for spyware, viruses etc? For spyware/adware, try both
> "Spybot Search and Destroy" and AdAware (both available through
> www.download.com). An on-line virus checker ("Housecall" ) is available
> through www.antivirus.com.
>
> Andrew
>
>
>