Windows xp screen freezing...randomly status1 12/30/2008 1:02:03 AM Hello, I have spare computer that I installed xp on about a month ag and for some reason once in a while the screen freezes when I type something on the keyboard. It doesn't matter what key I touch or what program is running It could be a text file or typing a run command or an internet address as soon as I hit the first key the screen freezes and so does the mouse so I have to use the reset button Sometimes it does it 2 or 3 times in a row then it runs fine after that I just want to mention that this keyboard is going through a kvm switch and I don't have any problems with the other computer that it's hooked up to So the keyboard itself seems to be fine I did not find anything in the event viewer Is there anything else I can try to catch it when it happens again?

Re: Windows xp screen freezing...randomly Kayman <kayhkay-nospam-[ at ]operamail.com> 12/30/2008 5:58:09 AM On Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:02:03 -0800, status1 wrote: [Quoted Text] > Hello, > I have spare computer that I installed xp on about a month ag and for some > reason once in a while the screen freezes when I type something on the > keyboard. > It doesn't matter what key I touch or what program is running > It could be a text file or typing a run command or an internet address as > soon as I hit the first key the screen freezes and so does the mouse so I > have to use the reset button > Sometimes it does it 2 or 3 times in a row then it runs fine after that > I just want to mention that this keyboard is going through a kvm switch and > I don't have any problems with the other computer that it's hooked up to > So the keyboard itself seems to be fine > I did not find anything in the event viewer > Is there anything else I can try to catch it when it happens again? A thorough scan with an AV apps may be beneficial.

Re: Windows xp screen freezing...randomly "Gerry" <gerry[ at ]nospam.com> 12/30/2008 9:56:32 AM Is this the same computer you posted about the other day on which you had no securty software installed? I suggest you install and run an anti-virus programme. http://free.avg.com/ I would also suggest you download and run Spybot S & D (freeware version) and see if it finds anything like a Trojan. If Spybot S & D finds anything significant ( other than cookies) you need to be wary. If it removes something and it returns or another nasty pops up it can be an indication that there is another hidden nasty not being detected by Spybot. Spybot S & D. There is a freeware version buried in this link: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html Are you keyboard and mouse reliant on batteries? If yes does relacing the batteries resolve the problem? -- Hope this helps. Gerry ~~~~ FCA Stourport, England Enquire, plan and execute ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ status1 wrote: [Quoted Text] > Hello, > I have spare computer that I installed xp on about a month ag and for > some reason once in a while the screen freezes when I type something > on the keyboard. > It doesn't matter what key I touch or what program is running > It could be a text file or typing a run command or an internet > address as soon as I hit the first key the screen freezes and so does > the mouse so I have to use the reset button > Sometimes it does it 2 or 3 times in a row then it runs fine after > that > I just want to mention that this keyboard is going through a kvm > switch and I don't have any problems with the other computer that > it's hooked up to So the keyboard itself seems to be fine > I did not find anything in the event viewer > Is there anything else I can try to catch it when it happens again?

Re: Windows xp screen freezing...randomly status1 12/30/2008 3:27:02 PM Gerry Yes this is the same computer I don't think it's security related since it was a fresh install only about a month ago and I hardly ever go online with this computer Could it be memory related ? I have ordered more memory because of the slow boot and I should receive it in about a week The keyboard is a regular keyboard not wireless so no batteries It runs through a kvm switch to 2 computers I have a separate mouse for each computer one is a usb optical mouse and the other is a ps/2 3 button mouse so no batteries "Gerry" wrote: [Quoted Text] > Is this the same computer you posted about the other day on which you > had no securty software installed? > > I suggest you install and run an anti-virus programme. > http://free.avg.com/ > > I would also suggest you download and run Spybot S & D (freeware > version) and see if it > finds anything like a Trojan. If Spybot S & D finds anything significant > ( other than cookies) you need to be wary. If it removes something and > it returns or another nasty pops up it can be an indication that there > is another hidden nasty not being detected by Spybot. > Spybot S & D. There is a freeware version buried in this link: > http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html > > Are you keyboard and mouse reliant on batteries? If yes does relacing > the batteries resolve the problem? >

Re: Windows xp screen freezing...randomly "Gerry" <gerry[ at ]nospam.com> 12/30/2008 4:20:56 PM status1 Your problem may not be malware related. However,without security software installed if the computer connects to the internet then there is no point in investigating problems. You need to eliminate malware as a potential cause. A computer can become severely infested within minutes of connecting. I gave you freeware suggestions. Take them up and investigating the shortcomings of your computer becomes worth the effort. -- Hope this helps. Gerry ~~~~ FCA Stourport, England Enquire, plan and execute ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ status1 wrote: [Quoted Text] > Gerry > Yes this is the same computer > I don't think it's security related since it was a fresh install only > about a month ago and I hardly ever go online with this computer > Could it be memory related ? > I have ordered more memory because of the slow boot and I should > receive it in about a week > > The keyboard is a regular keyboard not wireless so no batteries > It runs through a kvm switch to 2 computers > I have a separate mouse for each computer one is a usb optical mouse > and the other is a ps/2 3 button mouse so no batteries > > "Gerry" wrote: > >> Is this the same computer you posted about the other day on which you >> had no securty software installed? >> >> I suggest you install and run an anti-virus programme. >> http://free.avg.com/ >> >> I would also suggest you download and run Spybot S & D (freeware >> version) and see if it >> finds anything like a Trojan. If Spybot S & D finds anything >> significant ( other than cookies) you need to be wary. If it removes >> something and it returns or another nasty pops up it can be an >> indication that there is another hidden nasty not being detected by >> Spybot. >> Spybot S & D. There is a freeware version buried in this link: >> http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html >> >> Are you keyboard and mouse reliant on batteries? If yes does relacing >> the batteries resolve the problem?

Re: Windows xp screen freezing...randomly status1 12/30/2008 10:11:23 PM Gerry I appreciate your concern but I am pretty sure it's not malware since it happened a couple of times even before connecting to the internet however I will look into getting some software later Assuming that I get this software and nothing is found is there anything else that can cause this problem ? "Gerry" wrote: [Quoted Text] > > status1 > > Your problem may not be malware related. However,without security > software installed if the computer connects to the internet then there > is no point in investigating problems. You need to eliminate malware as > a potential cause. A computer can become severely infested within > minutes of connecting. > > I gave you freeware suggestions. Take them up and investigating the > shortcomings of your computer becomes worth the effort. > > -- > > > > Hope this helps. > > Gerry > ~~~~ > FCA > Stourport, England > Enquire, plan and execute > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > >

Re: Windows xp screen freezing...randomly "Gerry" <gerry[ at ]nospam.com> 12/30/2008 10:42:29 PM status1 The security software is readily downloadable with no cost implications. -- Gerry ~~~~ FCA Stourport, England Enquire, plan and execute ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ status1 wrote: [Quoted Text] > Gerry > I appreciate your concern but I am pretty sure it's not malware > since it happened a couple of times even before connecting to the > internet however I will look into getting some software later > Assuming that I get this software and nothing is found is there > anything else that can cause this problem ? > > > > > "Gerry" wrote: > >> >> status1 >> >> Your problem may not be malware related. However,without security >> software installed if the computer connects to the internet then >> there is no point in investigating problems. You need to eliminate >> malware as a potential cause. A computer can become severely >> infested within minutes of connecting. >> >> I gave you freeware suggestions. Take them up and investigating the >> shortcomings of your computer becomes worth the effort. >> >> -- >> >> >> >> Hope this helps. >> >> Gerry >> ~~~~ >> FCA >> Stourport, England >> Enquire, plan and execute >> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Re: Windows xp screen freezing...randomly status1 12/31/2008 12:01:04 AM Thank you but I think I found what is causing the problem I was reading more about kvm sitches which was what I suspected to be problem I found 3 different links from which I am posting the relevant text "· Mechanical KVM switches often lose the keyboard and mouse on closed computer port channels, which results in errors that require you to restart the affected computer." "The Linksys KVM, like other electronic KVM switches, is able to "buffer" the transfer from one computer to the other so that there is no damage to your computers. Also, this KVM remembers the settings of each computer so that your computer or operating system won't suddenly hang or crash because it thinks the keyboard, monitor, and mouse have been detached (a problem with the mechanical switch boxes)" "One limitation of mechanical KVM switches is that any computer not currently selected by the KVM switch does not 'see' a keyboard or mouse connected to it. In normal operation this is not a problem, but while the machine is booting up it will attempt to detect its keyboard and mouse and either fail to boot or boot with an unwanted (e.g. mouseless) configuration" That last one was from Wikipedia and that one really pinpointed the problem exactly Because the computer was so slow I would turn it on and let it boot up but sometimes I don't want to wait 2 minutes so while it is booting I would switch back to the other computer and do other things then when I think it if it finished booting I would switch back and everything seems fine until I press something on the keyboard I was able to verify it by doing exactly that so I can repeat the problem So the fix is to wait until the computer is booted into windows before using the kvm switch "Gerry" wrote: [Quoted Text] > status1 > > The security software is readily downloadable with no cost implications. > >

Re: Windows xp screen freezing...randomly "Gerry" <gerry[ at ]nospam.com> 12/31/2008 12:39:46 AM status1 Why bother asking for advice if you have no intention of taking it. You have read about an obscure situation and are moulding to fit your own situation. There is a saying "Manage the simple problems well and the complicated ones take care of themselves." That could be a lesson you still have to learn! Installing security is an elementary first step all users need to take when they acquire a computer. Malware is not only transferred by connecting to the internet, although that is predominant way today. Before the internet was in common use malware was transferred by an infected floppy disk. People use to virus check floppy disks before use. -- Gerry ~~~~ FCA Stourport, England Enquire, plan and execute ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ status1 wrote: [Quoted Text] > Thank you but I think I found what is causing the problem > I was reading more about kvm sitches which was what I suspected to > be problem I found 3 different links from which I am posting the > relevant text > > "· Mechanical KVM switches often lose the keyboard and mouse on closed > computer port channels, which results in errors that require you to > restart the affected computer." > > "The Linksys KVM, like other electronic KVM switches, is able to > "buffer" the transfer from one computer to the other so that there is > no damage to your computers. Also, this KVM remembers the settings > of each computer so that your computer or operating system won't > suddenly hang or crash because it thinks the keyboard, monitor, and > mouse have been detached (a problem with the mechanical switch boxes)" > > "One limitation of mechanical KVM switches is that any computer not > currently selected by the KVM switch does not 'see' a keyboard or > mouse connected to it. In normal operation this is not a problem, but > while the machine is booting up it will attempt to detect its > keyboard and mouse and either fail to boot or boot with an unwanted > (e.g. mouseless) configuration" > > That last one was from Wikipedia and that one really pinpointed the > problem exactly > Because the computer was so slow I would turn it on and let it boot > up but sometimes I don't want to wait 2 minutes so while it is > booting I would switch back to the other computer and do other things > then when I think it if it finished > booting I would switch back and everything seems fine until I press > something on the keyboard > I was able to verify it by doing exactly that so I can repeat the > problem > So the fix is to wait until the computer is booted into windows > before using the kvm switch > > > "Gerry" wrote: > >> status1 >> >> The security software is readily downloadable with no cost >> implications.