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Why does my mouse freeze during PC activity?

Monday, 05 April, 2010

OLD QUESTION

While the computer is loading a web page or any other program, the mouse freezes and will jump around the screen if you try and use it at the same time.

When there is another program running in the background, like a second Internet Explorer window or Outlook Express is downloading mail, this will often cause one of the programs to stop responding. It seems like a memory problem to me. However with 288M of RAM, I feel this should be more than adequate.

Is it possibly some setting that doesn't allow the RAM to be freed up again once it has been used? I run Windows 98 on a 400 MHz CPU.

(Originally posted April 2003)

Athol Whitehead, Brisbane, QLD


I very much doubt that it is a problem with Windows or some program not releasing memory when no longer needed. Also the amount of RAM you have is more than adequate. Your CPU, while relatively modest in speed, is also adequate.

First thing that we would do would be to install a new mouse (such as a borrowed known-good mouse), making sure that you have the latest drivers from the makers web site. If you have a mouse with special enhancer software, try uninstalling that software. If you can use standard Windows mouse drivers, try disabling any special mouse drivers and use the standard ones.

Are you running many background programs such as virus checkers and firewalls? They can have an effect, but normally not as serious as you are experiencing.

Have you been installing/uninstalling many programs? After a while Windows seems simply to get very confused by too many changes, and conflicts between different programs and the debris they leave behind when uninstalled can cause performance and stability problems.

Run AdAware. Update and run your AntiVirus program,

If that doesn't help, then in your situation, PC User would be inclined to do a clean reinstall of Windows and all your programs. Yes, it will take a day or possibly two -- but this is often less time than it takes to try (and usually fail) to fix the problem in other ways. (Check prior HelpStation questions for the method).

John Hepworth


Reader solutions



ReaderPosted: 07/06/2010

re: Why does my mouse freeze during PC activity?
my mouse does not freeeze as i can still move it. but the pointer freezes.

(That's what people mean by "mouse freezing". -PZ)

JCPosted: 07/04/2010

re: Why does my mouse freeze during PC activity?
Stan, if you're using Windows 7, I'm wondering how much RAM your PC (whether it is a desk-top or lap-top, doesn't matter!) is using?
You can't use more than 9 Apps.....without the mouse playing up!?!
I may be still using XP Pro, BUT, I have 12 Apps.....in my System Tray.........with a cordless mouse/keyboard 'set-up', and......4 Gbs of RAM.
(With no 'mouse/keyboard problem' in sight. In fact, I can sit 30 feet away and as long as I can see the monitor-screen, my PC still works....just fine.)
My monitor is a 22-inch Wide-screen LCD, it 'doubles-up' as my TV as well. (High Defintion, at that, too. I get Melbourne, and the 'country stations', to boot.)
Luck, on my part?
Nope.
Good planning, yes. (Of what I wanted to achieve....with my PC!)
As a 'Gamer' PC, so far, it handles everything I throw at it.....with ease.
Maintenance-wise, I do it all myself. (cleaning out the dust, regularly 'reseating' that CPU with thermal paste...to ensure that the CPU never overheats due to the possibility of it being wrongly installed or of the paste getting too old.)
What do I need a 'computer techie' for....when I can do it all, myself?
I learnt a long time ago, over 12 years ago..........to save on the cost of repairs, I had better learn 'how' to fix my PC....fast.
(It's my PC, I should know it better than any 'techie' ever will have to...working on just what I may say is wrong with it.)
In all the years I have been answering 'enquiries' here, that has been the 'mainstay'...of what I've been trying to teach/encourage others...to do.

To learn how to.....fix their own PC (whether it be a desk-top or laptop).
HELP is closer 'at hand'...than you think it is, right on your PC, believe me, all you all have to do, is,........read on the 'how-to'....in Help/the Manual/ the README.txt file/Manufacturer's websites.
It's all there, IF you care to take the Time....to look.
(But, unfortunately, a lot of you won't do so....because of your ignorance/arrogance......worse still, your own stupidity!)

StanPosted: 05/04/2010

re: Why does my mouse freeze during PC activity?
Using Windows 7 64bit - I was able to solve the problem by reducing the number applications that automatically start in the system tray. There were about 16 starting; I reduced the number to about 9 and the problem corrected itself. Before the fix, memory utilization before starting any apps was >80%; after the fix memory utilization is about 50% and now the mouse no longer freezes.

(Thanks Stan. It's amazing what starts with Windows. -PZ)

FelicityPosted: 30/12/2009

re: Why does my mouse freeze during PC activity?
The same thing happens to me (the pointer both freezing and sometimes going totally crazy and flying all over the screen clicking randomly) and I do not have Windows; I have Ubuntu. So it is not a Windows thing.
MILESPosted: 12/02/2009

re: Why does my mouse freeze during PC activity?
TRY UNPLUGGING THE MOUSE, WAIT FOR 10 OR SO SECONDS PLUG BACK IN. WHEN OR IF IT STICKS AGAIN PUSH THE ECSCAPE BUTTON. THIS SHOULD UNSTICK IT. NOW TRY A RE-INSTALL. THIS SHOULD SOLVE IT.
SkyePosted: 02/01/2009

re: Why does my mouse freeze during PC activity?
So would buying a wireless mouse would help

(Not in the slightest. No. -PZ)

staceyPosted: 28/01/2008

re: Why does my mouse freeze during PC activity?
Could be your computer is low on memory and room.
anthony hillPosted: 03/12/2007

re: Why does my mouse freeze during PC activity?
my mouse freezes and never return
jeffPosted: 30/10/2004

re: Why does my mouse freeze during PC activity?
With Win98 (and a system full of 'essentials'), it just loves sucking away the amount of Ram a video-card has. Just to keep the system working properly.
Athol states that he has 288mb of ram.
288-256=32.
Possibly this 32 is the amount of his video-card and the reason why his programs/mouse are behaving as they are?
MoumenPosted: 09/06/2003

re: Why does my mouse freeze during PC activity?
When i start recording from tape line in after 2 or 3 minutes cant move the mouse at all, but when im surfing it never stop, and when i start installing new OS it freeze in the start like formatting 60 % then it wont move i cat type in the keyboard i tried caps lock to see if the pc freezed then it wont work why that
TomPosted: 03/04/2003

re: Why does my mouse freeze during PC activity?
This happens for me, but only with a USB mouse under Windows 98. The same mouse+computer combination works perfectly under Windows 2000. A PS/2 mouse or serial mouse always works perfectly under both O/Ss. Perhaps the USB processing is too low a priority under Win98?
DEANPosted: 02/04/2003

re: Why does my mouse freeze during PC activity?
if you have an internal software modem this uses valuable processing time which will cause the mouse to "jump" while the modem is in use.

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