Cursor Movement Not Smooth

[RN1]

I am working on WinXP Pro (SP2) with 160GB HDD, 512MB RAM & P4 2.8GHz.
Today while working, suddenly there was a long system beep (it's the
same beep sound that can be heard when the computer is started but the
RAM chip is not properly fitted in its slot). WinXP didn't generate
any error but since then I find that whenever I start WinXP, as soon
as the desktop comes, my computer generates a long beep.

Also when I use the keyboard Left/Right arrow & Up/Down arrow keys to
scroll horizontally & vertically respectively in any text editing
software (like NotePad, MS-Word etc.), the cursor movement isn't
smooth.

If you navigate to Tools-->Internet Options in IE & then go to the
Advanced tab, one of the checkboxes say "Use smooth scrolling". If
this checkbox is unchecked & you use the keyboard Up/Down arrow keys
to scroll a web page by keeping the key pressed continuously (i.e. not
release the press in between), the scrolling won't be smooth i.e. the
scrolling would seem to stop for a nano-second & then continue.

This is how the cursor moves in text editing softwares now. In other
words, the horizontal & vertical scrolling using the keyboard Left/
Right arrow & Up/Down arrow keys respectively isn't smooth in text
editing softwares. I find this very irritating & annoying. This wasn't
the case earlier when the cursor used to move smoothly while using the
keyboard Left/Right arrow & Up/Down arrow keys.

What could be the problem?

Please note that neither did I install/uninstall any hardware (from
WinXP Control Panel or motherboard) nor did I install/uninstall any
software.

 

[RN1]

I am working on WinXP Pro (SP2) with 160GB HDD, 512MB RAM & P4 2.8GHz.
Today while working, suddenly there was a long system beep (it's the
same beep sound that can be heard when the computer is started but the
RAM chip is not properly fitted in its slot). WinXP didn't generate
any error but since then I find that whenever I start WinXP, as soon
as the desktop comes, my computer generates a long beep.

Also when I use the keyboard Left/Right arrow & Up/Down arrow keys to
scroll horizontally & vertically respectively in any text editing
software (like NotePad, MS-Word etc.), the cursor movement isn't
smooth.

If you navigate to Tools-->Internet Options in IE & then go to the
Advanced tab, one of the checkboxes say "Use smooth scrolling". If
this checkbox is unchecked & you use the keyboard Up/Down arrow keys
to scroll a web page by keeping the key pressed continuously (i.e. not
release the press in between), the scrolling won't be smooth i.e. the
scrolling would seem to stop for a nano-second & then continue.

This is how the cursor moves in text editing softwares now. In other
words, the horizontal & vertical scrolling using the keyboard Left/
Right arrow & Up/Down arrow keys respectively isn't smooth in text
editing softwares. I find this very irritating & annoying. This wasn't
the case earlier when the cursor used to move smoothly while using the
keyboard Left/Right arrow & Up/Down arrow keys.

What could be the problem?

Please note that neither did I install/uninstall any hardware (from
WinXP Control Panel or motherboard) nor did I install/uninstall any
software.

Just now I realized that if I press the [Caps Lock] key on the
keyboard, then my PC generates the long beep. Even the keyboard
doesn't indicate that the [Caps Lock] is on (normally a LED gets
turned on on the keyboard when the [Caps Lock] key is pressed on the
keyboard).

 

[Malke]

I am working on WinXP Pro (SP2) with 160GB HDD, 512MB RAM & P4 2.8GHz.
Today while working, suddenly there was a long system beep (it's the
same beep sound that can be heard when the computer is started but the
RAM chip is not properly fitted in its slot). WinXP didn't generate
any error but since then I find that whenever I start WinXP, as soon
as the desktop comes, my computer generates a long beep.

(snippage)

Please note that neither did I install/uninstall any hardware (from
WinXP Control Panel or motherboard) nor did I install/uninstall any
software.

Just now I realized that if I press the [Caps Lock] key on the
keyboard, then my PC generates the long beep. Even the keyboard
doesn't indicate that the [Caps Lock] is on (normally a LED gets
turned on on the keyboard when the [Caps Lock] key is pressed on the
keyboard).

Try a different keyboard.

Malke

 

[Karl Snooks]

RN1,
Take the cover off of the computer.
Fire up the computer.

Are all fans running?

If yes, power computer off.

Remove Power Cable.

Touch the metal cabinet or case somewhere to discharge all static
electricity on your body and believe me this is a necessary step to avoid
any problems.

Remove the cards, noting where they were.

Blow out all dust and debri in computer.

If contacts on cards are oxidized (bronze looking instead of that shiny gold
color), then remove the oxidation. My procedure here has been used by
experts in the electronics business for ages, by such greats as Arthur A
Collins, Sr himself. So here goes-- take a pencil with a soft eraser on the
end. "Erase" the oxidation. Do this anywhere except over you computer. You
don't want eraser particles in you computer. Now with your hand or a brush
or with a stream of air (yep, just blow on the card) remove all eraser
particles which adhered to the card.

Reinsert the cards into the computer.

Connect power, power up. If all goes well, then you can put the cover back
on the computer which you may want to do regardless.

Erratic cursor movement can have many different sources. Another typical
cause is the video driver. Another is wrong settings in the Bios,
especially on a newer system, you should disable legacy USB support.

good luck. Even a recent software addition can cause such problems.

karl snooks

|I am working on WinXP Pro (SP2) with 160GB HDD, 512MB RAM & P4 2.8GHz.
| Today while working, suddenly there was a long system beep (it's the
| same beep sound that can be heard when the computer is started but the
| RAM chip is not properly fitted in its slot). WinXP didn't generate
| any error but since then I find that whenever I start WinXP, as soon
| as the desktop comes, my computer generates a long beep.
|
| Also when I use the keyboard Left/Right arrow & Up/Down arrow keys to
| scroll horizontally & vertically respectively in any text editing
| software (like NotePad, MS-Word etc.), the cursor movement isn't
| smooth.
|
| If you navigate to Tools-->Internet Options in IE & then go to the
| Advanced tab, one of the checkboxes say "Use smooth scrolling". If
| this checkbox is unchecked & you use the keyboard Up/Down arrow keys
| to scroll a web page by keeping the key pressed continuously (i.e. not
| release the press in between), the scrolling won't be smooth i.e. the
| scrolling would seem to stop for a nano-second & then continue.
|
| This is how the cursor moves in text editing softwares now. In other
| words, the horizontal & vertical scrolling using the keyboard Left/
| Right arrow & Up/Down arrow keys respectively isn't smooth in text
| editing softwares. I find this very irritating & annoying. This wasn't
| the case earlier when the cursor used to move smoothly while using the
| keyboard Left/Right arrow & Up/Down arrow keys.
|
| What could be the problem?
|
| Please note that neither did I install/uninstall any hardware (from
| WinXP Control Panel or motherboard) nor did I install/uninstall any
| software.