Circles at five second intervals around the mouse pointer

[Ray K]

I have Mouse Properties set so that pressing Ctrl will help locate the
mouse pointer by briefly showing some circles around it. Problem is,
with that option selected the circles appear every 5.1 seconds, even
with the desktop displayed.

Removing the tick mark from the Ctrl option solves the problem, but I
prefer leaving it ticked.

Any ideas for keeping the circles from displaying every 5.1 seconds?

Thanks,

Ray

This message was cross-posted.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Is one of the CTRL keys sticking?

 

[Ray K]

Is one of the CTRL keys sticking?

Definitely not. I can press either CTRL to force the circles each time I
release CTRL.

 

[Unknown]

Use a little troubleshooting. If you unplug the keyboard does it continue?
If you unplug the mouse, does it continue?
If you shut down some programs does it continue?.

 

[John John (MVP)]

Wouldn't be too wise to unplug the mouse or keyboard if they are PS2
type. USB is fine but you should never unplug from PS2 ports while the
machine is powered up.

John

 

[Ray K]

Unknown wrote:

Good call. Unplugging both the keyboard and mouse did not solve the
problem. But closing both Internet Explorer and Outlook Express did.

OE is set up to connect to ISP Verizon. I'm troubleshooting the friend's
computer in my home where my ISP is Optonline. I think what's happening
is OE is trying to poll Verizon for a connection every five seconds. I
can't tell if it doesn't succeed because of some password problems that
I haven't resolved yet or because I'm using Optonline instead of Verizon.

In either case, I don't know why that would trigger the circles, but
once the computer is in its owner's home and connected to Verizon, I'm
sure the problem will disappear.

Thanks,

Ray

 

[Randall Flagg]

I have done that many hundreds of times. May I ask why?

There is a chance that you will blow that port and make it unusable.

Wouldn't be too wise to unplug the mouse or keyboard if they are PS2 type.
USB is fine but you should never unplug from PS2 ports while the machine
is powered up.

John

Use a little troubleshooting. If you unplug the keyboard does it
continue? If you unplug the mouse, does it continue?
If you shut down some programs does it continue?.

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:

Is one of the CTRL keys sticking?

Definitely not. I can press either CTRL to force the circles each time I
release CTRL.


Ray K wrote:

I have Mouse Properties set so that pressing Ctrl will help locate the
mouse pointer by briefly showing some circles around it. Problem is,
with that option selected the circles appear every 5.1 seconds, even
with the desktop displayed.

Removing the tick mark from the Ctrl option solves the problem, but I
prefer leaving it ticked.

Any ideas for keeping the circles from displaying every 5.1 seconds?

Thanks,

Ray

This message was cross-posted.

 

[Ken]

Unknown wrote:

Good call. Unplugging both the keyboard and mouse did not solve the
problem. But closing both Internet Explorer and Outlook Express did.

OE is set up to connect to ISP Verizon. I'm troubleshooting the friend's
computer in my home where my ISP is Optonline. I think what's happening
is OE is trying to poll Verizon for a connection every five seconds. I
can't tell if it doesn't succeed because of some password problems that
I haven't resolved yet or because I'm using Optonline instead of Verizon.

In either case, I don't know why that would trigger the circles, but
once the computer is in its owner's home and connected to Verizon, I'm
sure the problem will disappear.

Thanks,

Ray

Use a little troubleshooting. If you unplug the keyboard does it
continue? If you unplug the mouse, does it continue?
If you shut down some programs does it continue?.

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
Is one of the CTRL keys sticking?
Definitely not. I can press either CTRL to force the circles each
time I release CTRL.

Ray K wrote:
I have Mouse Properties set so that pressing Ctrl will help locate the
mouse pointer by briefly showing some circles around it. Problem is,
with that option selected the circles appear every 5.1 seconds, even
with the desktop displayed.

Removing the tick mark from the Ctrl option solves the problem, but I
prefer leaving it ticked.

Any ideas for keeping the circles from displaying every 5.1 seconds?

Thanks,

Ray

This message was cross-posted.

Just curious..... if you unplug the keyboard, how do you hit
the Cntl key?

 

[John John (MVP)]

Use a little troubleshooting. If you unplug the keyboard does it
continue? If you unplug the mouse, does it continue?

"John John (MVP)"

Wouldn't be too wise to unplug the mouse or keyboard if they are PS2 type.
USB is fine but you should never unplug from PS2 ports while the machine
is powered up.

I have done that many hundreds of times. May I ask why?

There is a chance that you will blow that port and make it unusable.

Exactly. It has never been recomended to pull PS2 plugs while the
computer is running.

John

 

[Ian D]

There is a chance that you will blow that port and make it unusable.

The problem isn't in unplugging from a PS/2 connector. It's when
plugging back in that a problem could occur. I can remember when
plugging a Microsoft PS/2 mouse into a powered on IBM PS2
system would kill the mouse every time. It never hurt the PS2's.
The IT department had quite a few dead mice until they discovered
what was going on.

Wouldn't be too wise to unplug the mouse or keyboard if they are PS2
type.
USB is fine but you should never unplug from PS2 ports while the machine
is powered up.

John

Unknown wrote:

Use a little troubleshooting. If you unplug the keyboard does it
continue? If you unplug the mouse, does it continue?
If you shut down some programs does it continue?.

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:

Is one of the CTRL keys sticking?

Definitely not. I can press either CTRL to force the circles each time
I
release CTRL.


Ray K wrote:

I have Mouse Properties set so that pressing Ctrl will help locate
the
mouse pointer by briefly showing some circles around it. Problem is,
with that option selected the circles appear every 5.1 seconds, even
with the desktop displayed.

Removing the tick mark from the Ctrl option solves the problem, but I
prefer leaving it ticked.

Any ideas for keeping the circles from displaying every 5.1 seconds?

Thanks,

Ray

This message was cross-posted.

 

[Ray K]

Unknown wrote:

Good call. Unplugging both the keyboard and mouse did not solve the
problem. But closing both Internet Explorer and Outlook Express did.

OE is set up to connect to ISP Verizon. I'm troubleshooting the
friend's computer in my home where my ISP is Optonline. I think what's
happening is OE is trying to poll Verizon for a connection every five
seconds. I can't tell if it doesn't succeed because of some password
problems that I haven't resolved yet or because I'm using Optonline
instead of Verizon.

In either case, I don't know why that would trigger the circles, but
once the computer is in its owner's home and connected to Verizon, I'm
sure the problem will disappear.

Thanks,

Ray

Use a little troubleshooting. If you unplug the keyboard does it
continue? If you unplug the mouse, does it continue?
If you shut down some programs does it continue?.
PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
Is one of the CTRL keys sticking?
Definitely not. I can press either CTRL to force the circles each
time I release CTRL.

Ray K wrote:
I have Mouse Properties set so that pressing Ctrl will help locate
the
mouse pointer by briefly showing some circles around it. Problem is,
with that option selected the circles appear every 5.1 seconds, even
with the desktop displayed.

Removing the tick mark from the Ctrl option solves the problem, but I
prefer leaving it ticked.

Any ideas for keeping the circles from displaying every 5.1 seconds?

Thanks,

Ray

This message was cross-posted.

Just curious..... if you unplug the keyboard, how do you hit the Cntl key?

Plugged it back in, once I determined that the circles appeared even
without the keyboard connected.

Ray

 

[Unknown]

I must be lucky, never once had a problem. I did that with Windows 95, 98
and ME. All had PS2.

I have done that many hundreds of times. May I ask why?

There is a chance that you will blow that port and make it unusable.

Wouldn't be too wise to unplug the mouse or keyboard if they are PS2
type.
USB is fine but you should never unplug from PS2 ports while the machine
is powered up.

John

Unknown wrote:

Use a little troubleshooting. If you unplug the keyboard does it
continue? If you unplug the mouse, does it continue?
If you shut down some programs does it continue?.

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:

Is one of the CTRL keys sticking?

Definitely not. I can press either CTRL to force the circles each time
I
release CTRL.


Ray K wrote:

I have Mouse Properties set so that pressing Ctrl will help locate
the
mouse pointer by briefly showing some circles around it. Problem is,
with that option selected the circles appear every 5.1 seconds, even
with the desktop displayed.

Removing the tick mark from the Ctrl option solves the problem, but I
prefer leaving it ticked.

Any ideas for keeping the circles from displaying every 5.1 seconds?

Thanks,

Ray

This message was cross-posted.

 

[Unknown]

Never ran into that condition. Why a Microsoft mouse on an IBM computer? My
mouse on an IBM computer was an IBM mouse.

There is a chance that you will blow that port and make it unusable.

The problem isn't in unplugging from a PS/2 connector. It's when
plugging back in that a problem could occur. I can remember when
plugging a Microsoft PS/2 mouse into a powered on IBM PS2
system would kill the mouse every time. It never hurt the PS2's.
The IT department had quite a few dead mice until they discovered
what was going on.

Wouldn't be too wise to unplug the mouse or keyboard if they are PS2
type.
USB is fine but you should never unplug from PS2 ports while the
machine
is powered up.

John

Unknown wrote:

Use a little troubleshooting. If you unplug the keyboard does it
continue? If you unplug the mouse, does it continue?
If you shut down some programs does it continue?.

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:

Is one of the CTRL keys sticking?

Definitely not. I can press either CTRL to force the circles each time
I
release CTRL.


Ray K wrote:

I have Mouse Properties set so that pressing Ctrl will help locate
the
mouse pointer by briefly showing some circles around it. Problem is,
with that option selected the circles appear every 5.1 seconds, even
with the desktop displayed.

Removing the tick mark from the Ctrl option solves the problem, but
I
prefer leaving it ticked.

Any ideas for keeping the circles from displaying every 5.1 seconds?

Thanks,

Ray

This message was cross-posted.

 

[Ian D]

Never ran into that condition. Why a Microsoft mouse on an IBM computer?
My mouse on an IBM computer was an IBM mouse.

This was 1988-90, pre-windows, and the PS2 systems came without
mice. When users got applications that required mice, such as MS
Word 5, they were supplied with an MS Mouse.

 

[Unknown]

Gotcha. Thanks. I never bothered with the PS2's. (DOS).

 

[M.I.5¾]

I have (hot plugged PS2) many hundreds of times. May I ask why?

For a port to be hot pluggable it requires certain design features.
Basically the ground lines should make before any other line when the plug
is inserted and the ground lines should break last when the plug is removed.
Further if the connector features power lines these should make last and
break first.

USB, Firewire, SATA (both data and power), PCMCIA, PCIe and ExpessCard
connectors are all designed with this feature as well as FLASH memory cards.
There are plenty of other examples.

Although generally true, it isn't a hard and fast rule. For example, RS232
ports were intended to be hot pluggable using just standard 'D' type
connectors (but some individual implimentations break this ability).

 

[windmap]

Unknown wrote:
Good call. Unplugging both the keyboard and mouse did not solve the
problem. But closing both Internet Explorer and Outlook Express did.
OE is set up to connect to ISP Verizon. I'm troubleshooting the
friend's computer in my home where my ISP is Optonline. I think what's
happening is OE is trying to poll Verizon for a connection every five
seconds. I can't tell if it doesn't succeed because of some password
problems that I haven't resolved yet or because I'm using Optonline
instead of Verizon.
In either case, I don't know why that would trigger the circles, but
once the computer is in its owner's home and connected to Verizon, I'm
sure the problem will disappear.
Thanks,
Ray
Use a little troubleshooting. If you unplug the keyboard does it
continue? If you unplug the mouse, does it continue?
If you shut down some programs does it continue?.
PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
Is one of the CTRL keys sticking?
Definitely not. I can press either CTRL to force the circles each
time I release CTRL.
Ray K wrote:
I have Mouse Properties set so that pressing Ctrl will help locate
the
mouse pointer by briefly showing some circles around it. Problem is,
with that option selected the circles appear every 5.1 seconds, even
with the desktop displayed.
Removing the tick mark from the Ctrl option solves the problem, but I
prefer leaving it ticked.
Any ideas for keeping the circles from displaying every 5.1 seconds?
Thanks,
Ray
This message was cross-posted.

Just curious..... if you unplug the keyboard, how do you hit the Cntl key?

Plugged it back in, once I determined that the circles appeared even
without the keyboard connected.

Ray

See if the problem also occurs in windows safemode.If yes,Uninstall
the keyboard and mouse from device manager and reboot the computer.

If this step didnt help.

Some third party software or some malicious startup program could the
cause.

Remove all startup items or suspicious items through Start-RUN -
MSCONFIG-START UP TAB-UN CHECK ALL - REBOOT.

Uninstall unused or unnecessary programs from control panel - add/
remove programs.

 

[Unknown]

Yes, I'm aware of that. Thanks.

For a port to be hot pluggable it requires certain design features.
Basically the ground lines should make before any other line when the plug
is inserted and the ground lines should break last when the plug is
removed. Further if the connector features power lines these should make
last and break first.

USB, Firewire, SATA (both data and power), PCMCIA, PCIe and ExpessCard
connectors are all designed with this feature as well as FLASH memory
cards. There are plenty of other examples.

Although generally true, it isn't a hard and fast rule. For example,
RS232 ports were intended to be hot pluggable using just standard 'D' type
connectors (but some individual implimentations break this ability).

 

[smlunatick]

I must be lucky, never once had a problem. I did that with Windows 95, 98
and ME. All had PS2.

There is a chance that you will blow that port and make it unusable.

Wouldn't be too wise to unplug the mouse or keyboard if they are PS2
type.
USB is fine but you should never unplug from PS2 ports while the machine
is powered up.
John
Unknown wrote:
Use a little troubleshooting. If you unplug the keyboard does it
continue? If you unplug the mouse, does it continue?
If you shut down some programs does it continue?.

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
Is one of the CTRL keys sticking?
Definitely not. I can press either CTRL to force the circles each time
I
release CTRL.
Ray K wrote:
I have Mouse Properties set so that pressing Ctrl will help locate
the
mouse pointer by briefly showing some circles around it. Problem is,
with that option selected the circles appear every 5.1 seconds, even
with the desktop displayed.
Removing the tick mark from the Ctrl option solves the problem, but I
prefer leaving it ticked.
Any ideas for keeping the circles from displaying every 5.1 seconds?
Thanks,
Ray
This message was cross-posted.

You will change your view on hot=plugging PS/2 connections when you
blow a motherboard. It happened to me and the motherboard was no
longer usable as it did not have any USB ports, therefore no way of
forcing the keyboard to the USB for the BIOS screens.

 

[M.I.5¾]

Yes, I'm aware of that. Thanks.

So why did you ask why?