Windows xp screen freezing...randomly

[status1]

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?

 

[Kayman]

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.

 

[Gerry]

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]

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]

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]

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]

status1

The security software is readily downloadable with no cost implications.


--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[status1]

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]

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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Kayman]

Thank you but I think

<snip>

Think again!
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/19/infected_in20_minutes/

 

[status1]

Gerry,
I always take an advise when I think it's relevant to my problem
When you told me that I need more memory to make the computer run faster I
did take your advice and ordered more memory
For this particular problem however your advice would not have helped
I did download spybot today and ran a scan and it did not find anything
except the windows security software and it sensed that it was turned off
which was true

I am not moulding my problem to fit the situation I was reading about
That may be an obscure situation and I am sure it's very rare since most
people have only one computer and are not flipping back and forth between 2
computer
I just happen to have the exact same problem and as I said this is not
something
I believe it's happening. This is exactly what is happening since I was able
to verify it

 

[Gerry]

status1

I suggest you install and run an anti-virus programme.
http://free.avg.com/


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[status1]

Are you guys working for an anti virus software company ?
It seems like you are pushing hard to get me to load up on anti virus software

I already found the solution and you are keep pushing the anti virus software
I guess you don't like to give anyone credit it if someone finds their own
solution that is not virus related

Perhaps someone else can verify this
1 Unplug the keyboard and boot into windows xp
2 After it finished booting plug in the keyboard
3 Check to see if you can type anything on the keyboard

If you can than it's just on my computer
If you can't than perhaps I discovered another windows xp bug

Note this happens only on xp I tried it on windows 98 and it still works
after booting without the keyboard
If you boot with the keyboard and unplug it after it finished booting then
unplugging and re plugging the keyboard has no effect on windows xp
This happens only on windows xp and only if you boot without the keyboard
and plug it in after it finished booting

 

[Unknown]

Haven't you ever asked for advice just to get other opinions or ideas? Why
should one be
obligated to use the advice asked for?

 

[Gerry]

Unknown

That point of view is quite reasonable in most situations. However, if
you studied past posts to this thread and another you might start to
appreciate the other side of the coin. When advice has been freely
given, to ask for further advice on the basis that previous advice is
put to one side as not relevant is going a step too far. This is
especially so when the other person is disregarding advice to install
security software where there is none. It is my choice not to offer
further advice just as the other person has the choice not to accept
advice.

Feel free to offer advice to someone who doesn't appreciate the
importance of making adequate security arrangements and expects you to
help resolve a problem with the way his computer works.


--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Unknown]

I read all the posts in this thread and others. What's more, I have no
security software installed whatsoever
and prefer not to. I have never had a virus. I would completely disregard
advice to install security software.
You appear to believe all problems are caused by viruses or malware. The OP
has every right to
consider advice as being non relevant and seek other ideas or suggestions.
If you said jump in the lake to a group of people, why would you get
disturbed if they don't do it?
I.E. Why do you think only your side of the coin is correct?

 

[Gerry]

Unknown

Start reading what is said. My views on security coincide with the vast
majority of those who post here. I certainly do not believe that all
problems are caused by malware. Just read a few of my many posts and
perhaps you might stop spreading misinformation.

--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Gerry]

Unknown

Are you saying you cannot get protection for free? If yes stop spreading
misinformation!

--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Unknown]

Did you read that?

Unknown

Are you saying you cannot get protection for free? If yes stop spreading
misinformation!

--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Unknown]

I read ALL your posts.

Unknown

Start reading what is said. My views on security coincide with the vast
majority of those who post here. I certainly do not believe that all
problems are caused by malware. Just read a few of my many posts and
perhaps you might stop spreading misinformation.

--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~