Freezing Mouse

[Cetti]

There is a particular website that when the pointer rests on the url - everything freezes, and prevents any access. All I can do is to re-set the computer. I get there eventually , but it can also happen when I'm on the site. Has anyone got any ideas or thoughts to this very bizarre situation?

[lisaj]

Chances are you're using Internet Explorer, complete with Microsoft's rather shoddy Java Runtime Environment, andthat the site in question just happens to use some Java that crashes it. But, to be honest it could be a multitude of things...

[j2buttonsw]

So what should one do? Get IE 6.0 sp1 plus all the Windows updates? Or Netscape? Opera? Change to Mac OS X and Safari? Change to Linux?

[Cetti]

I can't comment on Java Runtime Environment as I havn't a clue what it is - but I do have IE6 plus every Windows update - does that mean there is a glimmer of hope somewhere?

[lisaj]

Java is a platform-independent programming language developed by Sun. In order for this to work, there is a thing called the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) which includes the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). There is a different JRE for every operating system, and they give a consistent platform for Java applications to run on. Now, Microsoft (being Microsoft) decided that they didn't like somebody else having a nice platform-independent system like that and made their own JRE that was (surprise surprise) partially incompatible with Java - this was to undermine Sun who is a big competitor. The Microsoft JRE is unreliable and is known to have *many* problems, which is why it's best to use the Sun JRE. This can be downloaded from http://java.sun.com and to save you the hassle, here's a direct link (just select the version of the JRE that you want to get - probably the 2nd one down) : http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.1/download.html

[lisaj]

Also: Could you tell us what the URL is? It'll be useful to look at it in order to further diagnose this problem. Plus i tmight be worth looking for upgrades for your mouse and video drivers - the latter in particular can cause ALL sorts of very weird problems with every aspect of your PC.

[Cetti]

lisaj - All the info has been copied and pasted plus indepth explanations for which I am truly grateful. When you mentioned video drivers that put me in the direction of what it *might* be - my son, apparently, has been downloading what amounts to about 91 very small audio and video files from a friends disk! They've now been deleted - I used Maintenance Cleaner, and at the moment all appears to be well. I would value your opinion if you think that this could be the cause.

[Cetti]

http://www.funtrivia.com/cgi-bin/qncorner.cgi I spoke too soon - this is the site that's causing all the problems - be really interested to know what you find. Thank you for your time.

[j2buttonsw]

Unless they are infected with a virus (please say you have adequate anti-virus software) your son's downloads shouldn't be a problem. You should get the latest video card drivers (what video card do you have? ATI? nVidia? Plus DirectX 8 or higher?) as a matter of good housekeeping. I have seen the site an my system seems OK (and I haven't got Sun's JAVA plugin). How do you feel about a re-install? Sometime you just have to bite the bullet!

[lisaj]

OK, the JRE thing is unlikely to be causing this particular problem, now I've seen that site. Also, your son's files are very unlikely too (though not impossible)...

Video drivers however most likely are (At least at this stage of the analysis :-). Download the latest set of drivers for your video card and get those installed. If that doesn't help we'll keep going...

[Cetti]

I'll give you both as much info as possible, but please remember you two are very advanced - while I am L-Plate status! I took the 98SE back to factory settings Jan 23 2003 - reinstalled every patch and upgrade incl.DirectX 8.1 - The anti virus is Panda Titanium and is permanently updating. Mouse is 1 week old, same model Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer as the last one, changed it in case this was the problem. Regarding video cards, this is where I'm in the dark - all I can find is AGP64 - I honestly don't know anything about cards or drivers, and can't see anything in the Systems List.

[j2buttonsw]

Did I miss something or are you using the generic Windows 98SE mouse drivers? If yes then download the Intellipoint 4.1 drivers from Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?Fa
milyID=4f1c2ece-3a77-482c-b183-0bc8b8297c72&displaylang=en and install the Intellimouse Explorer ones. AGP64 sounds like a 64 MB AGP card which gives us no details about the manufacturer of the video card chip set. Are you sure it is not mentioned in the Device Manager under Display Adapter? You may briefly glimpse a boot screen of the video card before the BIOS screen. I know in the past I have rebooted a machine a dozen times trying to see the video card boot screen: sometimes pressing PAUSE on the keyboard can help. If is an nVidia card (geforce 256/2/3/4/TNT etc you can download the detonator drivers which contain the latest drivers for ALL of the nVidias chip sets in one package). The other likely candiodate will be an ATI graphics card but you will have to download the driver specific to that chipset (Rage 64/128 etc etc). I am sure there are utilities that will detect your hardware, perhaps lisaj may know of them?

[Cetti]

j2buttons - Before I disappear off the page the software disk that I installed with the Intellimouse last week was 4.0 - so do I need another update?

[j2buttonsw]

I am getting lost in this thread: Intellipoint 4.0 is fine. As has been stated, the most likely culprit is your video card drivers which you should update as a matter of good housekeeping. It is just a matter of finding what video card you have. Is it a plug-in card or is it on-board? If you physically look at the card it will probably tell you the make/model. If it is on-board then tell us the make/model of the mainboard and we can track the drivers down from there.

[Cetti]

I downloaded the 4.1 update anyway and it's possible that we could have had out of date stock, as your update suggestion 'appears' to be the answer. There is no mention of video cards on our systems list as it was an optional extra which we didn't take (not knowing what it was!). I can't thank you enough for your time and patience and I have to agree in problems like this stars are a pain - 3 is not enough anyway - I'm truly grateful.

[lisaj]

If you're running Windows XP it's under Accessories, but it's also on other versions in similar kinds of places... Look for a tool called "System Information". Use it to look under Components/Display and it will give you all you need to know about your display adaptor. Let's get this thing sorted now...

[Cetti]

lisaj - Thankfully, it was all sorted yesterday, - but I've just had a look under Components/Display and there is no mention of an adaptor just this Intel (r) 82810 graphics.

[j2buttonsw]

Well there is your answer: you have the Intel 82810 graphics chip set which I reckon is onboard video. Therefore, go to Intel.com for your video card driver updates.

[Cetti]

http://downloadfinder2.intel.com/scripts-df/filter
_results.asp?strOSs=18&strTypes=DRV%2CARC&ProductID=798&OSFullName=Windows*+98+SE&submit=Go%21 This is the link, but it might as well be written in Japanese for the sense it makes to me, anyway It could all go horribly wrong and quite honestly it scares me to death, so as I'm more than happy now it's best left for a later date.