Start Menu/Window Bugs

I recently bought a new computer [Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit, Intel
CoreDuo 2x3.0Ghz, 4GB RAM, NVidia GeForce 8600GTS], and up until now it has
been working perfectly. But now it has started doing some odd things, and I
can't find the cause of it.

(1) The start menu will spontaneously close when I am looking through it, I
seem to be able to get around this with the old-style start menu but it's not
very attractive and I prefer the functionality of the Vista start menu. [This
happens with all drop-down type menus also, such as right clicking].

(2) Whatever window I have active [the selected one, uppermost, whatever you
want to call it] blinks/flashes every few seconds. Almost as if it is being
refreshed.

(3) In text boxes built into programs [eg. the search box in firefox, or the
URL box] when I am typing it will randomly highlight and delete what I've
written. So, say I was writing "Hello my name is Amy." I might end up with
"ame is Amy." This does seem to happen when the window 'blinks' as mentioned
in (2)

I have tried system restore, updated all my drivers, made sure Windows is
up-to-date, uninstalled and reinstalled mice, keyboard and my wacom tablet,
uninstalled all my USB devices, switching Aero off and on, spyware and virus
scanning [SpybotS&D, AVG] but all to no avail. It is driving me crazy. If
anyone else has encountered a problem like this and/or has some suggestions
on what to try next I would be extremely grateful for your input!

A'moi;510786 Wrote:
> I recently bought a new computer [Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit,
> Intel CoreDuo 2x3.0Ghz, 4GB RAM, NVidia GeForce 8600GTS], and up until
> now it has been working perfectly. But now it has started doing some odd
> things, and I
> can't find the cause of it.
>
> (1) The start menu will spontaneously close when I am looking through
> it, I seem to be able to get around this with the old-style start menu
> but it's not very attractive and I prefer the functionality of the Vista
> start menu. [This happens with all drop-down type menus also, such as
> right clicking].
>
> (2) Whatever window I have active [the selected one, uppermost,
> whatever you want to call it] blinks/flashes every few seconds. Almost
> as if it is being refreshed.
>
> (3) In text boxes built into programs [eg. the search box in firefox,
> or the URL box] when I am typing it will randomly highlight and delete
> what I've written. So, say I was writing "Hello my name is Amy." I might
> end up with "ame is Amy." This does seem to happen when the window
> 'blinks' as mentioned in (2)
>
> I have tried system restore, updated all my drivers, made sure Windows
> is up-to-date, uninstalled and reinstalled mice, keyboard and my wacom
> tablet, uninstalled all my USB devices, switching Aero off and on,
> spyware and virus scanning [SpybotS&D, AVG] but all to no avail. It is
> driving me crazy. If anyone else has encountered a problem like this
> and/or has some suggestions
> on what to try next I would be extremely grateful for your input!

When you say you've uninstalled the mouse and keyboard, and
re-installed them, are you referring to their drivers only? Or have you
tried a completely different mouse and/or keyboard?

It primarily sounds like a problem with the mouse, which I've
experienced sometimes. The microswitches for the buttons could be faulty
(or dirty) and could be sending false "click" signals to the system.


--
dzomlija

____________________________________
Peter Alexander Dzomlija
Do you hear, huh? The Alpha and The Omega? Death and Rebirth? And as
you die, so shall I be Reborn...

- ASUS A8N32-SLi-Deluxe
- AMD Atlon 64 Dual-Core 4800+
- 4GB DDR400
- ASUS nVidia 6600
- Thermaltake Tai-Chi Watercooled Chassis
- 1207GB Total Formatted Storage
- Vista Ultimate x64
- CodeGear Delphi 2007http://dzomlija.spaces.live.com/

By uninstalling them I mean the drivers and physically unplugging them. I
have a Wacom tablet as well as a regular mouse and I've tried each separately
with no luck.

What it feels like is that something is loading in the background; like when
you first boot up and the start menu can be temperamental while things load,
except constantly. I don't know if that's what's going on though, and I'm not
sure how I'd find out. That's the only other thing I can think of.

Thank-you!

"dzomlija" wrote:

>
> A'moi;510786 Wrote:
> > I recently bought a new computer [Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit,
> > Intel CoreDuo 2x3.0Ghz, 4GB RAM, NVidia GeForce 8600GTS], and up until
> > now it has been working perfectly. But now it has started doing some odd
> > things, and I
> > can't find the cause of it.
> >
> > (1) The start menu will spontaneously close when I am looking through
> > it, I seem to be able to get around this with the old-style start menu
> > but it's not very attractive and I prefer the functionality of the Vista
> > start menu. [This happens with all drop-down type menus also, such as
> > right clicking].
> >
> > (2) Whatever window I have active [the selected one, uppermost,
> > whatever you want to call it] blinks/flashes every few seconds. Almost
> > as if it is being refreshed.
> >
> > (3) In text boxes built into programs [eg. the search box in firefox,
> > or the URL box] when I am typing it will randomly highlight and delete
> > what I've written. So, say I was writing "Hello my name is Amy." I might
> > end up with "ame is Amy." This does seem to happen when the window
> > 'blinks' as mentioned in (2)
> >
> > I have tried system restore, updated all my drivers, made sure Windows
> > is up-to-date, uninstalled and reinstalled mice, keyboard and my wacom
> > tablet, uninstalled all my USB devices, switching Aero off and on,
> > spyware and virus scanning [SpybotS&D, AVG] but all to no avail. It is
> > driving me crazy. If anyone else has encountered a problem like this
> > and/or has some suggestions
> > on what to try next I would be extremely grateful for your input!
>
> When you say you've uninstalled the mouse and keyboard, and
> re-installed them, are you referring to their drivers only? Or have you
> tried a completely different mouse and/or keyboard?
>
> It primarily sounds like a problem with the mouse, which I've
> experienced sometimes. The microswitches for the buttons could be faulty
> (or dirty) and could be sending false "click" signals to the system.
>
>
> --
> dzomlija
>
> ____________________________________
> Peter Alexander Dzomlija
> Do you hear, huh? The Alpha and The Omega? Death and Rebirth? And as
> you die, so shall I be Reborn...
>
> - ASUS A8N32-SLi-Deluxe
> - AMD Atlon 64 Dual-Core 4800+
> - 4GB DDR400
> - ASUS nVidia 6600
> - Thermaltake Tai-Chi Watercooled Chassis
> - 1207GB Total Formatted Storage
> - Vista Ultimate x64
> - CodeGear Delphi 2007http://dzomlija.spaces.live.com/
>

A''''moi;511312 Wrote:
> By uninstalling them I mean the drivers and physically unplugging them.
> I have a Wacom tablet as well as a regular mouse and I've tried each
> separately with no luck.
>
> What it feels like is that something is loading in the background; like
> when you first boot up and the start menu can be temperamental while
> things load, except constantly. I don't know if that's what's going on
> though, and I'm not sure how I'd find out. That's the only other thing I
> can think of.
>
> Thank-you!
>

I meant that you should if possible try a completely different keyboard
and mouse, preferably the older PS2 type. Also remove any unnecessary
HID hardware like the tablet for this test.

What you can also perhaps have a look at if the above doesn't work, is
the System Configuration Utility. Press WINKEY+R, type MSCONFIG and
press enter (you'll need to respond to a UAC prompt). Disable all
startup programs, and see if that resolves the issue.

If the problem goes away, then at least one of the startup programs is
causing it. Use MSCONFIG repeatedly to enable each startup program one
at a time. When the problem comes back, you've found the culprit.


--
dzomlija

____________________________________
Peter Alexander Dzomlija
Do you hear, huh? The Alpha and The Omega? Death and Rebirth? And as
you die, so shall I be Reborn...

- ASUS A8N32-SLi-Deluxe
- AMD Atlon 64 Dual-Core 4800+
- 4GB DDR400
- ASUS nVidia 6600
- Thermaltake Tai-Chi Watercooled Chassis
- 1207GB Total Formatted Storage
- Vista Ultimate x64
- CodeGear Delphi 2007http://dzomlija.spaces.live.com/

I haven't got another keyboard or mouse, but will try and get hold of some.

I tried the startup suggestion, and the problem didn't resolve. I also tried
disabling the services, and when I booted up the problem had gone, but so had
all other functionality... And I really don't know where to begin with them.

"dzomlija" wrote:

>
> A''''moi;511312 Wrote:
> > By uninstalling them I mean the drivers and physically unplugging them.
> > I have a Wacom tablet as well as a regular mouse and I've tried each
> > separately with no luck.
> >
> > What it feels like is that something is loading in the background; like
> > when you first boot up and the start menu can be temperamental while
> > things load, except constantly. I don't know if that's what's going on
> > though, and I'm not sure how I'd find out. That's the only other thing I
> > can think of.
> >
> > Thank-you!
> >
>
> I meant that you should if possible try a completely different keyboard
> and mouse, preferably the older PS2 type. Also remove any unnecessary
> HID hardware like the tablet for this test.
>
> What you can also perhaps have a look at if the above doesn't work, is
> the System Configuration Utility. Press WINKEY+R, type MSCONFIG and
> press enter (you'll need to respond to a UAC prompt). Disable all
> startup programs, and see if that resolves the issue.
>
> If the problem goes away, then at least one of the startup programs is
> causing it. Use MSCONFIG repeatedly to enable each startup program one
> at a time. When the problem comes back, you've found the culprit.
>
>
> --
> dzomlija
>
> ____________________________________
> Peter Alexander Dzomlija
> Do you hear, huh? The Alpha and The Omega? Death and Rebirth? And as
> you die, so shall I be Reborn...
>
> - ASUS A8N32-SLi-Deluxe
> - AMD Atlon 64 Dual-Core 4800+
> - 4GB DDR400
> - ASUS nVidia 6600
> - Thermaltake Tai-Chi Watercooled Chassis
> - 1207GB Total Formatted Storage
> - Vista Ultimate x64
> - CodeGear Delphi 2007http://dzomlija.spaces.live.com/
>

A''''moi;511387 Wrote:
> I haven't got another keyboard or mouse, but will try and get hold of
> some.
>
> I tried the startup suggestion, and the problem didn't resolve. I also
> tried disabling the services, and when I booted up the problem had gone,
> but so had all other functionality... And I really don't know where to
> begin with them.

When disabling services with MSCONFIG, did you use the option to "Hide
Microsoft Services". This will narrow down the list to show only those
third-party services that exist.

But the same procedure holds true. Enable each service one at a time
until the problem you're experiencing comes back. This will be the
culprit.

Then, contact the supplier of the software to which that service
belongs and check for an update that may fix it.


--
dzomlija

____________________________________
Peter Alexander Dzomlija
Do you hear, huh? The Alpha and The Omega? Death and Rebirth? And as
you die, so shall I be Reborn...

- ASUS A8N32-SLi-Deluxe
- AMD Atlon 64 Dual-Core 4800+
- 4GB DDR400
- ASUS nVidia 6600
- Thermaltake Tai-Chi Watercooled Chassis
- 1207GB Total Formatted Storage
- Vista Ultimate x64
- CodeGear Delphi 2007http://dzomlija.spaces.live.com/