Windows Vista Constantly changing mouse (sometimes)?

Vista 64Bit system, SP1

When the pointer is on the desktop, in a browser, control panel, or the start menu, its fine.

Putting the pointer in a "normal" window (like opening "Computer ") and
then moving the mouse inside that window makes the mouse switch from the
pointer to the hourglass and back very fast. Also occurs at lower levels
(within folders, etc).

Ideas to get a stable mouse will be appreciated,
Thank you,
savagcl

 

The hourglass indicates your computer is busy, fast switching to me could point to heavy swap space usage, how much RAM does your system have?

 

System came with 6 gig memory.

Task manager reports: Performance tab)
CPU Usage: 13/15 %
Memory = 1.14 gig

Physical mem = 6141MB
Cached mem = 5221
Free mem = varies (high 37, low 7)

Kernel Mem (MB):
total = 246
Paged = 179
nonpaged = 66

System reports:
Handles = 16294 (varies slightly)
threads = 751 (varies slightly)
processes = 64
page file = 1292M / 12497M

Why cache is so high i dont know, ideas?

thanks,
savagcl

 

I don't know either but it looks like it could be the cause. With XP you can set minimum/maximum virtual memory size. I'm sure you'd be able to do the same with Vista, can you set it to 1Gb for example?

Edit: have a look here

 

Changed page file to 1 gig (upper and lower = 1000).
Didnt help the mouse, still flickers.

Task Manager:
CPU = 12/14%
Memory = 1.6

Physical mem;
total 6141
cached 1740
free 3587

Kernel:
total 277
paged 214
nonpaged = 62

System:
handles = 14914
threads = 717
processes = 63
page file = 1152M / 6954M

Just running task manager and notepad (to type this)

thanks,
savagcl

 

Wildfire,

My bedtime.
Will check back tomorrow.

thanks
savagcl

 

Sorry savagecl

That was my only idea, it'll be better if vista users can assist from here on.

BTW It was already past my bedtime when I last posted

 

I'm sure the answer is out there.

Thanks for the help, Wildfire,
savagcl

 

To continue -

Trying to cut down on my cached memory (with hopes that it will give me
more free space on the HD for partitioning).

This is what the task manager is showing (with very slight variance in figures):
under Performance tab:

CPU Usage scale = 12% (task mngr and FF running)
Memory scale = 1.58GB

Physical Mem (MB):
Total = 6141
Cached = 3809 <----------------------------- why so high?
Free = 1250

Kernel Mem (MB):
Total = 343
Paged = 264
Nonpaged = 78

System:
Handles = 16980
Threads = 771
Processes = 64
Page file = 1539 M / 6954 M

Anyone know how to reduce the cache to a more reasonable number?

Thanks,
savagcl

 

Firing off a quick thought here before heading out the door but my suspicion is that you have a lot of other stuff running in the background. You may want to install autoruns or some other startup utility to get a better handle on this but I would guess there are some real time scanners running, perhaps some indexing, smart drive & etc. You may also have some auto updaters running. In any event, it would be smart to take a look under the hood and autoruns covers just about eveything.

 

Heres what is loading according to startup inspector:

BigFix
X86 SmartCopy from NorthStar
X86 SmartLauncher from NorthStar
New Acer ALaunchX C:\Acer\Preload\Command\ALaunchX\LaunchAlanuchX.exe
LchDrvKey
LedKey
X86 SunJavaUpdateSched
X86 Adobe Reader Speed Launcher "C:\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe "
X86 StartCCC "C:\ ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun
X86 VolPanel "C:Creative\SB X-Fi MB\Volume Panel\VolPanlu.exe" /r
UpdReg C:\Windows\UpdReg.exe
Trigger New Acer AlanuchX c:\Acer\Preload\Command\AlaunchX\ApplnRun.exe
X86 WinampAgent "C:\Program files (x86)\Winamp\winampa.exe "
AVG 8_Tray C:\PROGRA~2\AVG\AVG8\avgtray.exe
ehTray.exe C:\Windows\ehome\ehTray.exe

The ones with "X86" in front is located within the Program Files (X86) folder.

I'm not that familar with vista yet so, I'm not sure what i can get
rid of safely except for winampagent and bigfix.
Which of the above can i turn off?

Sounds like autoruns a program, true? Is it free?

thanks,
savagcl

 

Yes

Yes, found here.

 

wildfire,

Nice!
I use "Startup Inspector for Windows ", another free one. More simple than
Autoruns.

Using Startup Inspector, i unchecked about 80% of the startups. This should
have turned them off next boot but they all got turned on again even things
like Winampagent. Must be a vista thing.

Interesting thing, i have two (2) folders named "Program Files ". One
is for the 64 bit apps, other is for 32bit apps???????
One is named simply "Program Files" while the other is named "Program
Files (x86) ". Least, I'm guessing it broken out by number of bits... any info
on this?

thanks,
savagcl

 

... (x86) is the folder where Vista installs 32bit programs, 64bit software will be installed in the normal "Program Files" folder.

 

Yea, I see that now. Did a side-by-side compare of both. Looks like a lot
of duplication going on. No wonder the mouse is confused.

BTW: I switched the mouse for my old mouse, still flickers so must be software
related.

Maybe un-installing the driver and re-booting might fix it ?????

thanks,
savagcl

 

There have been reports of duplication, but I don't use vista (let alone vista 64), I very much doubt this is why your mouse is confused though

I'm still thinking you're starting too much up and paging is the issue, best left to the Vista users now though. I very much doubt uninstalling the mouse driver will help, but it won't do any harm.

 

My apologies for the delay in responding - I'm working on reconfiguring a few things in my own setup and have been physically cleaning machines.

If I were in your situation, I would make a list of Startup items and then google each one that you are unsure of re: do I really need to run at startup or not? Then go through them one at a time.

I would also inquire as to whether or not you installed the AVG menu bar or whatever its called and disable it if installed. From what you've posted, there are a few I would disable without looking over my shoulder but it is best if you go through these and make your own decisions. You will probably find that you are going to need Administrative privledges to disable anything and make those changes stick.

The reason I recommended autoruns is because it is so much more detailed than most other programs of its type. I am very content with Mike Lin's StartUp CPL for my XP boxes, but went with autoruns on my Vista Box because I wanted the extra detail.

You can also check your Device manager and verify that you don't have any driver related startup issues or disabled devices.

 

Rockster2U,

Good advice. I'll do that.

Info.
Using startup inspector would turn oof several things from the program
files (x866 but not from the vista program files (which turned them back on
again).
I did use the Autoruns and it did turn off several of them but I'll still do the
Google thing for the remaining items.

The mouse has gotten better since turning off "BigFix" and "Smart Launcher "
and 1 other that i dont remember.

 

Finally got rid of everything except what is actually needed (AVG, external
devices).

Using Autoruns, did a defrag and optomize, works well, thanks for the tip.
Going to try the IOBit one button cleanup next.

A reply from Gateway says to re-install the video driver. Kind of a stretch
to believe a bad install of the video driver would only mess up the mouse...
Guess it wont hurt to reinstall it tho.