mouse cursor freezes

Shortly after startup, for no apparent reason, the cursor freezes and I cannot get anywhere. The keyboard seems dead too. I cannot get CTRL+ALT+DEL, nothing happens. The only possible move is to power down the machine and start over.

This freezing affects the internal touchpad AND an external USB mouse both at the same time.

Using Windows XP, MCE, SP3 with all the updates. This is a Toshiba Laptop, Intel Centrino processor running at 1.7 Ghz, HD is 120 GB, 1.5 GB RAM. Any ideas? Thanks! Greg.

 

Just some info...

If nothing happens when pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del, the system whole system is frozen, not just the HIDs (Human Interface Devices).

I start by looking at those situations as an overheating problem.

Could the system's cooling be blocked with dust? Are you running programs that could cause overheating (watch what program/s you are running when it happens). Do you have hardware drivers from the hardware supplier's website?

You can search at Microsoft or Toshiba for the term "freeze" and add any specific terms (MCE might be one...I am unfamiliar with that system).

Matt

 

Matt, I think you have a good point. The laptop does run very HOT with the fan working hard most of the time. I just can't tell what programs are keeping the processor so busy... I will check Task Manager again. thanks.