General Problems

[malleable]

I've had my computer (using Windows 98) for about two years with no problems. Just recently, it has been acting up, and before I take it to a shop and pay by the hour, I thought maybe some of you folks mightbe able to shed some light on the problem(s).
I don't know if this is relevant to my problem, though I will mention it. (This problem has only been around for the past few weeks.) I leave my computer running all the time, and when I've come home at night, it is just simply locked up. The mouse doesn't move, can't navigate Windows at all, etc.; it is totally frozen. When I restart the computer, and after Windows loads, it basically does the same thing. I haven't had the air conditioning on in the house very much, and during the day when I'm not home, the house temperature is in the 90's. I left the computer off during the day a few times, and when I got home in the evenings and turned it on, it worked with no problem. I'm thinking maybe the computer has just gotten too hot and locked up (though this hasn't happened in years past). Don't know if this is part of my problem, though I thought to mention it.
The problem I am having now stared on Friday evening when I got in. (I had left my computer off from the night before.) When Windows booted up, the graphics were very, very poor, meaning that the resolution of the monitor was set very low. The mouse also was not working; there wasn't even a pointer on the screen. I could navigate Windows with the keyboard though. I went into the Control Panel, and checking the Display, the graphics were set to 16 colors, at 640 x 480. I changed it back to 256 colors, at 800 x 600, and rebooted the computer for the changes to take effect. When Windows loaded again, same problem. The resolution was still of poor quality, and when checking the Display in the Control Panel, it was set back to 16 colors, 640 x 480.
Regarding the mouse, I went to the Control Panel-System, and looking in the Device Manager, the yellow exclamation point was next to my mouse. When exploring it further, it stated: "Device not working properly because Windows cannot find the file (vmouse.VXD) that loads the drivers for the device (Code 8)."
That's the current situation with my computer. I used a Startup disk to boot the computer in Safe mode, and the mouse worked then, but the monitor obviously was still poor. I ran Scandisk as well as Checkdisk, and neither of those found any problems. I'm sure that these problems are related, for they started happening at the same time when I turned my computer on.
Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

scott

[YODA74]

I left the computer off during the day a few times, and when I got home in the evenings and turned it on, it worked with no problem
Most likely a heat problem ..also wouldn't hurt to change thermal paste or pad which ever you have paste is like oil in vehicle looses viscosity after a while..

as far as the screen res. and the mouse sounds like you need to update the drivers..

[Budfred]

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif

There are a number of different issues that could be the problem. The mouse issue probably has to do with corrupted files caused by "improper shutdowns". You can probably fix this by Removing the mouse in Device Manager and letting Windoze reinstall it or installing software you have for it.

The other issues are less likely to be that simple. The first thing I would do is clean the computer out really well. It may be overheating due to accumulated dust. It could also be a bad hard drive, power supply, RAM, video or any number of other things. Try the cleaning and mouse reinstall and let us know what happens.

When you post back, please tell us as much detail as you can about your system so that we have more info to work with.

[YODA74]

"Windows Cannot Load the File [vmouse.vxd]" Mouse Error Message Displayed by Device Manager

This article was previously published under Q316544
SYMPTOMS
Your mouse may not work as expected. In Device Manager, there may be an exclamation point inside a yellow circle next to the mouse. If you view the properties of the mouse, you may see the following error message:

This device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the file [vmouse.vxd] that loads the drivers for the device [code 8.] To fix this problem, run Windows Setup again using your Windows CD-ROM.
Although you run Windows Setup as the message recommends, the problem is not resolved.
CAUSE
This problem can occur when the System.ini file on your computer is damaged.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, delete all incorrect or corrupted entries from the System.ini file on your computer. To edit the System.ini file, follow these steps:
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open dialog box, type c:\windows\system.ini, and then click OK.
In Microsoft Notepad, notice that the System.ini file is divided into sections. Each section begins with a section heading that is contained within square brackets. An example of a System.ini file is shown here:
[drivers]
wave=mmdrv.dll
timer=timer.drv
[mci]
[driver32]
[386enh]
woafont=dosapp.FON
EGA80WOA.FON=EGA80WOA.FON

Examine the area above each section heading for illegible ("garbage") text. If any illegible text precedes any of the section headings, delete the illegible text.
After you delete all illegible text as instructed in step 4, click Save on the File menu.
Quit Notepad, and then restart your computer.

[malleable]

Hello again, and thanks for the original messages. My mouse is now working. I went into the device manager and simply deleted it. Upon rebooting, the computer automatically realized it as new hardware, installed the driver, and all is well [in that aspect].
In terms of my video, I'm still having the same problem. I reinstalled the driver(s) I have for it, and upon the computer restarting, the resolution is still at its poorest. I then went into Display and changed the settings higher, and after rebooting, its back to the same thing.

[malleable]

Also, I did clean the computer out today, removing all of the dust from the inside. In terms of informing you more about my system, I might need specific questions, for I don't know how to respond. I'm using Windows 98 SE.

[Budfred]

If it is a brand name computer, what brand and model name/number. If it is a brand name system, we can probably find specs on the maker's website. Otherwise we could use info on the age of the system, size of the hard drive, type of motherboard and CPU, and any other details you have. Also, details about any troubleshooting you have already done, some idea of how this problem developed, whether you recently installed any new hardware/software and some idea of your level of understanding of computers. I am guessing right now that you don't know a lot about them.

Also, do you already run any security software: antivirus, spyware scanner and trojan scanner? If you don't, it would be a good idea to do so. You can download programs through links in mjc's security thread. (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15179) I would use AVG and maybe an online scan if you don't have an antivirus already. You can use Spybot and/or AdAware if you don't already scan for spyware. The trial version of Trojan Hunter can be used to scan for trojans. Also, you might want to download Hijack This, run it and post the log here...

[drewbob]

It sounds as though you have a software problem, and most all of those can be fixed by formatting the hard drive and putting on a fresh install of windows. I know it is a bother to have to back up all your files, and re-install all your apps, but wiping the drive and starting over can do wonders for a computer thats acting up.

[malleable]

I have a generic system. It has an Athalon processor, whose speed I think is 1.2. The board I'm using is called a K7VZA. "The K7VZA is installed with the VIA VT8363/VT8363A (NB) and VT82C6886A/VT8262C686B (SB) chipse5t. It has a 4xAGP slot and two PCI Bus Master Ultra DMA ports that support up to four ATAPI devices. The computer is about two years old. My hard drive is at least 20 gig, and I have been using Norton Anti-Virus for over a year, downloading the necessary updates online once a week.

[Budfred]

Norton AV doesn't scan for spyware and most trojans. The problem you are having with the video sounds like a spyware issue, so I strongly recommend that you scan for that at least.

It sounds like you have an ECS motherboard. If needed, we can use that info to go into more depth, but I suspect it is a spyware issue... The fact that it keeps switching to the lower resolution when you reboot suggests that you may have a background program running that loads at boot. Hijack This would help us to find out what that might be.

[malleable]

I downloaded Hijack. Here is the log.

[mjc]

The problem you are having with the video sounds like a spyware issue, so I strongly recommend that you scan for that at least.


Gee, Budfred, you go all psychic on me???


malleable, umm, yeah , you've got spyware....

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Searchbar=http://www.lop.com/searchbar.html
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,SearchPage=http://www.lop.com/searchbar.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar=http://www.lop.com/searchbar.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page=http://www.lop.com/searchbar.html
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant=http://www.lop.com/searchbar.html

F0 - system.ini: Shell=

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {D44B5436-B3E4-4595-B0E9-106690E70A58} - C:\WINDOWS\APPLICATION DATA\PLG_IE0.DLL

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Hotbar] C:\PROGRAM FILES\HOTBAR\BIN\HBINST.EXE /Upgrade

O15 - Trusted Zone: hxxp://free.aol.com

O16 - DPF: {34805D32-AD89-469E-8503-A5666AEE4333} (RdxIE Class) - hxxp://207.188.7.150/2168a80a2a695f805802/netzip/RdxIE.cab
O16 - DPF: {8522F9B3-38C5-4AA4-AE40-7401F1BBC851} - hxxp://66.28.45.60/Download_Plugin.exe
O16 - DPF: {69FD62B1-0216-4C31-8D55-840ED86B7C8F} (HbInstObj Class) - hxxp://installs.hotbar.com/installs/hotbar/programs/hotbar.cab


Close all browser windows, the have Hijack this fix all of the above. Then reboot and delete this file...

C:\PROGRAM FILES\HOTBAR\BIN\HBINST.EXE and this folder

C:\PROGRAM FILES\HOTBAR\

(all urls have been munged to protect the innocent...these real bad boys..if you get infected don't blame me. LOP is one of the natiest pieces of apyware filth around.)

Please post a follow up log.

[malleable]

This should fix my monitor situation as well?

[Budfred]

It will probably fix your monitor issue, but you need to do all the things that mjc suggested including posting back with the updated log so that we can make sure it is clean...

[malleable]

Here's the updated log. . .

[mjc]

Fix these again.....

R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant=http://www.lop.com/searchbar.html

O3 - Toolbar: Accessories - {9B35A850-66AB-4c6d-8A66-136ECADCD904} - C:\WINDOWS\APPLICATION DATA\PLG_IE0.DLL (file missing)


Either I missed this one the first time a round or it is something new....
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [eZmmod] C:\PROGRA~1\ezula\mmod.exe

If it is new, you should look at running something like Spywareblaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html)