Re: Something (Trojan?) Takes Over Mouse - Mouse Was Probably Bad

From: PapaBear (PapaBear_at_bear.com)
Date: 10/07/03 

Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2003 13:19:39 -0400

Changed mouse, so far so good.
I will use the software tools just to be sure.
Thanks very much to everybody.

"MyndPhlyp" <notreally@home.now> wrote in message
news:PxBgb.2013$mQ2.213@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>
> "PapaBear" <PapaBear@bear.com> wrote in message
> news:HmAgb.25029$wC1.6825@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
> > Some program on my computer takes over the mouse, takes it to the edges
of
> > the screen and clicks it madly, tiling windows, opening programs etc. I
> run
> > W2K Pro and I have installed both ZoneAlarm and Norton Internet Security
> > after the problem began - so now the program must reside on my local
> drive.
> > To stop the mouse mischief, I do a Ctrl-Alt-Del which most often, but
not
> > always stops the mouse. I see no unusual processes running, so the
mouse
> > process must be hiding somehow. I checked registry and cannot see any
> > unusual programs under RunOnce or Run. I also have Norton Antivirus
with
> up
> > to date virus definitions and nothing is detected.
> > Has anybody seen something similar before? I would like to get rid of
the
> > problem without having to reformat/reinstall.
> > Thank you for your advice.
>
> Doesn't sound like a trojan or virus, especially since you are using NAV.
> Chances are either the mouse is experiencing a physical problem (read:
> overabundance of lint or just plain dying), the mouse connection may be
> poor, there's a stuck key on the keyboard, or maybe even a bit of driver
> corruption. And there is the possibility that whatever software you
> installed or updated just prior to the symptom is causing the problem
> (especially if it is shareware/freeware from a questionable author).
>
> W2K is somewhat of a "self repairing" system. It tracks whether key files
> are inappropriately updated (down-dated is more like it). You could try
> forcing the system to reinstall the mouse driver. Log in as the
> Administrator. Wrong-click My Computer and select Properties from the
pop-up
> menu. Click the Hardware tab. Click the Device Manager button. Locate the
> mouse and delete it from the list. Reboot and log on as the Administrator.
> W2K will rediscover the mouse and reinstall it. The down side is that
you'll
> have to use the keyboard to close the dialog boxes and shutdown 'cus you
> just deleted the mouse.
>
> If that doesn't do the trick, investigate the possibility of rogue
software
> being installed just prior to the event.
>
> And, clean the mouse once in a while.
>
>