The mouse is attached via parallel port, not USB. Also, you don't say what unplugging the printer will do. Are you recommending I keep it unplugged - not a practical option.
As you suggested, I unplugged the USB cable to which the printer is attached. The clock in the system tray still slows down but not as rapidly. In 36 hours it lost 4 minutes. Also, during this time I noticed no mouse problems. (By the way, sorry for my stupidity. The mouse is attached via the mouse port.) What does this indicate about the cause of my problem? Could it be the CMOS battery needs to be replaced?)
I think you've got utilities (AV, firewall) running in the background, and that your USB printer software is automatically starting each time you boot the system, thereby slowing/hogging the system resources.
Particularly look at the programs that are checked/enabled to start with Windows on your msconfig/startup tab:
I tend to think it's a software and/or driver issue, but changing the CMOS battery is inexpensive. Check the date and time in BIOS (DEL) at the Dell splash screen before you change it. If the time is correct in BIOS, then you don't have a battery issue.
Thanks for all your help. Here's the latest. I went into system configuration and unchecked 3 programs associated with my new HP printer to stop them from launching on start-up and running in the background. These are Port Resolver (Hpbpro.exe), Status Server (Hpboid.exe) and Status Client (a long file name assocated with the HP toolbox and ending in statusclient.exe). The result is the clock in the system tray keeps time and the problem with delayed response to some mouse commands has disappeared.
Have I solved the problem or is there still something wrong that needs to be fixed (e.g. replace the CMOS battery)? What could have been causing the problem in the first place? Do you know why the HP printer programs were set to launch on start-up? What are they intended to do? By the way, the latest response I received from Dell support was that there is a conflict between the printer software and the operating system and they recommended I reinstall the operating system after reformatting the hard drive. This seems drastic to me and I am reluctant to do it.
NVRambo
1.9K Posts
0
July 7th, 2004 19:00
Especially if your mouse is USB, unplug the printer.
jay3795
4 Posts
0
July 9th, 2004 15:00
NV Rambo,
The mouse is attached via parallel port, not USB. Also, you don't say what unplugging the printer will do. Are you recommending I keep it unplugged - not a practical option.
NVRambo
1.9K Posts
0
July 9th, 2004 23:00
Additionally, I won't ask why your mouse is "attached via parallel port" versus PS/2 or USB.
Something has changed on the system since your mouse was operating normally. Negating any known changes would probably help.
jay3795
4 Posts
0
July 16th, 2004 12:00
NVRambo
1.9K Posts
0
July 17th, 2004 01:00
System losing time:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;189706&Product=winme
CMOS battery type:
http://www.batterybob.com/product.asp?intProdID=101632
I think you've got utilities (AV, firewall) running in the background, and that your USB printer software is automatically starting each time you boot the system, thereby slowing/hogging the system resources.
Particularly look at the programs that are checked/enabled to start with Windows on your msconfig/startup tab:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q281995
I tend to think it's a software and/or driver issue, but changing the CMOS battery is inexpensive. Check the date and time in BIOS (DEL) at the Dell splash screen before you change it. If the time is correct in BIOS, then you don't have a battery issue.
Good luck.
jay3795
4 Posts
0
July 27th, 2004 15:00
Thanks for all your help. Here's the latest. I went into system configuration and unchecked 3 programs associated with my new HP printer to stop them from launching on start-up and running in the background. These are Port Resolver (Hpbpro.exe), Status Server (Hpboid.exe) and Status Client (a long file name assocated with the HP toolbox and ending in statusclient.exe). The result is the clock in the system tray keeps time and the problem with delayed response to some mouse commands has disappeared.
Have I solved the problem or is there still something wrong that needs to be fixed (e.g. replace the CMOS battery)? What could have been causing the problem in the first place? Do you know why the HP printer programs were set to launch on start-up? What are they intended to do? By the way, the latest response I received from Dell support was that there is a conflict between the printer software and the operating system and they recommended I reinstall the operating system after reformatting the hard drive. This seems drastic to me and I am reluctant to do it.