Dell Tech Support - Yes or No?

Thanks for the response, 2Tired (me, too).  This was my original post on page 13, General Harware Board.  I tried Dell Diagnostics, couldn't complete test.   Nancy

It was suggested I move to this board.  Here's the problem: 

I've had a sporadic problem for several weeks, getting more frequent.  The computer becomes unresponsive after about an hour.  Mouse arrow is active.  If I hover over an icon, I get a description, but nothing happens if I click.  I can move all over the forum, but no response if a link is clicked.

Same with everything on start menu, programs, turn off, etc.  I turn off manually, wait briefly, turn on; I've got another hour or, rarely, several hours, then the same thing.  No error messages or anything else unusual.  I'm up to date on all av, anti-malware & firewall.

Gosh, it's stayed on quite a while this time.  As I said, it's sporadic, but have it more often than not.  Thanks for any help.

Nancy

Try to be more specific to your problem so the forum can help you better as to what Dell was trying to tell you. Sounds to me like you dont have enough memory to run certain applications. As far as the compressed air goes, yes be careful with the way you hold the can. Keep it upright at all times, dont shake the can, and alwasy use short blasts of air. It is best to become very familiar with the guts of the computer so you could disconnect certain items to ensure you remove the dust clots from your tower.

Could your problem be restated as the left mouse button stops working after time? Can you navigate the desktop via the keyboard and start an application with the 'enter' key?

nixadm,  No new software.  This has been happening for quite a while, a month or more, by now.  I may have downloaded patches & the new version of Spybot; but I think it was since the problem started.  Frankly, I'm seldom sure where to post because I don't know the cause of things that occur.

ddeerrff,  Interesting, I hadn't thought of that.  I don't think it's the mouse, but I'm not sure.  I can move all over this forum, for instance; different boards, pages etc. using the left button.  When I click on a link, nothing happens.  I should try the keyboard route when it stops working, but don't really know many of the keys to use for different functions.  Copy & paste is about all I've ever done from keyboard.  What would be a good test of your idea for me to try?

Thanks to you both for your interest,

Nancy

Keyboard Shortcuts would be TAB- to move about different links and then hit Enter to "click the link".

sounds like a software issue for sure

when did the problem start, you install any software recently?

ddeerrff & 2tired,  Thanks, folks.  I'd love to print out the info on that link.  Who knew you could do all that!  Not me.  So far everything is still working, so haven't been able to test the mouse.

I'm still curious about the initial question.  If, in the end, I have to d/c the the CD ROM from the motherboard,  is it likely to cause ill effects?  

Thanks again,

Nancy

The only ill effects will be that you will no loger have access to your CD drive(s).

Which I assume means; if I want to play a CD, I must re-connect it.  This all seems sooo strange to the unknowing user like me.  You must d/c a desirable feature for something else work right.   I'll have to think about that one.

Thanks so much for your time.  You've helped me a lot, this time & previous times too.  Such admirable patience!

Regards,

Nancy

disconnecting devices and parts eliminates them from being "whats wrong" with the pc.. just process of elimination in troubleshooting.

It also could be that dell is aware of a specific problem that the cdrom or cable causes and is related to your problem.

Okey, dokey - makes sense to me.  I'll give it a try.  Thanks for your time & patience.   Nancy