Windows xp screen freezing...randomly

You have jumped to a conclusion. Note, I stated the OP has every right to
consider advice to be non-relevent.
Yes I do have Windows Firewall. And I stated my status of security software.
I would much prefer to educate people on how to keep their computers secure
than have them download
(which is the most frequent way to get a virus or malware) trash programs. I
might also add: Just read all
the problems caused by 'security programs' in these news groups.
STOP AND THINK When was the last time you got a virus? How did you get it?
"Daave" wrote in message
...
"Unknown" wrote in message
...
I read all the posts in this thread and others. What's more, I have no
security software installed whatsoever
and prefer not to. I have never had a virus. I would completely disregard
advice to install security software.

Perhaps you are above average, Unknown, but the average user would be
unwise to run a PC without any protection. As I'm sure you are aware, an
awful lot of posters here have malware issues. Then again, had they been
more sophisticated, their chances of downloading and installing the
malware would have decreased significantly. That means not opening
malicious e-mail attachments or visiting dicey sites and clicking on
advertisements for rogue programs. But the average user is not that
sophisticated!

Besides, I'm sure you *are* running some security software; Windows
Firewall would fit into this category.

"Unknown" wrote in message
...

You have jumped to a conclusion.

The only conclusion I jumped to is that you are above average when it
comes to avoiding malware.

Note, I stated the OP has every right to consider advice to be
non-relevent.

Note that I agree. Unfortunately, a lot of bad advice is offered,
therefore it is important that the OP and others in similar situations
exercise critical thinking.

Yes I do have Windows Firewall.

In that case, you *do* have security software installed, which
contradicts your earlier statement. Perhaps you meant third-party
security software. But I'm not a mind reader!

And I stated my status of security software.
I would much prefer to educate people on how to keep their computers
secure than have them download
(which is the most frequent way to get a virus or malware) trash
programs.

The programs recommended by MVPs and others are not trash programs.
However, I will agree that there are many trash programs out there and
they need to be avoided at all costs. But running a high-quality
antivirus or antimalware program is not the same thing as running a
trash program. Furthermore, one does not need to pay a penny for many of
these, as long as they are not being used for commercial reasons. This
does not have to be a "one or the other" situation. Being educated *and*
running high-quality security programs is the most sensible thing to do
for most PC users.


I might also add: Just read all
the problems caused by 'security programs' in these news groups.

Those programs you are referring to are trash programs. That's not what
I am talking about. In fact, a lot of those problems would have been
prevented if the users had been running a simple program like
SpywareBlaster, which basically just modifies certain settings in IE or
Firefox.

STOP AND THINK When was the last time you got a virus? How did you get
it?

I have never gotten a virus. That doesn't mean I would advocate that
other users run with mimimal or no security.

"Daave" wrote in message
...
"Unknown" wrote in message
...
I read all the posts in this thread and others. What's more, I have
no security software installed whatsoever
and prefer not to. I have never had a virus. I would completely
disregard advice to install security software.

Perhaps you are above average, Unknown, but the average user would be
unwise to run a PC without any protection. As I'm sure you are aware,
an awful lot of posters here have malware issues. Then again, had
they been more sophisticated, their chances of downloading and
installing the malware would have decreased significantly. That means
not opening malicious e-mail attachments or visiting dicey sites and
clicking on advertisements for rogue programs. But the average user
is not that sophisticated!

Besides, I'm sure you *are* running some security software; Windows
Firewall would fit into this category.

Thank you! I take that as a complement.
"Daave" wrote in message
...
"Unknown" wrote in message
...

You have jumped to a conclusion.

The only conclusion I jumped to is that you are above average when it
comes to avoiding malware.

Note, I stated the OP has every right to consider advice to be
non-relevent.

Note that I agree. Unfortunately, a lot of bad advice is offered,
therefore it is important that the OP and others in similar situations
exercise critical thinking.

Yes I do have Windows Firewall.

In that case, you *do* have security software installed, which contradicts
your earlier statement. Perhaps you meant third-party security software.
But I'm not a mind reader!

And I stated my status of security software.
I would much prefer to educate people on how to keep their computers
secure than have them download
(which is the most frequent way to get a virus or malware) trash
programs.

The programs recommended by MVPs and others are not trash programs.
However, I will agree that there are many trash programs out there and
they need to be avoided at all costs. But running a high-quality antivirus
or antimalware program is not the same thing as running a trash program.
Furthermore, one does not need to pay a penny for many of these, as long
as they are not being used for commercial reasons. This does not have to
be a "one or the other" situation. Being educated *and* running
high-quality security programs is the most sensible thing to do for most
PC users.


I might also add: Just read all
the problems caused by 'security programs' in these news groups.

Those programs you are referring to are trash programs. That's not what I
am talking about. In fact, a lot of those problems would have been
prevented if the users had been running a simple program like
SpywareBlaster, which basically just modifies certain settings in IE or
Firefox.

STOP AND THINK When was the last time you got a virus? How did you get
it?

I have never gotten a virus. That doesn't mean I would advocate that other
users run with mimimal or no security.

"Daave" wrote in message
...
"Unknown" wrote in message
...
I read all the posts in this thread and others. What's more, I have no
security software installed whatsoever
and prefer not to. I have never had a virus. I would completely
disregard advice to install security software.

Perhaps you are above average, Unknown, but the average user would be
unwise to run a PC without any protection. As I'm sure you are aware, an
awful lot of posters here have malware issues. Then again, had they been
more sophisticated, their chances of downloading and installing the
malware would have decreased significantly. That means not opening
malicious e-mail attachments or visiting dicey sites and clicking on
advertisements for rogue programs. But the average user is not that
sophisticated!

Besides, I'm sure you *are* running some security software; Windows
Firewall would fit into this category.

On Jan 1, 4:55*pm, "Unknown" wrote:
You are absolutely correct. Based on your responses to any of my posts you
don't read.
By the way, I don't find what you write interesting in the least. I just
keep up with the entire group."Gerry" wrote in message

...

Unknown

Good for you! I am glad you find what I write so interesting. Sorry but I
do not read all of yours.

--

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unknown wrote:
I read ALL your posts.
"Gerry" wrote in message
...
Unknown

Start reading what is said. My views on security coincide with the
vast majority of those who post here. I certainly do not believe
that all problems are caused by malware. Just read a few of my many
posts and perhaps you might stop spreading misinformation.

--

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unknown wrote:
I read all the posts in this thread and others. What's more, *I have
no security software installed whatsoever
and prefer not to. I have never had a virus. I would completely
disregard advice to install security software.
You appear to believe all problems are caused by viruses or malware.
The OP has every right to
consider advice as being non relevant and seek other ideas or
suggestions. If you said jump in the lake to a group of people, why
would you get disturbed if they don't do it?
I.E. Why do you think only your side of the coin is correct?
"Gerry" wrote in message
.. .
Unknown

That point of view is quite reasonable in most situations. However,
if you studied past posts to this thread and another you might
start to appreciate the other side of the coin. When advice has
been freely given, to ask for further advice on the basis that
previous
advice is put to one side as not relevant is going a step too far.
This is especially so when the other person is disregarding advice
to install security software where there is none. It is my choice
not to offer further advice just as the other person has the choice
not to accept advice. Feel free to offer advice to someone who
doesn't appreciate the
importance of making adequate security arrangements and expects you
to help resolve a problem with the way his computer works.

--

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unknown wrote:
Haven't you ever asked for advice just to get other opinions or
ideas? Why should one be
obligated to use the advice asked for?
"Gerry" wrote in message
.. .
status1

Why bother asking for advice if you have no intention of taking
it. You have read about an obscure situation and are moulding to
fit your own situation. There is a saying "Manage the simple
problems well and the complicated ones take care of themselves."
That could be a lesson you still have to learn!

Installing security is an elementary first step all users need to
take when they acquire a computer. Malware is not only
transferred by connecting to the internet, although that is
predominant way today. Before the internet was in common use
malware was transferred by an infected floppy disk. People use
to virus check floppy disks before use. --

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
status1 wrote:
Thank you but I think I found what is causing the problem
I was reading more about kvm sitches which was what I suspected
to be problem I found 3 different links from which I am posting
the relevant text

"· Mechanical KVM switches often lose the keyboard and mouse on
closed computer port channels, which results in errors that
require you to restart the affected computer."

"The Linksys KVM, like other electronic KVM switches, *is able
to "buffer" the transfer from one computer to the other so that
there is no damage to your computers. *Also, this KVM remembers
the settings of each computer so that your computer or operating
system won't suddenly hang or crash because it thinks the
keyboard, monitor, and mouse have been detached (a problem with
the mechanical switch boxes)" "One limitation of mechanical KVM
switches is that any computer not
currently selected by the KVM switch does not 'see' a keyboard
or mouse connected to it. In normal operation this is not a
problem, but while the machine is booting up it will attempt to
detect its keyboard and mouse and either fail to boot or boot
with an unwanted (e.g. mouseless) configuration"

That last one was from Wikipedia and that one really *pinpointed
the problem exactly
Because the computer was so slow I would turn it on and let it
boot up but sometimes I don't want to wait 2 minutes so while
it is booting I would switch back to the other computer and do
other things then when I think it if it finished
booting I would switch back and everything seems fine until I
press something on the keyboard
I was able to verify it by doing exactly that so I can repeat
the problem
So the fix is to wait until the computer is booted into windows
before using the kvm switch

"Gerry" wrote:

status1

The security software is readily downloadable with no cost
implications.

If this mouse/keyboard problem happens often enough, why not eliminate
the KVM temporarily and go direct for a while and see what happens.
If you go without issue for some time, maybe even try a few reboots to
be confident, then you can be pretty dang sure where the problem is.
Then, hook the KVM back up. If the problem comes back, you know what
the offending link is in the chain. Or, only boot the afflicted box
when you know the KVM is set to talk to it (like Wikipedia implies)
and see what happens. Look at the WWW site for your KVM if the
problem appears to follow the KVM. It might be a well known problem
with an easy solution. Complain loudly to them if appropriate.

People will frown on this idea, but when it happens again with the
KVM, unplug the mouse and keyboard from the KVM and plug it right into
the computer - no reboot. Just see what happens. Windows might
complain (who cares) and there would be what I consider a very tiny
risk of plugging something in already powered up. I would not power
off to hook up a network cable, phone line, USB device or whatever.
Somethings I would not do with power on so nobody think I am an
idiot! My previous thought may be better to try first and prevent
wrath from forum members.

The politely suggested free AV software is pretty good stuff IMHO. I
have come to "trust" them. I have legit copies of McAfee and Norton
and can't stand either of them. When they scan or update it takes
hours, slows me down, makes me mad, and usually doesn't report a damn
thing - a cookie here or there... I can run Spybot and some others,
go take a shower, throw some Frisbees or something, come back and it
will find all kinds of nasties - none life threatening, but I believe
in good housekeeping, so bad things are less likely to happen.