Getting some weird activity.

[Vagrant0]

I've already run numerous system scans and taken a look at my processes and other stuff, so if this is an attack of some sort, it's not something typical.

 

The problem is that occasionally my computer keyboard and mouse controls will briefly pause and windows will play the sound for Device Disconnect. This seems to happen for both mouse actions and the keyboard, so even if my plugs were loose, it wouldn't just be one of them.

 

As best as I can tell, there is no information being sent out, but it seems to be happening reasonably frequently. It started happening around the time that I installed FONV and Steam, but as Steam connection is blocked by default on my system, I don't think that it is directly related.

 

Anyone have any ideas what might be causing this?

[LadyMilla]

I've already run numerous system scans and taken a look at my processes and other stuff, so if this is an attack of some sort, it's not something typical.

 

The problem is that occasionally my computer keyboard and mouse controls will briefly pause and windows will play the sound for Device Disconnect. This seems to happen for both mouse actions and the keyboard, so even if my plugs were loose, it wouldn't just be one of them.

 

As best as I can tell, there is no information being sent out, but it seems to be happening reasonably frequently. It started happening around the time that I installed FONV and Steam, but as Steam connection is blocked by default on my system, I don't think that it is directly related.

 

Anyone have any ideas what might be causing this?

 

It might be the USB controller on your motherboard or voltage drops. I assume you are using a USB keyboard/mouse.

[Vagrant0]

I've already run numerous system scans and taken a look at my processes and other stuff, so if this is an attack of some sort, it's not something typical.

 

The problem is that occasionally my computer keyboard and mouse controls will briefly pause and windows will play the sound for Device Disconnect. This seems to happen for both mouse actions and the keyboard, so even if my plugs were loose, it wouldn't just be one of them.

 

As best as I can tell, there is no information being sent out, but it seems to be happening reasonably frequently. It started happening around the time that I installed FONV and Steam, but as Steam connection is blocked by default on my system, I don't think that it is directly related.

 

Anyone have any ideas what might be causing this?

 

It might be the USB controller on your motherboard or voltage drops. I assume you are using a USB keyboard/mouse.

USB mouse, old-school keyboard. Voltage issues, as I understand them, would have additional problems which would be easier to notice.

[Illiad86]

I've run into a similar problem with my uncle's mouse. It would freeze up, do the disconnect noise, and work again. Turns out the mouse was just on it's last legs. But, to have both the keyboard and mouse do that...hmmm....

[Marthos]

How did you block Steam ?

 

Just by its own "go offline" command or have you done it another way ?

 

I ask as in some instances Steam will still try to connect, cant see how that would cause probs with your mouse and keyboard unless it was using a mental amount of system resources trying to do it but even then it doesn't seem to make sense.

 

If you've got another keyboard and mouse laid about, have a swap round and see if it still does it and if you can, run a resource monitor to see just whats running when it happens, if you see a process that you don't recognise or think shouldn't be running, type the exact name of the process into google and see what it chucks back at you. Monitor your network traffic also if you can.

 

Regards, M

[Vagrant0]

How did you block Steam ?

 

Just by its own "go offline" command or have you done it another way ?

 

I ask as in some instances Steam will still try to connect, cant see how that would cause probs with your mouse and keyboard unless it was using a mental amount of system resources trying to do it but even then it doesn't seem to make sense.

 

If you've got another keyboard and mouse laid about, have a swap round and see if it still does it and if you can, run a resource monitor to see just whats running when it happens, if you see a process that you don't recognise or think shouldn't be running, type the exact name of the process into google and see what it chucks back at you. Monitor your network traffic also if you can.

 

Regards, M

Blocked steam by means of a firewall rule which I manually have to disable to connect for updates. I have others for EA, Blizzard, and other companies which have programs that try phoning home. I started doing this after I noticed a game repeatedly trying to download updates over the course of a week for a total of about 13gb of data transfers that my ISP wasn't too happy about. Being that they used a p2p service instead of a ftp, it was never canceled on their end, and wasn't really their concern.

 

Was planning on swapping out the mouse, but don't like the one I have as a backup.

 

The keyboard is another issue in that keyboards can be pricy if you don't want them to be a pain in the ass to use, and generally have crappy designs. I have yet to find a new keyboard under $30 that has a standard Win98 layout, large backspace key, and none of those annoying macro buttons. Ordering online also means that I can't get an idea of the tactile sense of the keyboard, which is often the most important bit. I like keys to be reasonably stiff, loud, but responsive. So finding a replacement these days is rather difficult.

[Marthos]

Sensible man re the firewall thing, so many people think "go offline" means it will actually do it.

 

As for keyboard and mouse, I know what you mean, I like to try before I buy to see if they fit my paws, years in the building trade means my hands have about had it so I like a keyboard and mouse that make things easier for me.

 

Just for the purposes of testing, see if you can pick a cheapy couple of quid each set, as long as they work and let you test to see if your problem is caused by your current mouse and keyboard, no point replacing the ones your using if you like them and they're not causing the problem.

 

Hope you get it sorted.

 

 

PS:

 

If you want to go supermouse-ified, you might try and tame one of these wee beasties.

 

http://www.cyborggaming.com/prod/rat9.htm

[frank lee]

I go through a couple of Kb's 'cos I smoke while I write which means I clog the Kb's with ash.

Anyway apart from vacuuming them periodically I found was keeping the mouse and keyboard on the machine's integrated bus controller and feeding all the external drives into a PCI card bus helps when they begin to go flaky.

[_frost_]

Could be an issue with your USB-controller/mainboard and apart of that - I think it's not very

likely that keyboard and mouse have a malfunction at the same time, so I tend to believe that

there must be another reason.

 

I doubt that this could solve your problem but try the following; it's about lag but read

the topic with the »USB Power Saving Mode«:

http://supportwiki.steampowered.com/wiki/Troubleshooting_Mouse_and_Keyboard_Lag

 

 

_frost_

[Qwaxalot]

You might want to take a look at power supply voltages, especially the 5 volt line.

A program like PC-Wizard can be helpful.