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Unknown processes run in background?

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A strange thing has been happening to my laptop since the last 8 weeks.
While I would be typing in any application, say MS Word, the “focus” goes away from that app. For eample in the middle of a typing a line, suddenly the cursor disappears and whatever characters I have keyed in are not typed. I have to click the mouse once again and re type the caharcters.

I have noticed the “Hourglass” breifly appears, when no user activity is/should be taking place.

On some applications, like the PalmPilot Desktop, as soon as I pause after typing say first 3 digits of a phone number, the cursor jumps back to the begining of the line and rest of the characters input are placed at the begining!

I have a Windows 98 SE running on Dell LatitudeCPx 750 MHz.
I checked the Task Manager and no tasks are running that should not be running.
I have disbaled all the scheduled tasks from the task scheduler.
I have thouroughly scanned the system with NAV-2001 (latest updates), but found no viruses.
I have also scanned the system online with PC-Cillin House Call, found no viruses.

I suspect a script is running in the background. How do I identify and fix this problem.

Have already re installed all O/S and apps on a new disk painstakingly on another Dell laptop. Still the problem remains.

Any diagnostic tools or suggestions?

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Unknown processes run in background?

In reply to Unknown processes run in background?

have you tried another mouse? are you running a logitech trackball by any chance? or another mouse that came with special software? if so, see if the problem occurs in safe mode and/or remove the software (most mice will function as a regular mouse even without the software).

Unknown processes run in background?

In reply to Unknown processes run in background?

Thanks sgt Shultz for your effort.
I use a logitech scroll mouse but that does not require any drivers. The problem occurs even when the mouse is not connected.

Have you any ideas how I can check for any programs/scripts running in a hidden manner?

Hope to hear from you. Thanks again

Unknown processes run in background?

In reply to Unknown processes run in background?

I would suggest that you pay attention to the timing of when this happens in Word. This could be the Auto-save or Auto-recovery creation of backup documents that is causing this to happen. Check under Tools, Options, Save in Word. If you disable all background saves see if your problem disappears. Please post a comment with any additional information. Hope this helps!

Unknown processes run in background?

In reply to Unknown processes run in background?

Thanks Lizzy.
Auto save is off in Word. Actually Word was just one example. It happens even in non-microsoft apps such as Eudora Pro 4.1 (registered version – no ads).

Have you any ideas how I can check for any programs/scripts running in a hidden manner?

Hope to hear from you. Thanks again.

Unknown processes run in background?

In reply to Unknown processes run in background?

Perhaps you need to check for either ad-ware or spy-ware on your machine. There are some very good free utilities available for download. They do a great job of detecting stuff like gator, ad companion and more. They also find the little trackingsettings that may open communication with the internet without your knowledge. Both have pay versions available, but the free versions updated with the latest updates and definitions is a great place to start.

spybot search and destroy at:
http://security.kolla.de/

AdAware at:
http://lavasoft.element5.com/

Note that spybot if deep scanned will also find MANY settings that are “Recent” file markers and deleting them is really personal preference.
Please post a comment once you have been able to check this out. Hope this helps!

Unknown processes run in background?

In reply to Unknown processes run in background?

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Unknown processes run in background?

In reply to Unknown processes run in background?

maybe try this: go into the BIOS and disable the touchpad. maybe there is a conflict between it and the mouse…

Unknown processes run in background?

In reply to Unknown processes run in background?

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Unknown processes run in background?

In reply to Unknown processes run in background?

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