Missing the Mouse, File vmouse.vxd Help!

[Strowhat]

Just tried to fix a computer running win 98 se and the mouse is gone, the device manager says the thing is not working properly because it can not load window file vmouse.vxd (code 8) How do I fix this? I tried the fix by running setup again, did not work, still no mouse. Driver is there, says working fine

Please help

Thanks, CHuck

[GaryRouth]

You can try:
1) Boot to Safe Mode
2) In Device Manager, remove all mice
3) In Add/Remove Programs, check for any mouse software and remove.
4) In Device Manager, check for any devices "flagged" with yellow exclamation marks or red X's - remove these also.
5) from the Start/Run box, type in "msconfig" (without the quotes), and from the System.ini file, remove entries that appear garbled, or that point to hardware/software no longer present. [Another option is to completely delete the file, rename win.com and run an over-the-top reinstallation after reboot http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=70846]
6) With your Win98 CD in the drive ( boot from the hard drive unless you've decided on an over-the-top = in which case remember to install to C:\Windows -and not to C:\Windows.000 ), reboot and let Window redetect and reinstall problem devices.

Here's a Microsoft article, intended for WinMe, that some Win98se users have found helpful in their repairs for this problem http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316544

Since you mentioned you ran setup again, are you referring to a full reinstallation of Windows, or just the installation routine for your mouse? If you ran a Windows Setup, check with Windows Explorer that you don't have two Windows installations already (one will probably be in C:\Windows, and another one in C:\Windows.000, etc). . . if you find you do have more than one, see Hal's article on fixing that http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=38140

Sometimes just deleting all the ghost mice from Safe Mode & rebooting works, but when it doesn't, you can try the more exhaustive fixes.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[Strowhat]

Well, I went to msconfig (system.ini file) and found it all garble, deleted it and ran set up again and now I have the mouse again. It does have 3 pencil looking things in the sys.ini info now but nothing next to them, under that the info is correct to my knowledge and working.

One problem still is the mouse will not allow right click at all. Working fine other wise. I had also to fix a sound problem but that was easy under sound properties and put windows default back on.

Any ideas on the right click problem? Would appreciate all assistance.

THanks, Chuck

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

If the mouse is a generic PS/2 or USB mouse (whether optical or mechanical, no matter), try removing it again in Safe Mode & trying one more time for Windows to re-detect it properly. If you have any USB cameras, printers, multifunction devices (printer/copier/fax), etc. try with these unplugged (you can plug them back in after the mouse is fixed).

If the mouse is a "wireless" - you may need to install a driver written specifically for it: usually available on the manufacturer's website. [Also = make sure it's batteries are fresh --- wireless mice do crazy things on low batteries]

See if that does it (hope so! - these are quick fixes)
. . . Gary

[Strowhat]

Gary,
It is a regular Microsoft mouse ps2 so I will try the safe mode (tonight) again and see what it does, I am just getting frustrated with my Brother in-law who keeps me busy with this. He downloads so much junk, then I have to fix.

Thanks for all the assistance.

Chuck

[glc]

If you or he installed Intellipoint software, uninstall it so Windows will load the generic driver.

[Strowhat]

Not sure if this is related to other problems but I have no right click still and now I am getting these when I hit

ctr, alt, delete
sdkct32 and addrv32

under start tab from msconfig the following comes up

c:\windows\sdkct32.exe
c:\windows\system\addrv32.exe /s

Question is are these needed program files or something that brother in-law edded up with from some downloads. I never seen this before that I recall.

If I take them out of start up they seem to come back on there own and I am not sure. If I leave them they seem to freeze the computer from resources being used. It has 256 ddr memory

Again this is Win98 se

everything else seems to work fine

Thanks, Chuck

[glc]

Time for virus and spyware scans. Those are both malware.

[Strowhat]

Just tried to remove adware and get the msconfig start up tab cleaned up using one of the daily tips about it. When I tried to navigate to the correct place in regedit I was unable to locate the correct spot to compare the lists in msconfig. Was the daily tip for XP only? Where might I find the correct spot when using Win98 se?

Thanks again for the assistance
Chuck

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

I've been busy with some projects recently, so I didn't see the daily tip you refer to, but for information on what's starting up on your Win98se computer, the list in the Startup tab of the System Configuration Utility (msconfig) is indeed a good place to start.

If the list in the daily tip included processes like svchost.exe, spoolsv.exe, csrss.exe, and such -- then you are correct that the list was probably referring to Windows XP, and wouldn't apply to your Win98se system.

For a complete background on the Startup processes & System resources usage situation in the Win9x world, see the well-known articles at http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm The site also features a link to a list of processes, so you can check the items in your list against the information supplied there - to see if your processes are legitimate, or are malware. Another good list is at the AnswersThatWork website http://www.answersthatwork.com/Taskl...s/tasklist.htm

When the time comes that you need to use regedit to remove some programs permanently from startup (those that won't remove themselves by options in their "Preferences" menus) a good place to see where the programs are starting from is to look in the Windows System Information Tool - Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information = then head to the "Software Environment" and then to "Startup" - note that in the columns displayed in the right-hand window, there is a column labeled something like "started from" or "called from" (I don't have a Win98 box nearby to check the exact wording). This will list whether the program is starting from the Registry, in a key such as HKEY_Local_Machine/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run - and Run Services, or from one of the .ini or .bat files, such as system.ini or autoexec.bat. With that information in hand, you can then edit the files in question.
______________________
As far as your malware infection, I hope you've had good luck removing the problems. If you run into trouble removing them, try making sure you run your malware scans from Safe Mode, and use as "thorough" a scanning mode as you can (most such programs offer several levels of scanning). Double-check your current programs with an online scan such as TrendMicro's HouseCall - http://housecall.trendmicro.com -- and check the settings in your firewall to make sure everything is as you left it. Might want to change your passwords, too.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[Strowhat]

Hello to all that helped,

I took the unit through a full format and reinstalled the windows and everything is working fine, now brother in-law will have to set it up for what ever he was using programs wise.

I will keep all the links and article info for later reference.

Problem corrected!

Again Many thanks

Chuck (Strowhat)