Booting up problem

Thanks for the advice again and I'll do that when I have a bit of time. I already created a system repair disc. Should I run that?

The reason you are getting the "Start Windows Normally" prompt at boot could be because the computer isn't being shut down properly as you described in OP.

Since you wisely made the Repair CD I'd boot it and see if it finds issues to repair. If not, click through to Recovery TOols list to run Startup Repair to see if it finds anything else. System Repair Disk

Check Windows Updates to see if there is a new mouse driver, enter Device Manager, click on Mouse driver, on Driver tab select Update Driver. If no Update, select Uninstall Driver, then reset computer with button to reboot for driver auto-reinstall.

Run the SFC as suggested, report back results on each step given.

Okay, when I have time. On the "on/off" button issue, I have had two different desktops since 2001, so I'm no novice, and their buttons were easy to find and I never had a problem with them, which is the difference. This isn't normally a problem. Furthermore, on the first one I had, I do vaguely recall going into BIOS for something or the other. But I also read that you need to be confident that you know the score before going that route.

Although it's been mentioned before, I am punctilious about switching the PC off through Start and Turn Off, so that's definitely not the cause.

Trying the run this repair disc. I had "assumed" (always a bad idea) that I click on the contents and then it would go off and run. There are two folders, "Boot" and "Sources" on the disc. When I click on either, nothing happens. So how do I run this?

Did I read the Original Post incorrectly that when the mouse freezes you are sometimes forced to do a hard shutdown of the PC, which often results in the "Start Windows Normally" prompt at reboot?

ukthesis said:

I then have to switch the PC off at the plug (the Start and Shut Down buttons don't work either).

You need to boot the disk: How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD - Boot to CD If you have problems entering BIOS setup to set CD drive first to boot, then use the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first screen to select the CD drive.

Correct, but that's only after the original problem (which is what this thread is all about) occurs. So the original problem occurs and only then have I switched it off that way. So the original problem (see above) is the issue here. How I switched on and off the PC is irrelevant and is resolved (explaining how I managed to work the on/off switch - also see above).