Crashes: Freezing, Mouse/Explorer/MSSE Failure

So, I upgraded with a clean install (from XP SP4) on my Desktop (see profile specs) to Windows 7 Professional (32 Bit) about three months ago. All drivers are updated. On install, I used the provided Vista drivers for my hardware, then ran internet updates for them all, and used Win7 update. I'm all driven and updated, etcetera.

Here are my problems:

Occasionally my mouse fails. Simply put, everything works but my mouse. Can't move, click, anything. I reconnect the mouse, nothing. Reset the system, it works again. I'm wondering if this is a problem with my board/PS2 ports, since the machine is approaching 3 years old and I've used it A LOT. I guess it could be the mouse itself, too. Suggestions? I wonder about this because it started happening around the same time as other issues. Also, strangely enough, sometimes if the display is off, I move the mouse and it restarts, but the mouse is suddenly non-functioning. Sometimes, if I open Task Manager and then close it, the mouse functionality returns. Um, WHAT?!, Right?

Explorer has been having issues recently. Primarily with copying medium-large amounts of data within libraries or from one library to another. We're talking 500MB - 10GB. This is only occasional, and the only real crashing (versus freezing) occurred within my downloads folder, moving .zip, .torrent, and .exe files. The computer froze, I restarted in safe mode, and could safely move (and delete, haha) the files that were previously freezing my computer. However, Explorer still seems to freeze under what are really moderate workloads--running iTunes and Explorer, or three Chrome windows with a few tabs each, having a few Explorer folders open, etc. I only run Security Essentials and iTunes in the background; I don't run defrag or other deep-system / intense operations while doing a lot of other tasks. Additionally, my fans run LOUD since I installed Win7. Anyone else have these issues?

Finally, and this is what makes me suspect it could be a virus? When Explorer tweaked out and I had to boot in safe mode and deleted files, as Explorer crashed and things froze, shortcuts wouldn't open (since Explorer was tweaking, etc) , etc etc, MSE popped up saying my computer was vulnerable and that I needed to turn on real-time protection. After I rebooted, I would open MSE and update it, then try and turn on real-time. The button was clickable, as in, it registered as needing to be turned ON, I would click it to turn it ON, and the button would remain in the clickable position...ie, Real-Time Protection wouldn't turn ON. I had booted in safe, deleted all my suspicious files, scanned like four times, installed AVG and scanned with that, too, found no viruses, etc. I figured there was a weird file that tweaked out Explorer, etc. But a few days ago, Explorer locked again, MSE said it was not functioning, and I had to reboot.

HELP! Any ideas? Any other people with these problems? Thanks and your feedback is much appreciated.

Oh, also: As a student I got a sweet deal, 30$ Win7. However, I bought 32 bit since I figured a lot of software wouldnt run on 64...now I'm second-guessing myself, since I DO have a 64bit processor/m.b. and a 64bit vid card...if upgrading to 64bit will improve performance, should I try and do that? Thanks again.

MisterActorMan

If you have hardware issues on 32 bit, you will also have hardware issues on 64 bit. THis is because 32 bit is actually more compatible with software than 64 bit.
"So, I upgraded with a clean install (from XP SP4) on my Desktop (see profile specs) to Windows 7 Professional (32 Bit) about three months ago."
there is no xp sp4, only sp3, but thats simply a technicality

"Occasionally my mouse fails. Simply put, everything works but my mouse. Can't move, click, anything. I reconnect the mouse, nothing. Reset the system, it works again. I'm wondering if this is a problem with my board/PS2 ports, since the machine is approaching 3 years old and I've used it A LOT. I guess it could be the mouse itself, too. Suggestions? I wonder about this because it started happening around the same time as other issues. Also, strangely enough, sometimes if the display is off, I move the mouse and it restarts, but the mouse is suddenly non-functioning. Sometimes, if I open Task Manager and then close it, the mouse functionality returns. Um, WHAT?!, Right?"

Just wondering, does your mouse have enough battery? Also, you can update the driver for your mouse. Check windows update and the manufacturer's website.

"Explorer has been having issues recently. Primarily with copying medium-large amounts of data within libraries or from one library to another. We're talking 500MB - 10GB. This is only occasional, and the only real crashing (versus freezing) occurred within my downloads folder, moving .zip, .torrent, and .exe files. The computer froze, I restarted in safe mode, and could safely move (and delete, haha) the files that were previously freezing my computer. However, Explorer still seems to freeze under what are really moderate workloads--running iTunes and Explorer, or three Chrome windows with a few tabs each, having a few Explorer folders open, etc. I only run Security Essentials and iTunes in the background; I don't run defrag or other deep-system / intense operations while doing a lot of other tasks. Additionally, my fans run LOUD since I installed Windows 7. Anyone else have these issues?"

I would suggest that you check your system files. Go to cmd, right click, Run as Administrator, type in sfc /scannow.

"Finally, and this is what makes me suspect it could be a virus? When Explorer tweaked out and I had to boot in safe mode and deleted files, as Explorer crashed and things froze, shortcuts wouldn't open (since Explorer was tweaking, etc) , etc etc, MSE popped up saying my computer was vulnerable and that I needed to turn on real-time protection. After I rebooted, I would open MSE and update it, then try and turn on real-time. The button was clickable, as in, it registered as needing to be turned ON, I would click it to turn it ON, and the button would remain in the clickable position...ie, Real-Time Protection wouldn't turn ON. I had booted in safe, deleted all my suspicious files, scanned like four times, installed AVG and scanned with that, too, found no viruses, etc. I figured there was a weird file that tweaked out Explorer, etc. But a few days ago, Explorer locked again, MSE said it was not functioning, and I had to reboot."

THis seems more like a system problem than a virus problem. Simply do the system file checker. Then, uninstall and reinstall microsoft security essentials.

This makes me wonder. Was this a clean install or upgrade install? Since you have the student version, it's probably an upgrade installation. Just tip: If you had problems in xp, and upgraded, your problems get transfered over to windows and multiplied. Always use a clean install if possible.

Good luck!

Definitely a clean install (you can't upgrade from XP to 7, Idt). Backed up files to other computer, formatted, installed. Didn't even ghost. And I thought XP had an SP4? Either way, XP was all updated, etc.

Can you be more specific about the "mouse battery?" It's PS2...so not wireless.

I'll check mouse drivers on the chance they're corrupt or outdated. I'll run the sfc / scannow command--anything I should expect/look for with that operation? And I'll resinstall MSE (again, twice can't hurt, right?). Thanks. Will post a reply with results.

lol oh yeah, I was being stupid about the upgrade XD
don't worry about the mouse thing then