New
#1
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