Solved Mouse and keyboard randomly stop working

Hello everyone, this problem had started for me only about 3 or so days ago, and is rather annoying. What happens is that randomly while using the mouse, it would freeze up and I would hear the "Device Disconnect" sound, and a second later the mouse would work again. This happens absolutely randomly, and after a bunch of times, both the keyboard and the mouse completely stops working. They are both connected to the USB ports on the motherboard at the back of the computer, and unplugging and replugging does not make them work again. I have tried plugging them into other USB ports, such as in the front and top of the PC, and they start working again, but only temporarily until they once again stop working completely after like 10-30 mins or so. The only solution to get the mouse and keyboard working again [temporarily], is to restart the PC using the main power button. When they stop working, the numlock light is still lit on the keyboard, but the keyboard does not respond, and I have a small indicator light on my laser mouse that just starts blinking, when it normally has never done that. Everything else is still working, such as any music playing, and the internet. I have read soooo many forum posts on the internet and have tried sooo many different things, and nothing has worked thus far, and that is why I am posting, so that perhaps someone could find a solution. Things I have already done:
I have uninstalled and reinstalled all the usb, mouse, and keyboard drivers (from both the device manager and the actual drivers CD of my computer). I went to msconfig and set it to Diagnostic startup and did a restart, thinking that perhaps something might be interfering, but nope, still did not work. I have restarted the computer in safe mode, and this problem persists even in safe mode! I have went to the Power Options in my control panel, and under the USB setting, made sure that it was already set as "Disabled".
I have no clue what precipitated this issue, and I am absolutely dumbfounded in how to solve it. Many different forum posts, have suggested this might be some sort of power issue. But I don't really believe that is the case, because I only got my current computer at the beginning of this year, I've never had an issue with my keyboard or mouse, and I've never once seen the CPU usage go to 100%, even when playing some high requirement games. If anyone has any other suggestions, I would be more than happy to try.

Welcome to SevenForums.

Are you using 2 antiviruses on your computer by any chance?

There are no blue screen dump files in your zip. Are you getting BSOD-s or just the issue with the keyboard and mice? Did you try different keyboard or mice?

Do not use CCleaner if you're getting BSOD-s. It can clean away the dump files.

Follow the tutorial below, it might help:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/165554-usb-driver-general-fix-problems.html

Check for a BIOS update:
Run the System File Checker that scans the of all protected Windows 7 system files and replaces incorrect corrupted, changed/modified, or damaged versions with the correct versions if possible:

• Click on the rb:
• Type CMD on Search
• Left click and Run as Administrator
• Type SFC /scannow

Full tutorial here:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Run Disk Check on your hard disk for file system errors and bad sectors on it:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

Let us know if any of this helps.

Thank you for replying.
As I've mentioned, I've ran my computer in Diagnostic Setup and even in Safe Mode, and the problem persisted during both of these, indicating that the problem has nothing to do with any current programs or antiviruses running on my computer, as no services or startup programs are enabled during Safe Mode.
I am not getting any BSOD, it is just simply the issue of my mouse and keyboard that randomly stops working. If this is the wrong section of the forum to post this issue in, then please direct me to the correct one.
That tutorial link you provided absolutely did not help, and I even tried it before posting on here. Deleting the INFCACHE.1 file over and over, does not do anything, and does not make my mouse or keyboard work again in those usb ports.
And yes I have done the sfc /scannow and the chkdsk /f C: in the cmd menu. Neither of which have proven useful.
As for the BIOS update, I checked today on the Dell website, and the BIOS version of A06 is the most current one for my XPS 8300 PC.

The mouse and keyboard themselves are not the problem, they function perfectly on other computers. I plugged in a different mouse into the USB port that my mouse was connected to, after it stopped functioning, and there was no response either from that new mouse.
Also I plugged in a flash drive into the same port where my mouse/keyboard stopped working, and the computer opened it up.
All my drivers are up-to-date, and yet it seems to me that it still might either be a driver or a power problem. I can't figure out if the problem has to do with the USB drivers, or the keyboard and mouse drivers, or a power issue, or perhaps something else entirely.
I just don't know, and I'm getting frustrated in having to restart my computer like 20+ times a day.
If you or anyone else has any other ideas, I'll gladly try them out. Or any additional questions that I can answer.
I just don't want to reformat my HD, only to have this problem continue. Or worse, having to get a new computer.

I have requested for more help.
Please wait for a reply.

Try updating the chipset from the PC or mobo's Support Downloads webpage. If it's latest, uninstall then reboot to reinstall the USB drivers. Are you perchance missing Enhanced USB driver?

I understand why you believe the mouse and keyboard are not the problem, but I would still try another just to be sure.

Is this the original factory preinstall, or an upgrade from Vista? If not when was it clean installed, and how closely did you hew to the Best Practices laid out in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which are same for retail?

Do you have any other USB device plugged in?

try connecting them through (the same) USB hub, better if powered.

Try using another keyboard/mice.

Try enabling or disabling (depending on current setting) the Legacy USB support (or somesuch) from your BIOS options.

Also, you said you did something with power options, but did you try the following?
Go to your Control Panel > System > Hardware tab > and click on the "Device Manager" button.

In the Device Manager window, find the item or items labeled "Universal Serial Bus controllers." Open it, and double-click the first item called "USB Root Hub." Repeat for all items if there is more than one.

In the USB Root Hub Properties dialog, click on the "Power Management" tab.

"Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" is checked by default. Uncheck this box, and click "OK."

Try uninstalling mice and keyboard (one at a time) from device manager and then rebooting.

Also, would be a good idea to fill your system specs correctly. This tutorial helps you with the board's own scan software that does most of the leg work.

Hi Welcome to Seven Forums.
To help us help you would you please add your systems specs? Here's how:SystemInfo See Your System Specs Under System Manufacturer/Model Number add whether it is a desktop or laptop and whether self built.

Log in to Seven Forums and you will be able to transfer the info directly to the specs page in your profile from within the System Info app.
After doing this your specs will be available in each of your posts. Click on My system Specs in the lower left of this post to see how it should look.
Full instructions are in the tutorial.

Hello again. Thank you all for replying to me. I uploaded my System Specs.
Anyways I finally managed to figure out what the problem was. It was the mouse itself. I did what you guys told me. I unplugged the mouse that was causing the problem, and hooked up a completely different mouse, and experienced no more freezing throughout the day. I then took the problem mouse and plugged it into another computer in my house, and the same problems occurred on that computer.
Initially I honestly did not believe that the mouse was the problem, since it would work just fine and then freeze after like 30-60 mins, I thought this was a driver or a USB port problem. So from my speculation, what I think happens is that the mouse somehow overloads the USB ports, making them unresponsive or does something to the drivers, I don't know.
Anyways thanks a lot for all of your time, help and patience.

By the way, I just wanted to know for future reference, where do I go to find the BIOS options, to enable or disable the "Legacy USB support"?

Glad you solved so fast. These situations are always weird, as it's something where multiple causes have similar effects, like some defects on the mice, drivers, USB controllers that add up. Sometimes it's a computer issue, sometimes it is a mouse issue, sometimes it is both, sometimes it is only for specific combinations of mouse and PC.

The BIOS is the motherboard's firmware, that apart from running the whole thing from a more basic level than Win 7, it contains options about hardware. Knowing how to get into it and what can do is useful in case you want to tweak a bit the system or simply troubleshoot.
More accurate info on your own bios settings could be found in your motherboard's manual (if you assembled your PC anyway, in case of prebuilt systems you have to guess and look on the net)

Your USB options will be listed either in the Hardware or Onboard Devices menus, and may be a sun-menu of them.

hello i know this post too old but i have similar problems here!!
mouse and keyboard both stop working same time for no reason...whatever i do(play games,wach a movie)
only solution restart pc from main button...and after some time it happenes again...
when it happens..num lock goes off( light) but the light from mouse still working 100% normally
i checked all driver but nothing would solve the problem...
finally i did format (cause i wanted to do it anyway mostly for 64 bit version(had a 32 bit and ram not workin well))
after the format for a few days everything was ok(i did install any drivers needed)...and suddenly today again same problem...
so similar to the guy above me its probably a mouse or keyboard problem
But my question is...why after format it went ok for some days and suddenly again not?
could it be a virus?I got avast +spybot search and destroy (i installed spybot after the problem appeared to maybe find something but no hope)
And also if it is a mouse or keyboard problem how can i understan wich one i must change?( i dont have spear ones )
my keyboard is mycrosoft 400(a bit old) my mouse is a new one 4-5 months
CM Storm Xornet - Cooler Master

If wireless mouse/keyboard try changing batteries.

Try another mouse and keyboard to compare.

Work through the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7.

Since you're using Spybot which no one here recommends (use SuperAntiSpyware or AdwCleaner) and Avast which is bloated, I would read over the steps for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to compare what you did with a perfect install including the tools and methods which work best with Win7.

Flicking screen mouse and keyboard won't work

Changing the batteries in the mouse and keyboard worked for me. (Mouse batteries were flat).

Hi everyone:

I’ve had the same error creep up in the last week and had been troubleshooting all sorts of things—deleting Itunes, turning off various things, updating my remote access program (as there had been some hacking attempts). Strangely, despite being a Sevenforums member, I hadn’t found this thread till tonight, one week on.

In case this happens to others, the hard reset might not be the best option if you don’t want to lose data, as the computer itself is still going. My solution is to access the computer through VNC (assuming you have it installed) as you can control it there (since it’s the regular mouse and keyboard that are dead), and put the computer to sleep. Provided your keyboard is a device that allows you to wake a computer up from sleep mode, you should be able to get access to your PC again by hitting a key.

Does anyone know why a dead mouse (which seems to have been the reason for the OP) would also kill off the keyboard till the restart? I looked through my Device Manager and the keyboard has its own entry, while the mouse is presumably under the general USB devices.

I am taking this advice on board though and changing my mouse.

stalled mouse

I had problems with my computer mouse stopping and then starting to work my problem was simple in effect it was the mouse pad whenever I pushed the mouse over a certain point on the mouse pad everthing stalled if this happens to you use a sheet of printer paper instead of the m-pad .