Keyboard and mouse lags

Sigurd · 22 Aug 2019

This is not a new problem. Searching finds plenty of posts about it but most that I have found relate to earlier versions of Windows. I am using the latest version of Windows 10 on a high powered machine form Chillblast.

Problem - Mouse movements inconsistent - can be erratic. Keyboard entry can be going along fine and then there is a pause of several seconds before screen displays the last few characters typed. The problem is worse in the evenings so I suspected either a heat issue or something which has been loaded during the course of the day.
The trouble with these theories is that switching off for a while, then back on, doesn't always solve the problem, though it can help a bit. In short, this is one of those intermittent problems which seem to be a nightmare to solve!

Tried - with no effect on problem -
Chillblast (UK firm that supplied PC) have remotely looked at the machine and can't find any issues in logs, or anywhere else.
I have monitored performance with task Manager and other apps but can't see anything in particular.
Memory tests OK.
CPU test all OK
Tried a wired keyboard and mouse and problem persisted.
Have re-installed/updated drivers - Bluetooth, Nvidia, and other drivers.
I did a repair of Office 365.
Ran SFC

I have noted in Task Manager that there are around about 200 or so processes running. Same for Services.
Yet during the time I have been typing this there have been no issues - it's morning and I have only used Google and Outlook so far.

I have now reached the stage of considering, without any good logic behind doing so, a clean re-install of WIndows.

Before I do that, has anyone any suggestions? Are the number of processes/services running normal?

dalchina · 22 Aug 2019

Hi, for comparison, please try these scenarios:
a. Safe Mode
b. a clean boot
c. Create a new user for test purposes and log in as that user

Is the issue context dependent- only when using web browsers e.g. - or in any situation?

What is your Windows build? Win key + r, winver (Sadly it's not a site requirement so we have to keep asking).

Sigurd · 27 Aug 2019

Thanks for suggestions. Trying them out but as the problem seems to develop over course of the day takes time to see the effect of each attempts.

Will get back to you in respect of suggestions a to c.
In the meantime -
The version is 1903, build 18362.295.
It is most noticeable on Outlook and Word but that is because those obviously involve a lot of keyboard use, but I have noted it happening while typing in a URL in Chrome. Mouse issue is most noticeable in graphic programs. So it seems to affect all apps, just more noticeable in some.

Sigurd · 04 Sep 2019

dalchina said:

Hi, for comparison, please try these scenarios:
a. Safe Mode
b. a clean boot
c. Create a new user for test purposes and log in as that user

Hopefully not speaking too soon, but creating a new user account has solved the problem. Oddly, although I now have two user admin accounts, I am using the original one for daily use and there is no keyboard or mouse lag.
Fingers crossed!

Thanks for the help and the solution.

dalchina · 05 Sep 2019

Hi, that's interesting.. now you do have a couple of options with the problem account.

Check your resource usage when the lag occurs.

Check for conflicts:

It's likely that with the new account, you don't have as many things starting.

Compare your task manager (screenshot) between the two accounts - see if you can spot differences. This may point to a conflict.

If after a clean boot and logged in with the problem account the mouse is ok, it's a startup.

If the task manager doesn't give you enough control of startups, try Autoruns (free from MS) - check box and huge list of everything, categorised. It may look daunting at first.