Cursor problem/Boot virus?

bro67 - The problem and the computer dropping don't necessarily coincide, though I won't rule out the possibility. The screen itself is actually fine. It's the very bottom part where it attaches that some of the plastic broke off. Nevertheless, I've been thinking of getting it replaced anyway, since I'm not sure what dropping it could have done in addition to losing some plastic.

joeandmarg0 - I looked under dxdiag and didn't find anything relevant to my mouse problem. As for the reliability history, I doubt it's there since I've done repair reinstall since the problem started.

i doubt the computer is going to open links by itself from being dropped on the ground.
You are right in thinking that there is something going on all though that is going to be hard to diagnose without any information.

I agree with others it could be remote access not sure about firmware virus tbh i have never had one that i know off but it is possible. The mouse in question could be a problem and some mouses have on board memory mainly gaming ones that can in theory write and hold data, so could have a virus on the actual mouse if its a gaming one.

if its an external mouse then change it. if this does not apply then its something else.

I think windows is now enforcing driver signing so that means that drivers can't execute in kernel space without a signature. For security reasons. Microsoft also has to approve that first hand.

@rosawoodsii


Dropping the laptop could have messed up the touchpad somehow, even though the plastic around the screen was the only obvious damage.

I would still do a clean install... it only takes about 20-30 minutes.

If the problem goes away... then it was a software problem.
If the problem doesn't go away then it's a hardware problem (which would include a BIOS infection).

You can always make a backup, before doing the clean install. That way, if it's NOT a software issue, you can just restore the backup.

Both AOMEI Backupper Standard and Hasleo Backup Suite are free.





Doing a Repair Install will fix any Windows problems, but it won't fix driver or 3rd party app problems.
After a clean install you will have new Windows, new drivers, and any apps you install will also be new.



You need to "know" where the problem lies, in order to start fixing it.
A wipe and clean install is the easiest and fastest way to "know".

The only time i can think of more than one cursor would be remote pc situation. You mention already starting fresh so i guess there is something more deep seated going on. I have never seen a faulty driver put up two cursors and i doubt it would be that sort of fault anyway, windows has native mouse driver so it would fall back to that if there was a problem.

I would wipe the pc tbh and re flash the bios. See what the outcome is after that.

maineb - There's more than one cursor occasionally. The real problem is that there are many little circles that flicker and come and go and they capture the cursor, making it difficult, and sometimes almost impossible to move. I usually end up doing ALT-CTL-DEL to shut down because I can't get to the power menu on Start. It just opens and closes.

Ghot - I was hoping to avoid a clean install because, although the install itself takes a short time, setting the computer up the way I want it, including reinstalling applications, takes a couple of days. It's increasingly looking like that may be the only way I can do this, though.

Anyway, thanks everyone for all your help and ideas.

rosawoodsii said:

Ghot - I was hoping to avoid a clean install because, although the install itself takes a short time, setting the computer up the way I want it, including reinstalling applications, takes a couple of days. It's increasingly looking like that may be the only way I can do this, though.

IF... you do decide to do a clean install, make a folder and a text file for all your tricks and tweaks.
Then, if you ever have to do it again... a reinstall will be much easier.



Merry Christmas, stay safe and enjoy the holidays.

rosawoodsii said:

I was hoping to avoid a clean install because, although the install itself takes a short time, setting the computer up the way I want it, including reinstalling applications, takes a couple of days. It's increasingly looking like that may be the only way I can do this, though.

And during the process, and at the end of the process, and then forever more .... image, image, image. Regularly. Frequently.

Macrium Reflect and/or AOMEI Backupper (both freeware)

As an extended variation to Murphy's Law - if you're prepared for it, it will never happen.

bro67 said:

I do believe that this was the most important piece of information that you should have posted. Again your hardware is faulty, there is no one trying to get into your machine, there is no virus.

As it turned out, this seems to be the problem.

I went to a local shop and asked about having the touchscreen replaced. When he found out it was a 2-n-1 Dell, he told me replacing the touchscreen was iffy, since it's all glass and very hard to replace without breaking it. He then suggested that if I could do without the touchscreen, I should just turn it off in settings, because since the glass is no longer tight, it "thinks" it's getting input.

So far, so good. I turned off the touchscreen and for the last 3 days I've had no problem.