Everything "stut-stut-stut-stutters" when I'm online...

[Ziz]

I've noticed in the past few weeks that no matter what I'm doing online - web browsing, email, IM's, chat - anything that involves 2-way activity via mouse (as opposed to just starting a large download and walking away), the computer seems to stutter as I try to scroll a web page or simply move the mouse from one part of the screen to another. I've been using this same mouse for well over a year now, this problem only developed in the past few weeks. I just Scandisked and Defraged days ago, and ran AdAware 5.8, which removed something called "OnFlow".

Win98 1st Ed.
IE5.5
Office 2K (Outlook for email)
AIM 4.7
EZ Armor Anti-Virus 5.3.4.1
PopUpStopper 2.6

Abit BE6-II
P3/650
384MB PC133
WD 80G w/50G available
Pioneer 104 DVD
Acer 8432 CDRW
Zip 250
AIW128Pro 32MB
SB Live Value
Netgear 311 NIC w/Westell external DSL modem/Verizon DSL
Plustek A3I scanner via parallel
GE USB 4 port hub
MS Intellieye mouse via USB
900Mhz wireless mouse via PS2 (haven't used it several months but still connected - could this be the problem?)
PS2 keyboard
CH Flightstick Pro
Kensington SVGA webcam via USB
Alps MD-1000 via USB/parallel adapter

[dmoltrup]

First thing that I notice is that you really should have Win98 2nd Edition or later to use all the USB stuff.

Anyway, try eliminating anything that you possibly can that isn't absolutely necessary and see what happens. If it works like a charm, add the extra peripherals back in one-at-a-time and see what happens.

BTW: With DSL, aren't you ALWAYS online? Have you checked for viruses?

[BipolarBill]

D is right on, For Win98, PS/2 is the best mouse connection.

[ukulele]

When was the last time you checked for spyware? After you get a few hundred it tends to slow things down. :D

[Ziz]

dmol - I actually have 2K and XP Pro CD's but some of my hardware isn't compatible (scanner, webcam, couple of other things) so I haven't been in a rush to upgrade to one of them. Does MS have just the USB driver updates available or do I have to upgrade the whole OS?

As for DSL, it's always on as of when I run the Verizon software and connect. It's not "instant on" as soon as the machine powers up (like cable).

Bill - As true as that may be, I've been using the Intellieye on USB for a while and this problem only showed up recently, so I can't see where it's mouse related. No one commented on my dual mouse set up though...

ukel - I ran AdAware just a few days ago and it only found one item, as mentioned in my first post.

[dmoltrup]

I doubt the dual mouse situation would create a problem. I've had four mice on the same computer at once before. (One PS/2, a USB optical, a USB trackball, and a touchpad built into the keyboard.) I didn't use the computer like that long-term, but it worked perfectly for the week or so I had it like that.

[BipolarBill]

In my experiences with USB, I have found that heavy PCI activity and (especially) swap file use, makes the mouse lag. It's not on all PCs, mind you. I have never found what it is exactly. I do know that a format/reinstall fixes it.

[Philip1952]

Look at your IRQ's see if any are conficting. If your NIC is on with the video. It can cause problems.
When I first set up a BE6-2. I ended up using an ISA nic. Every slot on PCI would put the video and NIC on the same IRQ.

[Ziz]

Ok well, I'm officially stumped now. It's been happening offline too, so now at least I know it's not related to my DSL service.

Here's my layout of IRQ's and what they're being used for. Anyone see anything out of place?

0 Timer
1 PS/2 keyboard
2 Programmable interrupt controller
3 Com2
4 Com1, DMA controller
5 Netgear FA311 NIC
6 Floppy controller
7 SB16 emulation, parallel
8 CMOS/real time clock
9 USB controller
10 video, SB Live Value
11 DMA66 primary, secondary
12 PS/2 mouse
13 Numeric Data processor
14 PCI Bus, Primary IDE
15 PCI Bus, Secondry IDE

Also, under Device Manager>View by type>System devices, there's PCI Bus. When I hit that, there's a couple of settings I'm thinking will make a difference, but I'm hesitant to try them.

Under Settings, it has Use Hardware/Use BIOS - mine is on Hardware, and Override Bridges is not checked.
Under IRQ Steering, everything except "Get IRQ table from Protected Mode BIOS" is checked.

Any of this shine a different light on the situation?

[rangeral]

If your not playing dos games disable the sb emulation, get rid of the extra mouse for now also go to msconfig and start disabling apps running in the background you may be running out of resources to work with an antivirus can do some hogging, if your not using that webcam disconnect it, also empty your internet cache since you have hi-speed internet you don't need a large cache turn it down to 7mb you may have to large a setting and sometimes these files cause problems as well as cookies you don't need which you can delete from sites you don't go to anymore. You can find these settings in internet options/control panel, see how you make out.

[Ziz]

Not too much left to shut down in Task Manager - running the A/V, PPPoE, AIM (which I use every day), Mouse driver settings (acceleration and such) and PopUpStopper.

I run the occasional DOS game, but this problem was there when I had SB16 Emulation disabled too, so I don't think it's that.

And cookies aren't "active" until you go to a site, so aside from taking up some HD space, I can't see where they'd affect the mouse performance. I've also taken to unplugging the PS2 mouse when I'm not using it, and the problem persists.

[Philip1952]

Go into device manager and see what com port your nic is using. I see it and the DMA controller are on the same one. If you nic isn't on it. Go into bios and turn off both com ports and see if that helps.
Also your video and your sound blaster is on the same IRQ. This didn't work well on my BE6-2 board eather. Try moving the sound blaster to another pci slot.

What I would try. Turn off com ports1 & 2 in bios. Then uninstall the sound blaster.( Do a reboot so it can rearrange the IRQ's before you reinstall the SB) Move to another pci slot. Then reload the programing for it. The bottom pci slot is the one that worked the best on my BE6-2.

[Philip1952]

Is your HDD hooked up on the raid channels or the normal IDE?

[TARP2]

Maybe I missed it somewhere, and its pretty basic, have you tried removing and reinstalling the drivers?

[Philip1952]

Tarp2
Most of the time when you have an IRQ confict. Just uninstalling the drivers will not change the IRQ asigned to the device. You need to move the offending device to another pci slot. Seeing as how the video is AGP. The sound blaster is the one needing moved.

[TARP2]

Philip 1952 is correct about the IRQ conflict.

Connect one (1) mouse only.

If it is a USB mouse, get a P/2adapter. Try that.