recently my cursor has been locking up in the middle of the screen at start up and I cant figure out how to get it to work. the first few times it happened I could restart and it would work, now nothing that I do will make it work. I tried using a different mouse it didnt help. I also tried using mouse keys so I could use the keyboard for the pointer and it didnt move. I have a corded ps2 optical mouse and when the computer is on the mouse lights up, and when moved around the light gets temporarily brighter like it is working fine but the cursor just stays in one spot. I have windows xp pro, I havent installed any new software lately. it has not been hooked up the to net for over a month because my family is staying with relatives until my house is ready for us to move into and the problem started about 2 weeks ago. I had a friend build the computer for me about 3-4 months ago and have not had a problem with it until this. If someone out there knows whats going on some help would be greatly appreciated.

Does the keyboard work? Can you Ctrl Alt Delete for example?

Try booting into Safe Mode options:

After the power-on and BIOS POST or your Logo screen repeatedly tap the F8 key or hold the Ctrl key before Windows starts.

You might try first starting the Last Known Good Configuration.

Otherwise: Does the mouse work here (in Safe Mode)?

If you can get into Safe Mode:

Look in your Event viewer: rt. click My Computer then click Manage then Event Viewer.
Or: Administrative Tools/Event Viewer or Start/Run/ eventvwr
Open the system as well as the application tabs & look for red X errors. Click error line for details.
Post back the source & event id & Description especially of errors that seem to coincide with this issue.
Also check the Information lines that might coincide with this issue.

How to view and manage event logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP

the keyboard does work and I was able to get to safe mode. I then tried system restore in safe mode and a box popped up saying system restore is not able to protect your computer please restart your computer, then run system restore again. Then I went into the event viewer but when I tried to look in either application, security, system, or internet explorer a box appeared saying unable to complete the operation on "application" (or security, system, internet explorer depending on which I was trying) the interface is unknown. then I booted back in normal mode and tried system restore, It opened and seems normal but being I cant use my mouse and am using the keyboard i'm not sure how to change the month/date of other checkpoints being I only know some functions of the keyboard. I've tried tabbing onto the tabs that the mouse would click on to change dates then push enter but that doesnt work.

Did you try the Safe Mode option:

Last Known Good Configuration?


If that doesn't help try starting Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

Here type: chkdsk /f and reboot.

I did the last known good configuration and the cursor is still not working. the system did a scan of C and after it restarted I got an error message that i havent seen before it said hpqthb08.exe-system error unknown hard error also since then i've gotten boxes saying i have a hard disc error

See what happens when you remove (unplug) your printer.

And or from Safe Mode > Command Prompt > msconfig > startup

Turn off HP Image Zone

hpqthb08.exe file information
The process HP Image Zone belongs to the software hp digital imaging - hp all-in-one series by Hewlett-Packard Co (www.hp.com).

Description: File hpqthb08.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files" (usually C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\). Known file sizes on Windows XP are 53248 bytes (86% of all occurrence), 73728 bytes.
The program has a visible window. The program can be uninstalled in the Control Panel. The process starts upon Windows startup (see Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders). File hpqthb08.exe is not a Windows system file. Therefore the technical security rating is 6% dangerous, however also read the users reviews.

I tried unpluging the printer didnt work. but i noticed for some reason under system information /components/input it doesnt display any device under pointing device

Where exactly do you see this: system information /components/input ?

The Help and Support Center?



Did you install any software with this mouse?

Do you have a USB mouse that you could try? Or a PS/2 | USB adapter?

Sorry if my ideas become tedious but I can only suggest what I would try.

Next I would reboot with the mouse unplugged and try Safe Mode just to shut down again.

Replug the mouse and try booting normally again.

You could also explore the BIOS Setup to see if the mouse is detected.

I am searching my error library but haven't found anything definitive yet.

I see this suggestion:

Something is probably trying to use the same irq that the mouse ps2
port is wanting. You might have to force some hardware to get this to
free up the irq the mouse wants.

In order to test this remove all peripheral devices except monitor; keyboard; and mouse.

Also again check if the BIOS detects the mouse.


You could also try booting without the keyboard plugged in and then shutdown again and plug it back in and try again.

Also verify the color coded plugs for keyboard and mouse ports.

the component/input thing is when i hit start button then accessories and system tools. ive had this mouse for a while so i have installed a bunch of stuff with it i dont remember what exactly, but the stuff was installed a while before at started acting up. ive tryed unpluging the mouse and the keyboard in safe mode and restarting in normal mode but it didnt work. all i have plugged in right now is the keyboard mouse monitor, i'm not sure how to force hardware, and i've searched through the bios but i'm not really sure what i'm doing in there and i'm kinda scared to change stuff because i dont want to change the wrong thing and screw stuff up i'll try if you can tell me what to look at and how to do it. and yes i've looked at the color code as to where they are plugged in. i dont mind the tediousness i really cant afford to bring it in to a repair shop or anything so anything you can hethink of i'll try. sorry if it takes a while to reply i have to use my aunts computer and having kids it makes it tough to get on her that often. thank for all the help so far