MS Word ''Hanging'' problem in Lang 213 Windows Lab

File under "New computers always have new problems"
During mid-term exams - Microsoft Word XP was found to "hang" (keyboard became non-responsive, or at least very long delays between hitting a key and it showing in the document).

We have found that this is due to the ATI Video card drivers in these machines. Their sloppy device drivers include an executable program named desk95.exe - this program causes a CPU resource conflict after using MS Word for several minutes. Removing the ATI driver solves the issue.

As of 4:00pm today - all 25 stations in the lab have had the offending software removed and should function normally.

We will be making similar modifications to other Dell Optiplex GX260s with the same ATI Video card in the coming days.

Information posted by Chris Conklin, 10/17/2002 5:03:33 PM.