Troubleshooting a Baffling Computer Glitch: A Journey to Find the Source

Navigating the complexities of technology can sometimes lead us into frustrating territory. Recently, I encountered a perplexing issue with my computer that left me scrambling for solutions. Here’s a recap of my ordeal, which I hope may help others facing similar difficulties.

The Initial Problem

It all began yesterday when my computer displayed erratic behavior, seemingly copying and pasting random content without my input. Despite several restarts, the problem persisted, re-emerging shortly after each reboot. Not only did I restart the machine multiple times, but I also uninstalled the driver associated with my keyboard to no avail. To rule out hardware issues, I even swapped out my keyboard, yet the problem remained baffling.

Uncovering Possible Triggers

In an attempt to trace the root cause, I recalled downloading Radiant Viewer, a software tool for managing DICOM files, and working with files stored on a USB connected to my professor’s device. Following this installation, my desktop began to malfunction sporadically. Even more alarming was when I noticed the same issues surfacing on my laptop after replicating the setup.

To help convey my frustrations, I recorded videos documenting the strange occurrences and even shared them for others to witness my plight.

Identifying the Culprit

Over time, my investigation led me to suspect the USB drive as the source of the issue. After performing a full reset and format of my computer’s disk, everything appeared to be in order—until I reinserted the problem USB drive, at which point the strange behavior resumed.

I attempted a factory reset of both devices, which temporarily mitigated the symptoms. However, the glitch returned within the hour. Following more troubleshooting and suggestions from online communities, I executed a clean installation of Windows. Sadly, that also failed to remedy the situation.

A Shocking Revelation

Things took a surprising turn when I pulled out an old laptop for schoolwork, only to discover it exhibiting the same glitches as my other devices. The only devices connected were OneDrive, a keyboard, and a mouse. Is it possible that the mouse, when plugged into my systems, was the instigator of the chaos? Testing this theory, I consistently found that reconnecting the mouse would instantly trigger the glitch.

With questions swirling in my mind, I contemplated whether the issue originated with the files from my professor, something hidden in my OneDrive, or even malware hitch