Why does my computer go nuts sometimes?

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i m running win-xp pro. the problem is that whenever i start a new task "sapisvr.exe" gets initiated and the task doesn't proceed until i manually end sapisvr using task manager.
Also, i had this problem where words used to get typed-in automatically in dialog boxes or where ever i placed my cursor in a word document and the like. please help. thanks

Sounds like you have exactly the situation described in the article. Just follow the instructions therein.

Hi Leo

I am unable to keep open Task Manager. When I press Ctl/Alt/Del Task Manager opens momentarily then disappears off the screen. A small green icon appears in the right hand side of the system tray but when I hover the mouse over it, it disappears.

I am also unable to open Norton's Personal Firewall. I mention this because I was trying to get Task Manager going to troubleshoot the Nortons Firewall problem.

I can open up other applications like PowerPoint, Word, IE and Firefox, etc.

Several reboots did not fix te problem.

I am running Windows 2000 Professional.

Thanks in advance

Lindsay Ewards

I would start with a spyware scan, a virus scan, and a run of the system file checker:

http://ask-leo.com/spyware_how_do_i_remove_and_avoid_spyware.html
http://ask-leo.com/viruses_how_do_i_keep_myself_safe_from_viruses.html
http://ask-leo.com/what_is_the_system_file_checker_and_how_do_i_run_it.html

I would just like to THANK YOU!! The computer I use is for business and when I take it out to customer appointments it just goes crazy and my battery life is sucked out. I am hoping that this solves part of the problem: )

This sapisvr had been annoying me for a while, although I had identified it as the culprit I didn't know what is was, it kept crashing mostly ie but sometimes other programs or my whole pc. Thanks for your advice!

"sapisvr.exe" SOLVED thanks to ur article :) Ur a blessing (",)

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!

I've had sapisvr.exe running for so long, and I got scared that it was a virus and I've been going mad! All of a sudden random text and numbers appear even when I haven't said anything, even when the room is silent. You are a godsend [ironic that I don't believe in god], seriously, thankyou so very very much!

hi leo,

thanks for the answer.

i'm a control freak -- found that this .exe was using 8-9MB of memory most of the time. Now I can do with fewer task switches and better memory.

BR,
~A

This is happening to me as well. But when I go to the Languages tab and then Details - speech recognition is not listed. When I look at the processes loaded, sapisvr.exe is not listed.

Should I be looking somewhere else to see if voice recognition is enabled?

I've formatted the hard drive, reinstalled win xp, updated the bios, updated drivers and it still happens.

I'm ready to throw this computer out the window. Any ideas?

mj

Win XP Pro SP2
Dell Dimension 4500
DSL Verizon w/ DLink Router

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