OK you computer gurus....

[John Schmidt]

I want to get rid of some of the wire snakes under my desk at home. So, I'm thinking of getting a wireless keyboard and mouse, but don't know if compatibility issues are involved. Do I have to do anything, add anything to the computer in order to use such items?

[Cliff]

Unless your PC is rather old it should be plug and play.  Does your PC have USB connectivity?  If so that is the easiest setup.  All this is assuming you are running a recent verision of windows

[Madmike]

On the laptop that I use most of the time I have a wireless keyboard and mouse.  Some of them are hard on batteries so you may want to read up on reviews on user thoughts on the different setups available.  I use XP and the 2 types of wireless that I have tried are pretty much plug and play.

[John Schmidt]

And numerous USB outlets, so I'm assuming I shouldn't have a problem. One thing that has bugged me for nearly a year now is when I turn the unit on in the morning, it will start up normally, then the screen will go blank for about 2 1/2-3 minutes, also kills my external HD for the same period. Then comes back up and finishes loading, operates normal the rest of the day until the next morning, does it all over again. Didn't use to do that until last fall when it started that irritating habit. Any idea what or why? Can't seem to find an answer on the internet.

[Madmike]

Mine has a short lapse while it loads whatever is running - the main page comes up with no icons then does a "long blink" then gets usable. 

I always wrote it off as some form of electronic yoga that it needs to do to transform from a basic toaster to a functioning computer...... and just accept it as that.

Mine was getting slower a while ago, I make sure that I clean it from time to time, went through and deleted a bunch of stuff that I never used but had accumulated etc. and that seemed to make it "better" and faster to start. 

Have you done a clean and defrag lately??

[Cliff]

And numerous USB outlets, so I'm assuming I shouldn't have a problem. One thing that has bugged me for nearly a year now is when I turn the unit on in the morning, it will start up normally, then the screen will go blank for about 2 1/2-3 minutes, also kills my external HD for the same period. Then comes back up and finishes loading, operates normal the rest of the day until the next morning, does it all over again. Didn't use to do that until last fall when it started that irritating habit. Any idea what or why? Can't seem to find an answer on the internet.

Mine was also acting like you describe.  Reseating the data and power cables on the HD took care of it.