I have an absolutely bizarre problem with my computer

[earthshine]

25. Yeah, I hear you. I can tell you this ...

Although logically, it does not make sense to us, there is sense to it that we do not perceive.

They lied to us years ago when they said computers always do things exactly the same way every time.

Back then, the comps were simple state devices barely more sophisticated than Coke machines.

Simple state machines, like soda can dispensers and washing machines are predictable.

Our Windows machines are not simple state devices. There are a thousand individual state devices embedded on your motherboard and they are talking to each other. On top of that are the peripherals.

It's a great exercise for the intellect to try to figure out why you have this problem. But, it may be an "epiphenomenon" produced by a thousand interacting parts, and as such, there is no one cause to logically deduce.

That it happened to you on two separate computers is a mind bender. That it happens only sometimes may indicate a heat build-up issue. (A chip on your mobo may freak out if it gets hot enough.)

You imply that cold-cocking resets the problem. When the comps go in and out of sleep, sometimes things are not restored properly after the sleep. Turning the comp off and on solves these issues.

Give your "left brain" a rest, and reinstall your OS. If that does not solve the problem, something is wrong at the hardware level.