Extremely Strange Problem (keyboard mouse die)

["Harlan Crystal" <harlanc@earthlink.net>]

Hello:

Sometimes, when I boot up my machine, it'll boot normally 
but when I get to the login prompt, my keyboard and mouse 
get no response on screen.  The cursor keeps on flashing 
and everything seems to be working (I can telnet in and 
reboot the machine) and there is no error message so I 
have no idea what to fix.  Sometimes when I start 
X window, I get the same effect:  All my little applets 
and cursors are flickering like they should, but my 
keyboard and mouse act like they've been pulled out of 
the computer.  Sometimes it happens when I exit X.  There 
seems to be no method behind it, because it will happen 
randomly like once a week.  My cousin runs a debian box 
at work and he says he gets the same problem there, yet 
not on his debian box at home

I'm running debian linux fully updated to the most current 
potato with kernel 2.2.13 (but it's been happening since at 
least 12)         anyone have any ideas at all?  I've found 
this a bit annoying and have no idea what could cause it.

Thanks,
  - Harlan