Screen Saver, System Hangs

I am having a similar problem using the "blank" screen saver with a password...

Purchased a new Dell XPS 8000 three days ago and everything appeared to be working fine. I was using the wired keyboard and mouse supplied with the computer.

Connected my old usb Microsoft Wireless Comfort Keyboard/Mouse 1.0A to the system and suddenly the system would never go to screen saver. I checked for windows updates and it recommended an update for the wireless keyboard and mouse. Installed the update and now my system goes to screen saver.

The problem now is that it doesn't return from screen saver consistently. I am still characterizing the problem... When I move the mouse I get the login screen, type the password, hit return, and the screen goes blank (as if it is back in the blank screen saver).

I have had the desktop reactivate very quickly (normally) if the screen saver was on only for a few minutes. I have had it take 2 minutes plus to get to the desktop. I have also had the system freeze and ended up power cycling.

I thought this was a power management issue. I tried setting up power settings so nothing would ever go into power save mode but this hasn't made a difference.

I just reconnected my wired keyboard and mouse to see if the issue goes away. I am expecting this to solve it, but I really would like to use the wireless.

Update...

1. Went back to wired mouse/keyboard and the issue persisted.

2. Rolled back updates from last Windows 7 update: Dell Monitor 6/21/2009 1.0.0.0, Microsoft (HID Class) 5/8/2009 7.00.258.0, and Microsoft (USB) 11/03/2009 7.10.344.0. Problem still persisited.

3. Did a "reset to defaults" on the Dell power settings profile and removed the password from the blank screen saver. Seemed to resolve the issue, but only tried it once with the screen saver on for an hour.

4. Added the password back to the screen saver. Worked once and then hung the computer the 2nd time. I move the mouse, get the login screen, type my password, hit return, and the monitors go blank (as if it is in the blank screen saver). At this point it is hung, no mouse, no keyboard, ... must power cycle to get the system back up and running.

Yet another update...

Found a "solution" (let's call it a work around) for this issue in another thread: Seven locks up after an hour or so idle. I had my task bar set to auto hide, changed it to be visible all of the time and no more system hangs.

While I am thrilled to not have to power cycle everytime I go to screen saver, I would still like to auto hide the task bar. I wonder if there isn't a better fix that would allow me to still configure the task bar.

XPS 8000, 8 GB Ram, 1 TB Hard Drive, ATI 4630 graphics.