   URGENT - problem with windows XP
  ok I know this is the wrong forum for this, and probably the wrong site but its taken me forever to get firefox up and to even get to this site.  I do need my mouse to program however.  somehow the mouse icon on my computer stopped following the mouse.  It still works, I just cant see where it is because the mouse icon is stuck in 1 place.  I tried rebooting twice.  both times it took forever to load windows, and it was lagging at the start up screen.  About halfway through starting up the mouse stops moving.  I searched google for this problem and found nothing.  It started right as I ran one of my directx programs out of VC++ if that helps....   
  You're right. This is the wrong forum.   ;  It could be a variety of things, my guess would be a loose connection or bad connection between the mouse or keyboard (perhaps even a short).  It could also be an address problem (bad ram) , or a motherboard issue (short again).   ;  go to a restore point.  If that doesn't work (or you're not xp) try getting the latest drivers for your mouse.  It sounds like you have a bigger problem though.  Look at your task manager and see if anything is eating up all your processor time.   ;  ended all processes I didnt know what they were, cant be a mouse problem because the mouse works fine, I can click things, scroll, move it the icon just doesnt follow.  Ill try the restore point, thanks.   ;  Moved to the lounge.   ;  Create two or more partitions on your harddrive. Use one partition for Windows, and Windows only. No program files, no my documents, nothing except Windows may be on that partition. Move your software and data files to other partition.Then format the Windows partition and reinstall it whenever it does annoying. Also avoid to depend on programs that don't work anymore after reinstalling Windows. For example, MS Office doesn't work anymore after reintalling Windows, while DevC++ still does because it only relies on files in it's own directory with registry settings as optional.Or make an image of the Windows partition after installing MS Office and other such programs and set the image back when Windows does annoying.That was for me the least frustrating way to work with Windows back when I used it.   ;  If Windows is taking forever and a day to load, on top of having OS issues while in use, there may be a chance that you're having osme trouble with hardware.  Look around on the internet for a program called Ultimate Boot CD, or download memtest.  Memtest is included on Ultimate Boot CD as well.  Use memtest to test the RAM on your PC, as well any other additional Hard drive diagnostic tools available on the ultimate Boot CD.   