I'm having major problems just accessing stuff. I have trouble scrolling, it takes several clicks to bring the start menu and favorites etc. up and takes several clicks of the mouse to get the cursor where you want it. The problems started yesterday morning but are getting worse as time goes along. First it was just a scrolling problem, but now it's everything else. Everything else is fine, the keyboard works, the volume works, once things are up, they work. I'm thinking it's the mouse, it's an optical one, could that be the problem?

is it only the mouse that seems to be having problems? can you open stuff when using the keyboard only? Try swapping out your mouse with another one and see if that fixes it. If i'm understanding your problem right, that is. And of course: have you rebooted your computer?

Yes... it's only the mouse. I'm certain it is. Everything else works fine. Yes, I restarted yesterday(when the problems first started) and completely shut it down and restarted before I made this thread. It seems to be better now but is still sluggish.

what type of mouse is it? usb or ps/2?

if its USB try unplugging and replugging it in, blow some canned air across the 'eye' and if all else fails reinstall the mouse software

(you haven't seen any of those weird "comet cursors" have you?)