Can't Left Click

I don't know what to call this, so I haven't really been able to search for solutions. Anyways, the problem that I am experiencing is that I am unable to left click and highlight nearly everything without having to reselect the window. For example, when using Firefox I have to minimize the window and restore it to be able to click on a link, but afterwards I am unable to click on any hyperlink or the UI (address bar, back/forward buttons). So I have to repeatedly minimize and reopen firefox. This happens in IE and when I start up my computer (can't do anything until I press alt+tab). Occasionally happens to my start bar as well.

I have tried system restore, multiple mouses, and various other things that I've found googling a description of my problem. But none of them have worked, so I resorted to reformatting my hard drive and installing a clean installation of Windows XP Professional. Needless to say, the problems are still occuring and I am now completely stumped as to what to do.

Oh, and I found out recently that I am unable to drag and drop files, or move them around my desktop. This is after I formatted my drive and installed Windows again. Is this a hardware issue? That is the only explanation I can come up with, seeing my knowledge in this area is limited.

 

Hey grass jelly, is wondows fully updated, including SP3?

Q

 

If you formatted and clean installed, the only remaining possibilities would be hardware related, or virus/malware infected data backups.

 

Well, if it isn't any software issues, is there anyway that I may identify the problem?

Oh Windows is not yet fully updated.

 

You could try a different mouse, what type is the one you are using now?

I asked abut the updates as this reminded me of a bug i heard of ages ago that SP3 adressed (cant find any det's though)

Did you have SP3 before?

 

I had SP3 before, but now I'm currently using SP2.

 

Oh i just noticed you said in your op that you have tried multiple mice, it would be my best guess that it's a mobo problem.