cursor has hourglass next to it all the time

Hello, everyone, Im an aussie, and I also play on Hardwood card site, Hearts/Euchre/Spades etc.

I hadn't downloaded xp windows updates before, I dont usually, but this day I did, since I did that, I have an hourglass next to my cursor, not flashing, but there all the time.
I did restore point to see if that would help, but no go, it still sits there, looking at me, I also defragged, nope, when I play a bigfish game it isnt there, but comes back as soon as I go to desktop again.
I checked the task manager, ctrl, alt, delete, and there is nothing showing in there that is running.
Since the updates, also, even though I have my power option set to turn monitor off in 15 minutes, its decided not to do that either.
Bloomin' updates, I should have left well enough alone.
Hope you can give me some advice please, thank you.

 

I have noticed a message window each time i close computer down now. this is what it says.
The application failed to initialize because a windows application is closing down.

 

Ok, so I went back to windows update, and when it said it needed to restart computer, this window popped up just as it was closing.
mom.exe DLL failed to initialize...............
Now what? still have the hourglass next to cursor.
According to updates, I have them all.

 

ok, i checked the updates again, another important one was due, so downloaded that, and, so far,fingers crossed, my hourglass isnt there anymore, thank you for your reply.