Mouse pointer is 'grabbing' everything

Windows XP MCE- whenever I click on something with the mouse, the pointer 'grabs' it and doesn't let go until I click a second time. For example: if I click an icon on the desktop and try to drag it somewhere, it will not drop it when I release the button and I have to click a second time to drop it. Same thing happens when I click on the scroll bar; it moves up and down OK, but if I release the mouse button and move the pointer to the opposite side of the screen, I can still move the scroll bar up and down until I click again. It's not a big deal but it is R E A L L Y annoying. How the :*** do I disable this 'feature'?

Thanks!

 

What kind of mouse are you using (USB, PS2)?
Did the mouse have any special software features?
Do you have a spare you could switch it out with?
Just trying to figure if its a hardware or software problem.

 

Standard PS2 mouse. I've tried 3 PS2 mice (? mouses ?) and a USB mouse and it's all the same....

EDIT- I just found it. I forgot to look in Control Panel > Mouse. It's right there ( duh). See attached screen shot.

 

All's well then.
The only nagging that remains is: why was it checked?

 

Not my PC, so I have no answer. There are kids in the home (3 of 'em; all between the ages of 9 and 13) and they're all "experts" and the parents "only know how to play poker and send email". These are exact quotes from the parents.

Kind of sad, no?

 

sad? yes
uncommon? not really

I was told once that you can always tell if there are any kids living in a house; look and see if the VCR is flashing 12:00.
If it isn't; kids live there

 

roflmao Sad but true... sad but true....