Mouse problems

I have a windows xp box that the mouse malfunctions on sometimes. When you left click on a file or program it highlights all of them up to that point. To illustrate if I have my programs listed like this:
Tux Paint
OpenOffice
Mozilla
and I click on Mozilla all three will be highlighted and attempted to start. I checked the mouse preferences and everything was fine. I switched mice and then ran a virus scan and a malware scan and nothing came up. This does not happen all the time. It comes and goes intermittently. Also the caps lock key will switch so that when the light is on it only does small letters.

 

Sounds like you have a stuck shift key. Can you swap keyboards and try it?

 

Or potentially the keyboard has some dirt in it, perhaps in the right spot to be pressed against the pad even with the key up, or stickiness and I'd make a guess it would be mainly a shift key being affected, as suggested by Valhallis. (Good thinking, Valhallis!)

If you find using a different keyboard solves the problem, use a vacuum cleaner with one of those rubber ends put on it and clean all around the keys. Press down the keys around the shifts to make sure you have good access to the area underneath them. And/or pop off those keys and see what's there. If it needs washing, make sure it's disconnected from the computer before cleaning with nothing more than a dampened (NOT wet) cloth (water will probably be sufficient) and give it plenty of time to be properly dry before using it again.

 

I switched out the keyboard and it has not had a problem since then. Thanks for the help guys.

 

Great to hear its working good now!