Help with Windows XP active desktop and USB problems?

You could try a system restore. Or sometimes, just change background image/wallpaper. Might be as easy as that. The USB issue can perhaps be solved by trying to update USB drivers, or your mouse manufacture’s drivers.

I will try changing my wallpaper.

BTW, what is the active desktop? There is an option to disable it. Is it something I need?

Active Desktop is an “old” thing and not used anymore in the newer Windows versions. I believe it has been more or less replaced by the Windows widgets. The idea was to have active elements on your desktop that would work in the background kinda, like a web page. I think AD was removed since it didn’t work very well, so nothing happens if you turn it off.

Ask here: http://superuser.com

I changed my wallpaper and that seems to have taken care of it. I’ll figure out the mouse thing if it persists. I thought perhaps they were related.

Thanks @jazzjeppe!

First I’d make sure I’m logged in the main account with full administrative rights. Then I’d run an antivirus and spyware detector just to be on the safe side. Then I would make sure XP is up to date by using the windows update feature in Internet Explorer.