My computer uses Windows 2000 Pro. When it boots up and the Log On menu appears, I can type in my password, click `OK', and find myself with the Desktop. The Start menu is normally hidden, so I move the cursor over to select it; the cursor changes to the hourglass (or half of it) at the edge of the screen, but nothing else happens. A mouse button click doesn't do anything, either.

I move the cursor to any of the icons, but when I click the mouse button, nothing occurs, no matter which of the icons I point to. Defeated, I use CTRL-ALT-DEL, and the Shutdown menu appears. I point to the Shutdown button, click the mouse button, and the computer shuts down.

If the Desktop is displayed and I use the `Windows' key on the keyboard, the failure of the Start menu to appear is the same as it was with the mouse.

I have changed mice to no avail; the keyboard on another computer running Window XP brings up the Start menu, and other keyboard shortcuts function as described.

I have searched the Internet for this problem, but nothing seems to come close.

alright, this is just a shot in the dark, but is your mouse firmly plugged in. Make sure because i've heard alot of people doing, um, not smart things. but anyways, maybe the mouse is defective, but that wouldn't help, becuase it does work before you reach the desktop. OK, i'm assuming this is an PS/2 mouse, but, take a look at the male end. Check to make sure all the pins are straight and are not bent or missing.

thats all i can think of now. If anything else, i would just sell the mouse on ebay and buy a new one, lol, jk, but if the mouse continues to be a problem, trash it and buy a cheap optical base.