Whenever I turn on my computer and open the start menu my computer justs stats scrolling through all the programs but not opening them and when i try to open anything it wont let me.

Is this a new problem? Were things working OK before?

Any new hardware or software?

Do you run an anti virus & scan for malware?

You can try System Restore.

You can run virus scans.

You can describe in more detail what happens when you click on start ...
Like what do you mean by scrolling thru all the programs?

Are you saying that from the All Programs menu that nothing will open?

Any error messages?

yes this is a new problem and i hadnt been online fo a few weeks. Also i havent installed anything new to my computer. I left it on for like a month without using it. So when i went on it a month later it had logged me out and i was unable to log in so i restarted the computer and i was able to log in but when i clicked on the start menu the computer would just go up and down columns just highlighting the programs while my cursor remained still. Also while my computer is doin this it wont let me open any of my programs none of them. Its like my computer does an extra click on the program to close. I will try to run system restore.

no error messages

its like someone has another mouse and just goes up and down under the start menu but doesnt click on anything

Might be too late for System Restore but go ahead & try.

Sounds like a very possible virus issue. Were you online during that month?

Are you familiar with Virus scans, Spybot scans; HijackThis?

Do you have a full version XP CD? Are you familiar with a Repair Install?

my virus protection is out of date but it doesnt matter because it wont let me open any thing up and im not familiar with repair install. I was online one time. and i think i have an XP CD

Also i opened some things i downloaded a long time ago but never used.

See if you can run a system restore first.

If you can access the RUN box type this:

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

Otherwise try starting in Safe Mode. Repeatedly tap F8 after BIOS POST before XP. Choose Safe Mode & then System Restore.

To go back to July press the arrow < next to August.

thnx i'll try that stuff.