Problem Deleting Icons

[Taggart]

I'm using a netbook from Asus running XP. I can't seem to right click with the mouse on any icon anymore. The computer goes into a wait state and I have to reboot to resolve the problem. On the day I first noticed this I had new program updates to download for the free programs Avira and Advanced System Care. I've run programs to check for viruses and spyware but they found nothing. It's not critical but a nuisance that I can no longer delete icons off the screen. Any suggestions.

[anothertorres]

try a different mouse.

try rebooting into safe mode and see if the problem still exists.

use System Restore to roll back to before the problem started.

re-install XP.

[Taggart]

try a different mouse.

try rebooting into safe mode and see if the problem still exists.

use System Restore to roll back to before the problem started.

re-install XP.

anothertorres,

Since I've never booted in safe mode before, I looked up the instructions. I hit F8 just after the netbook got rebooted, but it didn't give me what I expected. It just gave me the one option to boot with XP Home Edition. I never saw an option to select safe mode. Wonder of wonders, as soon as it had completed the boot up phase, I was able to right click and select delete for the icons, and I've been trying off and on, without success for over a week now. Thank you for taking the time to read my problem and offering possible solutions.