Windows 7: Stuck on the desktop...

I'm running Windows 7 RC on my desktop, and ever since yesterday, the focus of the mouse seems to be stuck on the desktop...

Not sure how to explain. My startup programs run, but I can't click on them. I can launch programs through shortcuts (ie, the start menu, or ctrl+shift+esc), but as soon as I click, the focus switches out from them and goes back to the desktop...



Any ideas?

Try other mouse. You'll know if it is the problem or not.

I can use the mouse to click. If I right click on the desktop and get the contextual menu of the desktop, but when I bring up one of the options, I can't use them.

I would first do a System Restore...if that doesn't work than do a repair install...that will fix all issues

So, maybe the left button is defect.

Plugin another mouse, than you know for sure.

Mouse is fine. Tried another one, same issue.

I can alt+tab to an application window, and it gains focus (the border is highlighted), but when I click on it, it loses focus again.

Ok, I have no clue.

Try repairing Windows 7

Good luck

I don't quite feel like doing a repair install when the final version will be out in the next couple months...

Decided to bring the task manager up and end task explorer.exe through the keyboard shortcuts. That seems to bring back mouse focus. I can then run explorer.exe through file--> run from the task manager, and sometimes it works, sometimes I need to do it again before it works. Weird.

A repair install doesn't get rid of everything on your computer...it just fixes all the Windows files that may have got corrupted...a clean install is the one that does a format...in your case I would still say to go ahead and do the repair install

I'd still need to hunt down all the drivers for it, and there's no guarantee of it working. It's not my main PC but I don't feel like spending time formatting it. I'll poke around in it from time to time to see what I can find.