Windows 7 - Right Click Context Menu won't stay up...

Hi,
I just got my new computer and am having some issues. One of them is the taskbar's right click context menu. I use this feature a lot, I've discovered, since with this new OS, it doesn't work. Or, rather, it does, but it won't stay up. I right click an item on the task bar, the menu pops up, and then when I move my pointer towards the menu to access the items listed, the menu pops back down. The only way I get to the menu is with the arrows keys. It's very frustrating. Can someone help me tell the menu to stay put? It's ridiculous to have to move my hand from the mouse to the keyboard just to make a choice on the menu. The right click menus WITHIN a program seem fine. It's just the ones on the task bar, where you see the new "Pin to the task bar" option and such.

Thanks, Phyrie

try holding left click and dragging the mouse upwards instead

OK, I'm a boob...
Thanks so much.

Phyrie