Crash when mouse is used in the Control Panel

[Digitalwight]

My Win2K computer apparently is working fine unless I open the Control
Panel and open Add/Remove. As soon as I open it, the system crashes-- no
keys works and the mouse pointer moving in a strange fashion
(disconnected from the mouse movement and often erasing the displayed
part). I can no longer close the program either. The only way to get out
of this trouble is to reboot the computer.
This problem consistently occurs every time I use the computer.
To be sure all other programs that I have used works fine with normal
mouse function.

For possible remedy I re-installed Win2K-SP4 (not clean installation)
with no luck.
As I thought of virus infection, I checked with Norton Internet Security
and found no such things in the system.
The computer happens to be set up for dual boot with another Win2K which
does not show such a problem, indicating all hardware are fine.

Can someone explain what is going on and suggest a solution?

 

[Digitalwight]

I just found out that when I tried to install a program from CD, same
kind of trouble happened. It seems that whenever a change in programs
(addition or removal) is attempted, the trouble surges.

 

[Digitalwight]

Again I am providing more information.
All means exhausted, I finally decided to re-install a fresh copy of
Win2K AFTER formatting the partition.
As before it seemed that everything was working fine until I began to
install a fresh copy of a program like an internet browser or mail
program. The program started to install, then suddenly it was frozen,
mouse moved in a strange fashion, keybord stopped working except
Cntrl-Esc to shut down the computer.
I am totally puzzled and exasperated.

Please help.

 

[John John]

Try a different mouse.

John

 

[PeterD]

Again I am providing more information.
All means exhausted, I finally decided to re-install a fresh copy of
Win2K AFTER formatting the partition.
As before it seemed that everything was working fine until I began to
install a fresh copy of a program like an internet browser or mail
program. The program started to install, then suddenly it was frozen,
mouse moved in a strange fashion, keybord stopped working except
Cntrl-Esc to shut down the computer.
I am totally puzzled and exasperated.

Please help.

Like *WHAT* browser, like *WHAT* email program. Where did they come
from? What URL?