As of 2 weeks ago, none of my various "plug and play mouse devices" work anymore, regardless of which USB port I plug them into.
Worse yet, when I plug in a new mouse (i.e. plug into any available USB port), the new mouse will work for about 1 minute or less, and then it will become completely unoperable again.
Here's what I tried so far to fix this:
1. I ran a complete "Ad-Aware" scan,
2. I ran a complete Anti-Virus scan on the entire unit (with "deep scan" settings and to allow scanning of archived files)…no virus found,
3. I even did a System Restore to "back-date" this laptop to a date 2 weeks prior to the non-functional mouse occurance.
Afterwords, the mouse actually worked for one minute, then became completely disfunctional again.

note: the built-in "touch pad" works fine, but I really need my USB "plug and play mouse devices" to function. I even installed several new USB plug and play mice, and they work for about one minute and then completely stop working.
Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 10:15:00 AM, on 8/5/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\EvtEng.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\S24EvMon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil

Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\ConfigFree\CFSvcs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\DVDRAMSV.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRecvr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehSched.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft

Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\RegSrvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
c:\TOSHIBA\IVP\swupdate\swupdtmr.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA

Applet\TAPPSRV.exe
C:\Program Files\UPHClean\uphclean.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Alwil

Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil

Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllhost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA

Controls\TFncKy.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDispVol.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
C:\WINDOWS\ehome\ehtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Toshiba

Applet\thotkey.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehmsas.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Program Files\ltmoh\Ltmoh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\AGRSMMSG.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\Toshiba.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\ConfigFree\NDSTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Tvs\TvsTray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\TPSMain.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA Zooming

Utility\SmoothView.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\DLACTRLW.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\TPSBattM.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\bin\ZCfgSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\ifrmewrk.exe
C:\Program Files\Multimedia Card

Reader\shwicon2k.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft

Shared\Works Shared\WkUFind.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\ConfigFree\CFSServ.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Common

Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program

Files\TOSHIBA\TOSCDSPD\toscdspd.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Intel\Wireless\Bin\Dot1XCfg.exe
C:\Program

Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarN

otifier.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RAMASST.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft

Shared\Works Shared\WkCalRem.exe
C:\toshiba\ivp\netint\netint.exe
C:\toshiba\ivp\ism\ivpsvmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet

Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL =

http://www.toshibadirect.com/dpdstart
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection

Wizard,ShellNext =

http://www.toshibadirect.com/dpdstart
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper -

{06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} -

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat

7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) -

{53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} -

C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search &

Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess -

{5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} -

C:\WINDOWS\System32\DLA\DLASHX_W.DLL
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper -

{AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} -

c:\program files\google\googletoolbar3.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO -

{AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} -

C:\Program

Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\2.0.301.7164\sw

g.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google -

{2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} -

c:\program files\google\googletoolbar3.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TFncKy] TFncKy.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TDispVol] TDispVol.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [igfxtray]

C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [igfxhkcmd]

C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [igfxpers]

C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ehTray]

C:\WINDOWS\ehome\ehtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [THotkey] C:\Program

Files\Toshiba\Toshiba Applet\thotkey.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPLpr] C:\Program

Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program

Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LtMoh] C:\Program

Files\ltmoh\Ltmoh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AGRSMMSG] AGRSMMSG.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NDSTray.exe] NDSTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Tvs] C:\Program

Files\Toshiba\Tvs\TvsTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TPSMain] TPSMain.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SmoothView] C:\Program

Files\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA Zooming

Utility\SmoothView.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [dla]

C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\DLACTRLW.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Pinger]

c:\toshiba\ivp\ism\pinger.exe /run
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelZeroConfig] "C:\Program

Files\Intel\Wireless\bin\ZCfgSvc.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelWireless] "C:\Program

Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\ifrmewrk.exe" /tf Intel

PROSet/Wireless
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Sunkist2k] C:\Program

Files\Multimedia Card Reader\shwicon2k.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Microsoft Works Update

Detection] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft

Shared\Works Shared\WkUFind.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CFSServ.exe] CFSServ.exe

-NoClient
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast!]

C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program

Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program

Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe"

-osboot
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe]

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [TOSCDSPD] C:\Program

Files\TOSHIBA\TOSCDSPD\toscdspd.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program

Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [updateMgr] "C:\Program

Files\Adobe\Acrobat

7.0\Reader\AdobeUpdateManager.exe" AcRdB7_0_8

-reboot 1
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program

Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarN

otifier.exe
O4 - Startup: PowerReg Scheduler.exe
O4 - Startup: wkcalrem.LNK = C:\Program

Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works

Shared\WkCalRem.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk =

C:\Program Files\Common

Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed

Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat

7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk =

C:\Program Files WORD\Microsoft

Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: RAMASST.lnk =

C:\WINDOWS\system32\RAMASST.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft

Excel -

res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EX

E/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) -

{08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} -

C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console -

{08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} -

C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra button: Real.com -

{CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} -

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: Messenger -

{FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} -

C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger -

{FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} -

C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF:

START_PAGE_URL=http://www.toshibadirect.com/d

pdstart
O16 - DPF:

{F127B9BA-89EA-4B04-9C67-2074A9DF61FD}

(Photo Upload Plugin Class) -

http://cvs.pnimedia.com/upload/activex/v2_0_0_9/PC

AXSetupv2.0.0.9.cab?
O20 - Winlogon Notify: igfxcui -

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\igfxdev.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon -

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O23 - Service: ASP.NET State Service (aspnet_state)

- Unknown owner -

C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\

aspnet_state.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: avast! iAVS4 Control Service

(aswUpdSv) - Unknown owner - C:\Program

Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - Unknown owner -

C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - Unknown owner

- C:\Program Files\Alwil

Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe" /service (file

missing)
O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - Unknown owner

- C:\Program Files\Alwil

Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe" /service (file

missing)
O23 - Service: ConfigFree Service (CFSvcs) -

TOSHIBA CORPORATION - C:\Program

Files\TOSHIBA\ConfigFree\CFSvcs.exe
O23 - Service: DVD-RAM_Service - Matsushita

Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. -

C:\WINDOWS\system32\DVDRAMSV.exe
O23 - Service: Intel® PROSet/Wireless Event Log

(EvtEng) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program

Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\EvtEng.exe
O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) -

Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google

Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: Intel® PROSet/Wireless Registry

Service (RegSrvc) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program

Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\RegSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Intel® PROSet/Wireless Service

(S24EventMonitor) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program

Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\S24EvMon.exe
O23 - Service: Swupdtmr - Unknown owner -

c:\TOSHIBA\IVP\swupdate\swupdtmr.exe
O23 - Service: TOSHIBA Application Service

(TAPPSRV) - TOSHIBA Corp. - C:\Program

Files\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA Applet\TAPPSRV.exe