Ahh, desk-job and office-job survival skillz...! I remember the day...nah, never worked a day in my life! I would never use #3, but I could get away with 5, 2 or 1. The following might apply to some guys with the "office at home:" > A HUSBAND IS AT HOME WATCHING A FOOTBALL GAME WHEN HIS WIFE INTERRUPTS, "HONEY, COULD YOU FIX THE LIGHT IN THE HALLWAY? IT'S BEEN FLICKERING FOR WEEKS NOW." > >HE LOOK AT HER AND SAYS ANGRILY, "FIX THE LIGHTS NOW? DOES IT LOOK LIKE I HAVE GE WRITTEN ON MY FOREHEAD? I DON'T THINK SO." > >"FINE," THEN THE WIFE ASKS, "WELL THEN, COULD YOU FIX THE FRIDGE DOOR? IT WON'T CLOSE RIGHT." > >TO WHICH HE REPLIED, "FIX THE FRIDGE DOOR?" "DOES IT LOOK LIKE I HAVE WESTINGHOUSE WRITTEN ON MY FOREHEAD? I DON'T THINK SO." > >"FINE," SHE SAYS, "THEN YOU COULD AT LEAST FIX THE STEPS TO THE FRONT DOOR? THEY ARE ABOUT TO BREAK." > >"I'M NOT A DA_N CARPENTER AND I DON'T WANT TO FIX STEPS." HE SAYS, "DOES IT LOOK LIKE I HAVE ACE HARDWARE WRITTEN ON MY FOREHEAD? I DON'T THINK SO. I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU. I'M GOING TO THE BAR !!!!" > >SO HE GOES TO THE BAR AND DRINKS FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.................................... HE STARTS TO FEEL GUILTY ABOUT HOW HE TREATED HIS WIFE, AND DECIDES TO GO HOME. AS HE WALKS INTO THE HOUSE HE NOTICES THAT THE STEPS ARE ALREADY FIXED. AS HE ENTERS THE HOUSE, HE SEES THE HALL LIGHT IS WORKING. AS HE GOES TO GET A BEER, HE NOTICES THE FRIDGE DOOR IS FIXED. > >"HONEY," HE ASKS, "HOW'D ALL THIS GET FIXED?" > >SHE SAID, "WELL, WHEN YOU LEFT I SAT OUTSIDE AND CRIED. JUST THEN A NICE YOUNG MAN ASKED ME, "WHAT'S WRONG?" I TOLD HIM. HE OFFERED TO DO ALL THE REPAIRS, AND ALL I HAD TO DO WAS EITHER GO TO BED WITH HIM OR BAKE A CAKE." > >HE SAID, "SO WHAT KIND OF CAKE DID YOU BAKE?" > >SHE REPLIED, "HELLOOOOO....DO YOU SEE BETTY CROCKER WRITTEN ON MY FOREHEAD? I DON'T THINK SO!"

I googled this stuff too - and googled removing or cleaning it - no results except to purchase it. I think I'll have to call the company on Monday and see if they have any ideas. I like the idea of the heating pad - but I should probably find out what heat does to this. I've always hated these slimy, gooey toys - they often stain - but this seems ridiculous. To have the thinned sections harden like that. Kudzu- The explanation was that my daughter had a friend over yesterday and they were playing with the goo. They were in my husband's den - which my 10yo daughter seemed surprised to hear today that it was off limits to her and her friends. It's filled with guitars and recording equipment (it's always been off limits unless she's in there with her father). She and her friend were just in there - and decided to stop playing with the stuff - so they just put it down on the desk - on the keyboard and mouse - never occurred to them that was a problem. We're trapped on our block in a historic storm of 26" at the bottom of a hill. The public schools are open tomorrow - yet neighborhoods remain snowed in. I am just so incredulous about that - that my daughter blithingly going in a den that's off limits - with goo - and innocently leaving it on the keyboard as though that's a sufficient place to leave it - seems equally baffling. Did the topsy-turvyness of the snow storm effect their thinking? perhaps. Her friends father decided to drive her here (down a 2 block hill of snow) in a 4-wheel drive vehicle. He walked her here and told he he'd gotten stuck at the top of the hill. we just learned he'd been stuck just around the corner - 3 houses away - too embarrassed to tell us he'd ventured down the hill. Unbeknownst to us our neighbors spent an hour helping him dig out. If I find anything out about the goo, I'll post back. Thanks. Lynn.

Here it is Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2 Scan saved at 11:11:12 PM, on 4/7/2011 Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600) MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702) Boot mode: Normal 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\Ati2evxx.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WNDA3100v2\WifiSvc.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD DX\PDVDDXSrv.exe C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\MOM.exe C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\avastUI.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\ccc.exe C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WNDA3100v2\WNDA3100v2.exe C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugin-container.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\notepad.exe C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.bing.com/ R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157 R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157 R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local O2 - BHO: HP Print Enhancer - "0347C33E-8762-4905-BF09-768834316C61> - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_printenhancer.dll O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - "3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0> - (no file) O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - "DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9> - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - "E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C> - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll O2 - BHO: HP Smart BHO Class - "FFFFFFFF-CF4E-4F2B-BDC2-0E72E116A856> - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_BHO.dll O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StartCCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMAXPnP] C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PDVDDXSrv] "C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD DX\PDVDDXSrv.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast5] "C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\avastUI.exe" /nogui O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe" O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PxDotNetLoader] "C:\Program Files\Fidelity Investments\Fidelity Active Trader\System\ATPStartupAssistant.exe" O4 - Startup: Dropbox.lnk = C:\Documents and Settings\Jane\Application Data\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe O4 - Global Startup: HP Digital Imaging Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe O4 - Global Startup: NETGEAR WNDA3100v2 Smart Wizard.lnk = ? O8 - Extra context menu item: Add to Google Photos Screensa&ver - res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\GPhotos.scr/200 O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000 O9 - Extra button: Research - "92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263> - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL O9 - Extra button: Show or hide HP Smart Web Printing - "DDE87865-83C5-48c4-8357-2F5B1AA84522> - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_BHO.dll O9 - Extra button: (no name) - "e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583> - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - "e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583> - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe 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 O16 - DPF: "6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C> (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1288669287289 O16 - DPF: "E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7> (get_atlcom Class) - http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.cab O18 - Protocol: intu-help-qb1 - "9B0F96C7-2E4B-433E-ABF3-043BA1B54AE3> - C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks 2008\HelpAsyncPluggableProtocol.dll O18 - Protocol: qbwc - "FC598A64-626C-4447-85B8-53150405FD57> - mscoree.dll (file missing) O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASWINLO.DLL O20 - Winlogon Notify: GoToAssist - C:\Program Files\Citrix\GoToAssist\514\G2AWinLogon.dll O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - AVAST Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe O23 - Service: GoToAssist - Citrix Online, a division of Citrix Systems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Citrix\GoToAssist\514\g2aservice.exe O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe O23 - Service: QBCFMonitorService - Intuit - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks\QBCFMonitorService.exe O23 - Service: Intuit QuickBooks FCS (QBFCService) - Intuit Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks\FCS\Intuit.QuickBooks.FCS.exe O23 - Service: QuickBooksDB18 - iAnywhere Solutions, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\Intuit\QUICKB~1\QBDBMgrN.exe O23 - Service: stllssvr - MicroVision Development, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SureThing Shared\stllssvr.exe O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Check Point Software Technologies LTD - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe O23 - Service: WSWNDA3100 - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WNDA3100v2\WifiSvc.exe -- End of file - 7507 bytes I notice a lot of Internet Explorer. I never use it. Only Firefox. I rarely use MS OFfice as it doesn't work right. I was surprised to see something about Excel. I have Messenger disabled in Services. This computer is wireless using a Netgear wireless adapter. Thanks, Jane

found this info on other forums about a Dell latitude I will list all of the various ways that I saw; you can go to Control Panel > Mouse and select the Dell Touchpad tab. There should be a Device Select icon which will give you the option to turn off the touchpad and/or touchpad buttons. Alternatively, for those who want to turn off the pointing stick and/or pointing stick buttons, there are also options to disable or enable those. *Start-->Settings--Control Panel double-click mouse and there's an option there to disable the touchpad *"For all of you having trouble enabling or disabling the touchpad: Turn on or off the Fast Initialization button under hardware properties for the Touchpad. Fast Initialization = On, then reboot, you are now able to turn the touchpad On or Off from Mouse Properties Hope this helps, it was a PITA to figure out." *Just go to control pannel and double click on 'mouse'. There should then be a tab called 'Touch pad' and click on that. There should then be an option 'Tap off when typing' enable that and your problem should be solved. It also said that if you do not find those options there then it is possible your touchpad drivers are not installed which would allow you to make the changes. "If the control panel only shows things about a "mouse", the touchpad drivers are not installed. You could try www.synaptics.com for drivers." found this on the dell site *Customizing the Touch Pad and Track Stick You can use the Mouse Properties window to disable the touch pad and track stick or adjust their settings. Open the Control Panel, and then click Mouse. For information about the Control Panel, see Windows Help and Support Center. In the Mouse Properties window: * Click the Device Select tab to disable the touch pad and track stick. * Click the Touch Pad tab to adjust touch pad and track stick settings. Click OK to save the settings and close the window. I hope out of those maybe something will work