Sometimes when I just run my mouse pointer over something it will open without me clicking on anything. Also sometimes is is very jerky. I have to start task manager and restart my computer. I am running windows vista on a acer laptop.

I see you have a laptop. Are you using a mouse or the mouse pad?

Open mouse properties from control panel, and find the tap-to-click checkbox and check that box.

I hope this helps

It might be selected as mouse pointer should responded automatically when it is on the any icon.
So, change the setting from control panel, mouse - select the mouse pointer setting and make it manually.
You can change the setting which way behave a mouse.
Go to folder option - view tab and it will show different options and it can be specified.