When I hover my mouse over a thread title here at the SDMB, the “tooltip” thingy lasts about 1 second or less.
My screensaver also lasts exactly as long, whether I use “preview” from the dialog box (right click the desktop, etc), or let it activate on its own, or use WWHotCorner.
However, if I mouse over any of the icons in my system tray, they last maybe 5 seconds, which is generally enough to at least read it.
I’ve tried disabling every service in task manager that windows would allow, with no joy.
Well if that were the case, wouldn’t a browser need to be actually running?
As noted in the OP, I’ve disabled every single service and process that I can from the task manager.
I’ve run multiple virus scans by different vendors (the free ones anyway), as well as other “root kit” and trojan scanners, plus even more utilities which scan for spyware.
I’ve even tried Autoruns, but I end up breaking the system more often than not. (if you use this utility I recommend a backup first).
Sadly, I think my only option now is reinstall windows… or maybe linux this time.
It’s bizarre that the problem is greater in a browser than in your task bar (which means it’s not just a matter of extending the tool tips duration value), but the screen saver part in particular makes me agree that even if it’s not technically an “interrupt” problem, then it still thinks something is “interrupting” it.
Depending on your laptop you might have more or less control over your mouse behaviors- try ratcheting down the sensitivity as a test and see if it changes things. Is it a track pad by chance? Also try disabling tap-to-select if so.
Also make sure you don’t have any IM clients running, and if you’re feeling tenacious I’d advise that you systematically start disabling/re-enabling devices (specifically input devices and network cards) in device manager with a test between each device (like keep the screen saver properties pane open while fussing with devman in another window).