Vista - usb mouse and start menu questions

I have a cpl. questions.....1st...my USB mouse I use for my notebook
gets slow on occasion...It freezes up for a sec and speed is back to
normal, but it goes at a snails pace then, freezes again a sec...then
back to normal...sometimes when it slows down, I unplug it and plug it
back in and normal speed. How to I correct this and stop it from
hapening?? Only other USB port being used is for my photo printer
which is off most of the time during general use....2 question: I
remove start menu items and they keep showing up upon reboot...I have
a Vista premium notebook that came with certain items in the start
menu and I want them removed since I never click on them. Hope someone
can help me out here...thanks in advance.