What's this stupid circle every time I push CTRL?

[rube]

Any idea? Somehow something got turned on in Windows (or another program that I've installed, but I think it's a Windows thing) and now everytime I push and release CTRL I get this annoying shrinking circle pop up over my mouse pointer.. it even pops up in some games too. I have a feeling I might have enabled it by accident last time i reinstalled windows, but I can't find anywhere to turn it off. Anyone know what that might be and how to turn it off?

rube

[sinistergfx]

control panel > mouse > pointer options

[ImSlightlyBored]

control panel - mouse - pointer options - show pointer when I click CTRL unchecked.

On XP its Control panel - printers and other hardware, I think...

[rube]

oh god thank you... in honor of you two I will name my first child Imslightlysinisterboredgfx.