Question for Windows 7 laptop users

Hello:

I'm a long time Windows XP user who just purchased a Dell laptop installed with Windows 7 Home Premium. I'm using the touchpad, no mouse. The pointer is driving me crazy because sometimes when I scroll over something, anything really, it will get selected without ever left-clicking it. I have windows opening up all the time that I had no intention of opening. Is this a Windows 7 thing (Is this normal?) or do you think something could be wrong with the touchpad or device driver for the touchpad?  If this is normal is there a way to turn this off in Windows 7 so I can select something by left-clicking it the way I'm used to doing? Thank you for any help you can provide.

Carl