Cannot select a single cell and all cells are highlighted when I m

[Jacquelyn]

This is a really weird problem so it's hard to come up with a succient title.
I got a new Tecra M4 (tablet) and I'm running XP. I'm not having problems
with any other applications, but I can no longer use Excel. I open a
spreadsheet (new or existing) and try to select a cell but I get the "fat
plus" sign and cannot select the cell. From that point on, any time I try to
move off that cell, the fat plus just keeps highlighting cells - if I move to
the toobar or the right side bar, the fat plus keeps highlighting more and
more cells both vertically and horizontally and I can't close the application
using the "x" because the fat plus won't go away. Finally, I force close but
even when restarting etc., the problem isn't resolved. Help!

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

Press the F8 key once to turn off "extend selection".

 

[Jacquelyn]

nope, no luck. besides, i don't think any control would behave this way - it
makes the thing totally unsuable.

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

Do you see an EXT indicator towards the right end of the status
bar in Excel?

 

[Jacquelyn]

nope. really - it's not a feature. you cannot close excel when it is in this
mode, you can't select any buttons and you can't even select any cells - the
cells are highlighted, but never selected, it doesn't matter if you double
click, right click whatever - it just keeps selecting cells.