strange problem with touchpad/excel

D

dani

Sometimes when I am using excel on my laptop, I must be hitting a combination
of keys too quickly and I end up with what seems to be a stuck 'left click'
button. I'm not actually touching any buttons, but on the screen, if I move
the mouse, all the cells will highlight and I cant click out of it. I cant
save or do anything. I actually have to restart my laptop in order to make it
stop. This is very frustrating as I am losing data everytime it happens. I
dont know if I have explained the problem very well, but hopefully someone
will know what I am talking about and will have some suggestions?
 
T

Teresa

dani said:
Sometimes when I am using excel on my laptop, I must be hitting a combination
of keys too quickly and I end up with what seems to be a stuck 'left click'
button. I'm not actually touching any buttons, but on the screen, if I move
the mouse, all the cells will highlight and I cant click out of it. I cant
save or do anything. I actually have to restart my laptop in order to make it
stop. This is very frustrating as I am losing data everytime it happens. I
dont know if I have explained the problem very well, but hopefully someone
will know what I am talking about and will have some suggestions?
Click to expand...
 
T

Teresa

My co worker and I have the exact same issue!!! I do not believe that it
does have to do with a bad left click...because I don't have any issues in
any other applications. Just happens at the most random of times, and YES
it is extremely frustrating. Please - does anyone know what is causing
this?!
Thanks!
Teresa
 
G

Gord Dibben

Teresa/dani

A common cause of this is that you are in "Extended" or "Add" mode.

If you see "EXT" or "ADD" down on the status bar try hitting F8 key a couple
of times.

F8 will will toggle you in and out of Extended mode. SHIFT + F8 will put you
in "ADD" mode.

With the "ADD" mode you need to re-click the mouse. This is used to select
non-contiguous cells and ranges without using the CTRL key.

With the "EXT" mode you just click once and drag. All cells will be selected.

If you are using a wheel-mouse tap the wheel a couple times.

Also see David McRitchie's "Ghosting" at

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/ghosting.txt


Gord Dibben Excel MVP
 
M

Martin

This problems seems to be particularly common on Dell laptops. We all have
the problem at work but our IT people can't solve it. The Dell Forum has
loads of messages from people with the problem and suggested fixes which
never seem to help.

I managed to recover control of my laptop earlier today by plugging in a
real mouse (which worked OK in EXCEL) then unplugging it but don't know if it
will work next time.

I have never known it happen with any other piece of software which suggests
that it is not a fault with the touchpad.

MB
 
Top