Odd problem on Microsoft excel...

zain

I wonder if anyone can help me...

When i open excel and i move the cursor around the screen it seems to insist on selecting on cells and highlighting them. I am used to this only happening when i move the mouse and hold down the left button.I am not holding down anything, I am simply moving the mouse around and it seems to be locked on selecting and highlighting.

Infact, i have big problems trying to close the page since i can't use the mouse!

Thanks in advance for any help!

choosewisely

Have you tried a different mouse?

The microswitch could be bust or stuck - mice wear out eventually. Either that or it could be the mouse driver is corrupt o you could have a stuck key on the keyboard making it select cells.

I'd try checking the mouse and keyboard are plugged in firmly too and if you've unplugged them recently check that one of the pins on the connector were bent when you re-connected them.

zain

Thanks for your ideas. It is not the mouse as i only have the problem in excel and not at any other time. I think I have messed up some setting in excel - maybe accidently used a shortcut key and i can't seem to reverse it!

mellyp

Do you have the letters 'EXT' in the status bar, towards the bottom left? If so, try hitting F8

zain

mellyp wrote:

Do you have the letters 'EXT' in the status bar, towards the bottom left? If so, try hitting F8

No i don't! The mystery continues.....

choosewisely

You could try reducing the level of hardware acceleration on your graphics card (control panel > display) - sometimes this can cause program errors and problems with the mouse pointer.

mellyp

try this link

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307812

zain

Thanks, that link looks perfect.

I will try it when i get home tonight- I can't believe i haven't tried the most obvious one - i.e restart the thing!

I will let you know how i get on

JimArnold

I've seen this a couple of times but don't know the cause !

A reboot has always solved it though

zain

Yes, sorry to waste peoples time.
A reboot solved it!

mellyp

glad you got it sorted