Can't select text with mouse in Word 2007

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I’ve been using Word 2007 on a Lenovo Thinkpad running Windows 7 Pro, for the last few months. Suddenly, I am having trouble with using the mouse in Word 2007. I was using Word 2007 the other day and everything was functioning normally. I copied some text from a website, and did a paste special to insert the copied text into my document as formatted text (rtf). The next time I went to change the position of the cursor with my mouse, the cursor wouldn’t move. Clicking in the margin to select a line, or double clicking to select a paragraph wouldn’t work. I could move the cursor around using the keyboard. I could also still use the mouse to work the menues in Word, and all other MS apps worked fine. However, the mouse would not function in the body of the document. Right clicking inside the document would not bring up the contect menu.

I closed Word and restarted it, and the mouse worked for a bit, and then stopped again. I deleted the Data key from the Word 12 section of my registry, and restarted Word. This is supposed to reset many Word Settings. No luck. Same thing happened.

The only thing that’s changed on my machine is the installation or routine updates, the most recent being a Java Update, a Windows Defender definaition update, and usual NOD32 Security Suite definitions. Have no Word Addins installed, other than any defaults that were installed during Word installation.

I do have a recent image of the drive that I could return to, but I like to learn to solve problems as they crop up, so that I can deal with them if they happen again, or happen to someone I know.

Has anyone experienced this problem, or know anything about what might work to fix it. Any help would be appreciated.

Brian

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If it is a wireless mouse, have you checked the batteries?

What changes have you made to the system recently?

Joe

--Joe

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If it is a wireless mouse, have you checked the batteries?

What changes have you made to the system recently?

Joe

Thanks for the reply. As indicated, the mouse works fine with all other applications, and also works fine using the Word 2007 menus. Its only in selecting text, and using the right mouse button for context menus that fail, in MS Word only. Thus, I’d guess it is not related to the mosue itself. But to answer your question, it is not a wireless mouse. It is a wired, USB mouse. Same problem however using the touch pad on the laptop, and its associated buttons.

I’ve installed no new software, and made no configuration changes in the last month. The only changes have been Windows automatic updates, virus scanner updates, and a new version of Java, and also a Flash Player update.

Brian

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I’ve installed no new software, and made no configuration changes in the last month. The only changes have been Windows automatic updates, virus scanner updates, and a new version of Java, and also a Flash Player update.

Sorry for my confusion. Have you re-booted the PC?

Have you tried System Restore?

Joe

--Joe

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As indicated, the mouse works fine with all other applications, and also works fine using the Word 2007 menus. Its only in selecting text, and using the right mouse button for context menus that fail, in MS Word only.

Does this problem occur with all documents, regardless of age or contents? Any difference between Draft view and Print Layout view?

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Does this problem occur with all documents, regardless of age or contents? Any difference between Draft view and Print Layout view?

Yes, the problem started after doing a Paste Special in formated text (rtf) format in a new document. I closed Word 2007, deleted the DATA key from the registry. I restarted Word, which creates a new Data key. I then started a new document, and started typing in it, and the problem occurred in that document as well. I was using Print Layout view. I switched to draft view and had the same problem. One thing I did notice upon further testing is that if I type something and an autocorrection is done by Word, I am able to left click on the underscore that allows me to undo the auto correct. This is the only thing that I’ve found inside the body of the document when the mouse will actually do anything.

At this point, I am currently reverting to a disc image I made of the c drive last week, when the machine was working fine. I would have liked to have discovered what the problem was, but don’t have the patience to try any longer. I need to get some work done on this machine.

Thanks for the replies anyway.

Brian

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One other symptom that I forgot to mention. When first starting up word and typing in the document, the mouse would work and allow me to place the cursor whereever I wanted. However, as soon as I pressed the Enter key to start a new paragraph, the problem would begin.

Anyway, I’ve found the solution to my problem. Apparently there is an issue with Thinkvantage Cleint Secutiy Password Manager. I disabled HotKeys in the settings menu of the password manager, rebooted the machine, and all was well. Here’s where I found the solution:

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7programs/thread/79e51132-b3af-476c-9226-bebca9a4382b

Also, I just ran my Thinkvantage update, and note there is a patch available for Password manager. Perhaps a recnet Windows update conflicted with it, and it had to be patched. Regardless, I’m able to use Word 2007 productively again.

Brian

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Glad you found a solution. Let us know that status if you turn the Hotkeys back on after the update. Thanks for posting back.

Joe

--Joe

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Glad you found a solution. Let us know that status if you turn the Hotkeys back on after the update. Thanks for posting back.

Joe

After installing the patch / Thinkvantage Updates for the laptop, I was able to turn HotKeys back on, and all is still working well with MS Word. I guess checking for updates from Lenovo should have been my first step, but it really didn’t occur to me that something in the password manager would effect movement of a cursor in MS Word. It just seems so unrelated.

Hopefully, this thread will be of use to someone else in the future if they have a similar problem, so they don’t go through as much hair pulling as I had to in this case.

Thanks to all who replied to this thread with suggestions.

Brian

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