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Subject: unable to left-click
Posted by: chizz1
- Donor [559462523] Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 11:15
I have a laptop and as of 1 hour ago, I am unable to left-click at all. I have been trying to research this problem, but it is quite difficult to navigate the internet without left-clicking. The tab and enter keys are my new best friends. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I'm currently running my virus-scan but it hasn't come up with anything yet. Thanks for any help. |
| 1 | Mike D
Sustainer
ID: 41831612
Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 11:18
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Did you restart windows?
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| 2 | chizz1
Donor
ID: 559462523
Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 11:21
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I shut down the computer, restarted it and the same thing is happening.
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| 3 | Mike D
Sustainer
ID: 41831612
Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 11:55
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Are you using a mouse or the ball?
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| 4 | Guru
ID: 330592710
Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 11:56
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You're using the laptop's internal pointing/clicking device, I assume?
Try plugging in an external mouse and see if that works properly.
If it is hardware related, make sure nothing is stuck around or under the click button that might be impeding contact. You could also try removing the internal mouse and then reinstalling it (perhaps using device manager in the Systems program in your control panel.
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| 5 | chizz1
Donor
ID: 559462523
Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 15:25
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I am not using an external mouse, nor do I have one handy to try. My laptop has 2 separate left-click buttons and neither one works. It also has a pad that you can use for navigating and clicking. It works for moving the pointer around, but not for clicking.
When I restart the computer, it recognizes the left-click for about 5 seconds and then it stops. My anti-virus comes up clean. Any suggestions?
What does it mean to remove and reinstall my internal mouse?
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| 6 | chizz1
Donor
ID: 559462523
Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 15:35
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interestingly, the left click is now being recognized sporadically - I have no idea what this means.
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| 7 | Mike D
Sustainer
ID: 41831612
Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 15:41
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chizz, something like this unfortunately has multiple possibilities. It could be a mouse driver problem, a memory problem, low battery, etc..
First check how many programs are currently running and how big some of them are, as well as how much memory you have.
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| 8 | chizz1
Donor
ID: 559462523
Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 15:53
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I haven't done anything differently in the last few days, so I don't know why I would have extra programs running or a low memory problem. When I go to the windows task manager, it only shows 3 applications running.
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| 9 | Mike D
Sustainer
ID: 41831612
Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 15:57
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The "in and out" of the left click, or anything else, reminds me of memory issues.
The driver issue-----or what Guru referred to ("removing the internal mouse and then reinstalling it----perhaps using device manager in the Systems program in your control panel")-----do you know how to get to the Device Manager?
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| 10 | chizz1
Donor
ID: 559462523
Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 16:12
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I have no idea. I'm trying to figure it out, but it is tough to look around without being able to left-click. How do I get to device manager?
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| 11 | Guru
ID: 330592710
Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 16:21
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What operating system? XP?
Frankly, the fact that it works sporadically suggests to me that it's probably not software-related. It sound more like a hardware issue - which unfortunately would be more difficult to correct.
You may have to break down and buy an external mouse.
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| 12 | Guru
ID: 330592710
Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 16:25
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In the control panel section for mouses (mice?), you might have an option to switch the right and left click button functions. That would allow you to use the right click as an substitute for left-click (and vice versa). Being without right click capability would probably be less burdensome. And it would at least allow you to maneuver around for the time being.
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| 13 | chizz1
Donor
ID: 559462523
Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 16:27
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Yes, I'm using XP. If it is a hardware problem is there anything I can do to try and fix it?
I guess I could just buy an external mouse, but I would like the ability to use the computer on the go.
I'm going away on vacation for the next 2 1/2 weeks - I guess it's Murphy's law that I'm trying to fix the computer rather than pack.
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| 14 | chizz1
Donor
ID: 559462523
Fri, Aug 06, 2004, 16:31
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Guru - I tried to click on the option to make the right click my primary "clicker", but, ironically, I can't click on that option since the left-click doesn't work. I guess I'll try to see if I get a lucky moment when it feels like working.
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| 15 | Cosmo's Cod Piece
ID: 144192417
Sun, Aug 08, 2004, 18:15
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Have you tried tapping the pad to click? I have a laptop with a similar mouse config and more often than not I tap using the pad.
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| 16 | WiddleAvi
ID: 582361912
Mon, Aug 09, 2004, 00:09
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Ctrl + Esc will bring up the start menu. Use arrows to get to control panel. Use tab to move from option to option and space to select. That should get you to be able to use right button. Sounds to me like hardware. probably have to replace mouse or just use external.
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