excel locks up after selecting a cell

[sandenscot]

I have a laptop...so the problem is not a scrolling mouse wheel.....when I
select a cell in the workbook it will not let it go....as I move the mouse
around it keeps selecting all the sells as if i have the mouse held
down....do not appear to have a key stuck either......however...when the cell
is selected...(before i click the cursor in a cell) i can move around to
different cells with the arrow keys and it only selects one cell at a
time...like it is suppose to...as soon as I click with the mouse the whole
spreadsheet continues to be selected wherever i move the mouse...even if i
move the mouse off the spreadsheet....it just keeps selecting all the cells
in that direction....HELP

[Gord Dibben]

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.

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

On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 07:33:02 -0800, "sandenscot"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I have a laptop...so the problem is not a scrolling mouse wheel.....when I
>select a cell in the workbook it will not let it go....as I move the mouse
>around it keeps selecting all the sells as if i have the mouse held
>down....do not appear to have a key stuck either......however...when the cell
>is selected...(before i click the cursor in a cell) i can move around to
>different cells with the arrow keys and it only selects one cell at a
>time...like it is suppose to...as soon as I click with the mouse the whole
>spreadsheet continues to be selected wherever i move the mouse...even if i
>move the mouse off the spreadsheet....it just keeps selecting all the cells
>in that direction....HELP

[sandenscot]

the add ore extended modes is not what it does......with those problems you
need to keep clicking the mouse.....what happens is that I click ONCE and
then as I move the mouse around, without clicking, it continues to highlight
everything i move the cursor over....if i move the cursor to the bottom off
the sheet...like over the task bar...it continues to select down the
sheet...hundreds and hundred of cells...I must then close it out and
reopen...it still does it...then i restarted the computer and it went
away...but it will come back again...by the way, once i have one cell
selected and it does what i described above...you cannot access anything on
the screen or within any menus.....very strange.


"Gord Dibben" wrote:

> 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.
>
> 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
>
> On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 07:33:02 -0800, "sandenscot"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >I have a laptop...so the problem is not a scrolling mouse wheel.....when I
> >select a cell in the workbook it will not let it go....as I move the mouse
> >around it keeps selecting all the sells as if i have the mouse held
> >down....do not appear to have a key stuck either......however...when the cell
> >is selected...(before i click the cursor in a cell) i can move around to
> >different cells with the arrow keys and it only selects one cell at a
> >time...like it is suppose to...as soon as I click with the mouse the whole
> >spreadsheet continues to be selected wherever i move the mouse...even if i
> >move the mouse off the spreadsheet....it just keeps selecting all the cells
> >in that direction....HELP
>
>

[Gord Dibben]

One correction to my post.........

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.

Sounds to me like you are in "EXT" mode. Did you try the F8 key?


Gord

On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 11:01:02 -0800, "sandenscot"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>the add ore extended modes is not what it does......with those problems you
>need to keep clicking the mouse.....what happens is that I click ONCE and
>then as I move the mouse around, without clicking, it continues to highlight
>everything i move the cursor over....if i move the cursor to the bottom off
>the sheet...like over the task bar...it continues to select down the
>sheet...hundreds and hundred of cells...I must then close it out and
>reopen...it still does it...then i restarted the computer and it went
>away...but it will come back again...by the way, once i have one cell
>selected and it does what i described above...you cannot access anything on
>the screen or within any menus.....very strange.
>
>
>"Gord Dibben" wrote:
>
>> 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.
>>
>> 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
>>
>> On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 07:33:02 -0800, "sandenscot"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >I have a laptop...so the problem is not a scrolling mouse wheel.....when I
>> >select a cell in the workbook it will not let it go....as I move the mouse
>> >around it keeps selecting all the sells as if i have the mouse held
>> >down....do not appear to have a key stuck either......however...when the cell
>> >is selected...(before i click the cursor in a cell) i can move around to
>> >different cells with the arrow keys and it only selects one cell at a
>> >time...like it is suppose to...as soon as I click with the mouse the whole
>> >spreadsheet continues to be selected wherever i move the mouse...even if i
>> >move the mouse off the spreadsheet....it just keeps selecting all the cells
>> >in that direction....HELP
>>
>>

[Scott]

NO, I am not in add ore ext mode. .....and I can select a cell and release
the mouse.....not drag...and as I move the curser.....(not clicking the mouse
at all)..it acts like I am dragging somewhere....I just move the mouse
everywhere and it selects everything...if I move the cursor to the right it
keeps selecting forever....cant access menus....have to close excel
down...once this thing catches..nothing else is able to happen....cant even
close excel the X button in the top right...have to right click on the
taskbar and close......and as I am doing that...because I am off the
worksheet...it continues to scroll down......F8 does n!!??othing....alt
F8....everything doesnt work


"Gord Dibben" wrote:

> One correction to my post.........
>
> 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.
>
> Sounds to me like you are in "EXT" mode. Did you try the F8 key?
>
>
> Gord
>
> On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 11:01:02 -0800, "sandenscot"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >the add ore extended modes is not what it does......with those problems you
> >need to keep clicking the mouse.....what happens is that I click ONCE and
> >then as I move the mouse around, without clicking, it continues to highlight
> >everything i move the cursor over....if i move the cursor to the bottom off
> >the sheet...like over the task bar...it continues to select down the
> >sheet...hundreds and hundred of cells...I must then close it out and
> >reopen...it still does it...then i restarted the computer and it went
> >away...but it will come back again...by the way, once i have one cell
> >selected and it does what i described above...you cannot access anything on
> >the screen or within any menus.....very strange.
> >
> >
> >"Gord Dibben" wrote:
> >
> >> 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.
> >>
> >> 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
> >>
> >> On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 07:33:02 -0800, "sandenscot"
> >> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>
> >> >I have a laptop...so the problem is not a scrolling mouse wheel.....when I
> >> >select a cell in the workbook it will not let it go....as I move the mouse
> >> >around it keeps selecting all the sells as if i have the mouse held
> >> >down....do not appear to have a key stuck either......however...when the cell
> >> >is selected...(before i click the cursor in a cell) i can move around to
> >> >different cells with the arrow keys and it only selects one cell at a
> >> >time...like it is suppose to...as soon as I click with the mouse the whole
> >> >spreadsheet continues to be selected wherever i move the mouse...even if i
> >> >move the mouse off the spreadsheet....it just keeps selecting all the cells
> >> >in that direction....HELP
> >>
> >>
>
>

[Mikeopolo]

When this happens, try pressing the left and right mouse buttons (or equivalent buttons on your laptop) at the same time. I've seen this work.

Regards
Mike

[Gord Dibben]

Scott

If you have read the material on David McRitchie's site(URL was included in mu
first post)and tried all the suggestions there, I have nothing else for you.


Gord

On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 13:31:05 -0800, "Scott" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>NO, I am not in add ore ext mode. .....and I can select a cell and release
>the mouse.....not drag...and as I move the curser.....(not clicking the mouse
>at all)..it acts like I am dragging somewhere....I just move the mouse
>everywhere and it selects everything...if I move the cursor to the right it
>keeps selecting forever....cant access menus....have to close excel
>down...once this thing catches..nothing else is able to happen....cant even
>close excel the X button in the top right...have to right click on the
>taskbar and close......and as I am doing that...because I am off the
>worksheet...it continues to scroll down......F8 does n!!??othing....alt
>F8....everything doesnt work
>
>
>"Gord Dibben" wrote:
>
>> One correction to my post.........
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> Sounds to me like you are in "EXT" mode. Did you try the F8 key?
>>
>>
>> Gord
>>
>> On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 11:01:02 -0800, "sandenscot"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >the add ore extended modes is not what it does......with those problems you
>> >need to keep clicking the mouse.....what happens is that I click ONCE and
>> >then as I move the mouse around, without clicking, it continues to highlight
>> >everything i move the cursor over....if i move the cursor to the bottom off
>> >the sheet...like over the task bar...it continues to select down the
>> >sheet...hundreds and hundred of cells...I must then close it out and
>> >reopen...it still does it...then i restarted the computer and it went
>> >away...but it will come back again...by the way, once i have one cell
>> >selected and it does what i described above...you cannot access anything on
>> >the screen or within any menus.....very strange.
>> >
>> >
>> >"Gord Dibben" wrote:
>> >
>> >> 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.
>> >>
>> >> 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
>> >>
>> >> On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 07:33:02 -0800, "sandenscot"
>> >> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >I have a laptop...so the problem is not a scrolling mouse wheel.....when I
>> >> >select a cell in the workbook it will not let it go....as I move the mouse
>> >> >around it keeps selecting all the sells as if i have the mouse held
>> >> >down....do not appear to have a key stuck either......however...when the cell
>> >> >is selected...(before i click the cursor in a cell) i can move around to
>> >> >different cells with the arrow keys and it only selects one cell at a
>> >> >time...like it is suppose to...as soon as I click with the mouse the whole
>> >> >spreadsheet continues to be selected wherever i move the mouse...even if i
>> >> >move the mouse off the spreadsheet....it just keeps selecting all the cells
>> >> >in that direction....HELP
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>

[Mike R]

Check the Tap Sensor in your touch pad properties dialog window. I don't know
for sure but on mine it is the "Buttons" tab, you will lok for "Turn off
Click Lock". Hope this helps.


"Gord Dibben" wrote:

> Scott
>
> If you have read the material on David McRitchie's site(URL was included in mu
> first post)and tried all the suggestions there, I have nothing else for you.
>
>
> Gord
>
> On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 13:31:05 -0800, "Scott" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >NO, I am not in add ore ext mode. .....and I can select a cell and release
> >the mouse.....not drag...and as I move the curser.....(not clicking the mouse
> >at all)..it acts like I am dragging somewhere....I just move the mouse
> >everywhere and it selects everything...if I move the cursor to the right it
> >keeps selecting forever....cant access menus....have to close excel
> >down...once this thing catches..nothing else is able to happen....cant even
> >close excel the X button in the top right...have to right click on the
> >taskbar and close......and as I am doing that...because I am off the
> >worksheet...it continues to scroll down......F8 does n!!??othing....alt
> >F8....everything doesnt work
> >
> >
> >"Gord Dibben" wrote:
> >
> >> One correction to my post.........
> >>
> >> 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.
> >>
> >> Sounds to me like you are in "EXT" mode. Did you try the F8 key?
> >>
> >>
> >> Gord
> >>
> >> On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 11:01:02 -0800, "sandenscot"
> >> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>
> >> >the add ore extended modes is not what it does......with those problems you
> >> >need to keep clicking the mouse.....what happens is that I click ONCE and
> >> >then as I move the mouse around, without clicking, it continues to highlight
> >> >everything i move the cursor over....if i move the cursor to the bottom off
> >> >the sheet...like over the task bar...it continues to select down the
> >> >sheet...hundreds and hundred of cells...I must then close it out and
> >> >reopen...it still does it...then i restarted the computer and it went
> >> >away...but it will come back again...by the way, once i have one cell
> >> >selected and it does what i described above...you cannot access anything on
> >> >the screen or within any menus.....very strange.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >"Gord Dibben" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> 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.
> >> >>
> >> >> 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
> >> >>
> >> >> On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 07:33:02 -0800, "sandenscot"
> >> >> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> >I have a laptop...so the problem is not a scrolling mouse wheel.....when I
> >> >> >select a cell in the workbook it will not let it go....as I move the mouse
> >> >> >around it keeps selecting all the sells as if i have the mouse held
> >> >> >down....do not appear to have a key stuck either......however...when the cell
> >> >> >is selected...(before i click the cursor in a cell) i can move around to
> >> >> >different cells with the arrow keys and it only selects one cell at a
> >> >> >time...like it is suppose to...as soon as I click with the mouse the whole
> >> >> >spreadsheet continues to be selected wherever i move the mouse...even if i
> >> >> >move the mouse off the spreadsheet....it just keeps selecting all the cells
> >> >> >in that direction....HELP
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>

[Mikeopolo]

Have you resolved this problem yet?

[bebonham]

> > >> >> >I have a laptop...so the problem is not a scrolling mouse
wheel.....when I
> > >> >> >select a cell in the workbook it will not let it go....as I
move the mouse
> > >> >> >around it keeps selecting all the sells as if i have the
mouse held
> > >> >> >down....do not appear to have a key stuck
either......however...when the cell
> > >> >> >is selected...(before i click the cursor in a cell) i can
move around to
> > >> >> >different cells with the arrow keys and it only selects one
cell at a
> > >> >> >time...like it is suppose to...as soon as I click with the
mouse the whole
> > >> >> >spreadsheet continues to be selected wherever i move the
mouse...even if i
> > >> >> >move the mouse off the spreadsheet....it just keeps
selecting all the cells
> > >> >> >in that direction....HELP
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >>
> > >>
> >
> >


I feel you pal, I have the exact same problem, windows me office 2002
sbe I have other machine and I have played with ext / add but I am sure
you agree, it is _not_ that.

here is what I can add to the description of the problem.

1. It only happens when you click on the worksheet or the arrows at
bottom that let you move thru the worksheets. You can use all the
menus, open documents, edit them fine using the keyboard. If you click
the worksheet or try to change worksheet by clicking then it breaks.

2. When it breaks, it is _exactly_ like you had never released the
mouse button. It prevents excel from recieving any other messages, but
the system can still recieve clicks and keystrokes.

3. I agree it occurs intermittently, but at the momement, even after
many reboots, it is always happening.

I haven't really tried anything to fix it yet. I am sure there are no
viruses or spy/ad ware on the system. I don't have the office sbe
disks handy, so I could try reparing or uninstall reinstall. I'm
sceptical a repair would fix this.

Since this is a new problem, could it have to do with any recent
windows updates?
(this occurred about jan 18 within 5 days)

thanks for any input!!

[jdsev]

I, too, am having the same problem. I came here, read all the suggestions (and hyperlinked articles), tried them all - to no avail. This is happening on my desktop. No, it is not my mouse. Have tried that. No keys are functional once I click in a cell in the spreadsheet. Cursor becomes a crosshair and not a "pointer" once I click in a cell. Can only close program with CTRL-ALT-DEL.

I read the same problem in my searches on this forum back to last year. I tried uninstalling MS Office (2000) completely, reinstalled. No difference. I uninstalled again, reinstalled a newer version (MS Office 2003) - no change.

Now . . . I have another desktop pc and a laptop. I can copy the file to either of those computers and it opens and edits fine.

Meanwhile, Excel is useless on this pc. Was wondering if anyone has found a reason - or, better yet - a solution yet?

Thanks,
jdsev

[mussedc]

Hi All,

I have had the same exact problem intermittently for over a year. I do not think this is a recent windows update problem. I use a laptop with XP and MS Excel 2000. I am still looking for a solution. In the meantime the only thing that regains normal excel is a reboot.

[fuzzyworm]

My friend's laptop seems to have the same problem, but it only seems to occur when he uses the ctrl key while he's selecting a region. I suspect, therefore, that the problem must lie in the settings for the touchpad, or the way that the touchpad interacts with the keyboard. If this is the case, then there isn't a lot that can be done about it, since it is evidently a hardware fault, and not a fault with excel as such.