Double-clicking stopped working on desktop

[J.R. Setti]

I have a Compaq Evo N1020v running WinXP Pro. I use
the "classic" appearance for the desktop, although the
problem I am reporting also happens with the XP desktop.

Suddenly, the computer started to present the strangest
behavior I have seen so far: double-clicking on a program
icon on the desktop stopped working -- that is, if I
double-click on the Word icon, for instance, nothing
happens. If I want to start a program, I have to right-
click on the icon and choose "Open" from the menu.

Curiouser yet, this only happens with program files (Word,
Excel, Windows Explorer, WinDVD, etc.); if I double-click
on the "Recicle bin" icon, everything is fine.

The same thing happens on icons in the Start menu and in
the taskbar. Program files only open right-clicking and
choosing "open" from the menu. Clicking on the "Show
desktop" icon in the quick launch bar closes all windows
and shows the desktop (as expected); clicking on the IE
icon in the quick launch bar does not work.

This behavior happens with either the touchpad or the USB
mouse I use. Other than this funny behavior, both pointing
devices work fine; they also work fine within any open
window or program.

I tried to change the desktop to open programs with only
one click, opening the Windows Explorer "Tools/Folder
Options/General/Click items as follows" option that
changes to single-click to open an item. It did not work.

I would greatly appreciate any help/suggestions/tips on
how to restore the appropriate double-click behavior on my
notebook.

J.R. Setti

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
I have a Compaq Evo N1020v running WinXP Pro. I use
the "classic" appearance for the desktop, although the
problem I am reporting also happens with the XP desktop.

Suddenly, the computer started to present the strangest
behavior I have seen so far: double-clicking on a program
icon on the desktop stopped working -- that is, if I
double-click on the Word icon, for instance, nothing
happens. If I want to start a program, I have to right-
click on the icon and choose "Open" from the menu.

Curiouser yet, this only happens with program files (Word,
Excel, Windows Explorer, WinDVD, etc.); if I double- click
on the "Recicle bin" icon, everything is fine.

The same thing happens on icons in the Start menu and in
the taskbar. Program files only open right-clicking and
choosing "open" from the menu. Clicking on the "Show
desktop" icon in the quick launch bar closes all windows
and shows the desktop (as expected); clicking on the IE
icon in the quick launch bar does not work.

This behavior happens with either the touchpad or the USB
mouse I use. Other than this funny behavior, both pointing
devices work fine; they also work fine within any open
window or program.

I tried to change the desktop to open programs with only
one click, opening the Windows Explorer "Tools/Folder
Options/General/Click items as follows" option that
changes to single-click to open an item. It did not work.

I would greatly appreciate any help/suggestions/tips on
how to restore the appropriate double-click behavior on my
notebook.

J.R. Setti

.
Strange and annoying indeed. This will not help but

does this happen even in safe mode?

 

[J.R. Setti]

Further investigation showed that the
problem was a corrupted .lnk (shortcut) association.

It was fixed using a REG (Registry) file obtained
at http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

Thanks for the interest,

J.R. Setti

-----Original Message-----
[...]

Suddenly, the computer started to present the strangest
behavior I have seen so far: double-clicking on a program
icon on the desktop stopped working -- that is, if I
double-click on the Word icon, for instance, nothing
happens. If I want to start a program, I have to right-
click on the icon and choose "Open" from the menu.

Curiouser yet, this only happens with program files
(Word,
Excel, Windows Explorer, WinDVD, etc.); if I double- click
on the "Recicle bin" icon, everything is fine.

The same thing happens on icons in the Start menu and in
the taskbar. Program files only open right-clicking and
choosing "open" from the menu. Clicking on the "Show
desktop" icon in the quick launch bar closes all windows
and shows the desktop (as expected); clicking on the IE
icon in the quick launch bar does not work.

Strange and annoying indeed. This will not help but

does this happen even in safe mode?
.