can't drag and drop to open files

[jmartin]

I've been searching around and can't seem to find the help I need
specific to this. I am unable to drag a txt file onto a notepad
shortcut icon on my desktop and have it open the application with that
txt file open. all xp let's me do is drag the txt file and relocate it
on my desktop. However I can drag that file to a shortcut that points
to a folder and have the file move there. Can anyone point me in the
right direction to fix this?

 

[Karl Snooks]

jmartin,
Use right mouse button too drag to the notepad icon. Do not release the
right button until the """ARROW"" is over the icon for Notepad. When you
release you will be given two options, namely, "Open with" and "Cancel".
Choose "Open with".

I think the problem is that you are releasing the right button when the icon
for the folder is over the Notepad icon. Release based up the mouse
position arrow.

karl snooks

| I've been searching around and can't seem to find the help I need
| specific to this. I am unable to drag a txt file onto a notepad
| shortcut icon on my desktop and have it open the application with that
| txt file open. all xp let's me do is drag the txt file and relocate it
| on my desktop. However I can drag that file to a shortcut that points
| to a folder and have the file move there. Can anyone point me in the
| right direction to fix this?

 

[jmartin]

Hi Karl,

I've tried that as well with no luck. On other people's machine the
shortcut that I'm dragging to highlights when hovered over with either
left or right drags. Mine does not do this highlighting. For me right
click drag when released on the icon give "copy here", "move here",
"Create shortcuts here", "Cancel".

 

[Karl Snooks]

jmartin,
using Win+F then locate c:\windows\notepad.exe

RtClk on \windows\notepad.exe and choose "Send to"

Choose Desktop (create shortcut)

If you will drag your file, using the rt mouse button, to where the "ARROW"
points to that icon for notepad, then all should work as advertised.

I can only duplicate your situation by not having the "ARROW" over the
notepad icon when I release the right mouse button.

Do not modify the shortcut properties which XP generates.

karl snooks


Hi Karl,

I've tried that as well with no luck. On other people's machine the
shortcut that I'm dragging to highlights when hovered over with either
left or right drags. Mine does not do this highlighting. For me right
click drag when released on the icon give "copy here", "move here",
"Create shortcuts here", "Cancel".

 

[jmartin]

Followed you instructions and still have the same result. I'm unable
to duplicate this on anyone else's machine as well. It's weird as all
other drag & drop operations work fine as far as I can tell.

 

[jmartin]

Followed your instructions and still have the same result. I am also
unable to duplicate on anyone else's machine here (6 others). It's
wierd as all other drag and drop operations seem to work fine as far
as I can tell.

 

[Karl Snooks]

jmartin,
I confess to wildly guessing now--have you tried using another mouse on your
computer?

Have you run any "cleaner" programs lately? Done such things as deleting
..DAT files?

karl snooks

Followed your instructions and still have the same result. I am also
unable to duplicate on anyone else's machine here (6 others). It's
wierd as all other drag and drop operations seem to work fine as far
as I can tell.

 

[jmartin]

Guessing is ok by me as it might point me somewhere to look. I'm
really unsure of when this started happening, within the last year I
think. Don't remember running any cleaner programs. besides MS's
spyware thing... forget what it's called. haven't tried another mouse
as this one seems to be working fine in every other operation, right
left and middle buttons. Just seems like there is a file corrupt
somewhere that I need to fix, but I can't find which file controls
that functionality, unless it's buried into the code of the OS. In
which case a repair install would probably work but I think I'll
tolerate manually doing it with the run command.