Mouse clicks don't seem to "release"

[Guest]

I've been noticing this on Windows XP -- both SP1 and SP2 -- and with any
mouse you can think of.

The problem seems to be that Windows recognizes when I press the mouse
button (left or right), but it doesn't seem to notice when I release it.
This problem is random, I can't duplicate it with reliablity so
troubleshooting has been very difficult. What I can say is that it will
cause several unexpected issues. For instance, in Excel, single click a cell
(mouse button is released) and then move the mouse, all of the cells the
mouse passes over will become highlighted. Or, click the "X" on a window to
close it, window doesn't close. Move the mouse around and the window is
dragged with the mouse. Or (this one I love), have your focus on an icon in
a window or on the desktop, click another icon in the same location, this
causes all of the icons between the icon that was highlighted and the one you
clicked to become highlighted and then open. That one is always fun.

I've now got a VP in my company that is about to remove my manhood with a
dull, rusty butter knife if I can't make this stop on his PC. So, my
interest in what is causing this issue has increased.

I can say that this isn't a driver issue (at least not a particular one
since I've seen this on all sorts of mice using all sorts of drivers), it
isn't a dirty mouse issue, nor is it a defective mouse issue. It has to be
the OS, I just don't know what is cauing it.

Anyone seen this or got ideas on what the issue is?

Brett Ussher

 

[Alias]

I've been noticing this on Windows XP -- both SP1 and SP2 -- and with any
mouse you can think of.

The problem seems to be that Windows recognizes when I press the mouse
button (left or right), but it doesn't seem to notice when I release it.
This problem is random, I can't duplicate it with reliablity so
troubleshooting has been very difficult. What I can say is that it will
cause several unexpected issues. For instance, in Excel, single click a cell
(mouse button is released) and then move the mouse, all of the cells the
mouse passes over will become highlighted. Or, click the "X" on a window to
close it, window doesn't close. Move the mouse around and the window is
dragged with the mouse. Or (this one I love), have your focus on an icon in
a window or on the desktop, click another icon in the same location, this
causes all of the icons between the icon that was highlighted and the one you
clicked to become highlighted and then open. That one is always fun.

I've now got a VP in my company that is about to remove my manhood with a
dull, rusty butter knife if I can't make this stop on his PC. So, my
interest in what is causing this issue has increased.

I can say that this isn't a driver issue (at least not a particular one
since I've seen this on all sorts of mice using all sorts of drivers), it
isn't a dirty mouse issue, nor is it a defective mouse issue. It has to be
the OS, I just don't know what is cauing it.

Anyone seen this or got ideas on what the issue is?

Brett Ussher

Have you run virus and malware scans? Is the data backed up?

Alias

 

[Guest]

It isn't malware or spyware. I've seen this problem on just about every
Windows XP PC I've ever sat at. It doesn't happen all the time, however.
The problem is sparadic and you can go months without it happening again.

 

[Ted]

Maybe you have a prankster in your office....just a thought.

 

[Guest]

Nope. As I stated before, this is something I've noticed on just about any
WinXP PC I've ever sat at. Including the WinXP systems at my house.

 

[Alias]

It isn't malware or spyware. I've seen this problem on just about every
Windows XP PC I've ever sat at. It doesn't happen all the time, however.
The problem is sparadic and you can go months without it happening again.

Weird. Maybe you're just a jinx because I haven't ever seen it on many,
many machines running XP.

Alias