Thread: need some help troubleshooting

Here's a strange one:
Windows Vista Home Basic + Yahoo! Mail

When typing a reply to emails, occasionally a "right click popup window" will appear for no reason, or all the text will be highlighted and consequently disappear after typing the next letter. If caught quickly enough, I can "undo" or paste the text that has disappeared.

My first step was to see if she was doing this unknowingly (keyboard shortcut keys + alt key). Neither the "windows button", ALT key nor right mouse button are being touched when this happens.

My next step was to replace the keyboard. But, I could still see the problem happening intermittently.

Next, I switched the keyboard to a different USB port - from the back of the computer to the front.

This is a one-year old Dell E521. Any other ideas anyone? Thanks.

It's a new one to me. Try changing the mouse as it might have an intermittent fault.

Thanks Fabler, I will try that next.

Well, moving the keyboard connection from the rear USB port to a front USB port resolved the problem. Go figure? Do you think the mouse is still the culprit? Because I do. And I don't like this cord hanging out of the front of the computer all the time. Maybe I'll try plugging it back into the rear and replacing the mouse just to see if that works too.

Had always problems with wireless mouse' (or should that be mice) so chucked away the offending rodent and used a wired optical mouse instead. Keyboards, wireless, have never been any problem. Always bought a few wired optical clickers, for standby, and have had no problems, they're cheap enough to have a couple on the shelf.

PS updated your Vista yet?

Well, this is a wired optical mouse. But it's good to know that wireless ones are a problem - I'll stay away from them! I think you're right and it's the mouse - I'll have to replace it next time I'm over there and see if that also resolves the problem.

Um....no, she hasn't updated her Vista yet (I wish she would) - why? are there updating "issues" I should be aware of? (issues? in Vista? what a silly question!) haha

Vista's first service pack is now available. It'll auto update in April, though, if you don't bother with it now.

Great.....better get the data back up "up-to-date" and set a restore point....cross fingers....say some prayers.....make sure the XP machine is running......LOL

simrick... oh ye of little faith..... http://www.avmechanic.co.uk/help/win...able-2884.html

Originally Posted by ₣abler

simrick... oh ye of little faith..... http://www.avmechanic.co.uk/help/win...able-2884.html

LOL - it's not "little faith" - it's "too much experience with Microsoft"!! hahaha