Stuck on the desktop...

[Khuffie]

I'm running Windows 7 RC on my desktop, and ever since yesterday, the focus of the mouse seems to be stuck on the desktop...

Not sure how to explain. My startup programs run, but I can't click on them. I can launch programs through shortcuts (ie, the start menu, or ctrl+shift+esc), but as soon as I click, the focus switches out from them and goes back to the desktop...

Any ideas?

 

[SquonkSC]

I'm running Windows 7 RC on my desktop, and ever since yesterday, the focus of the mouse seems to be stuck on the desktop...

Not sure how to explain. My startup programs run, but I can't click on them. I can launch programs through shortcuts (ie, the start menu, or ctrl+shift+esc), but as soon as I click, the focus switches out from them and goes back to the desktop...

Any ideas?

Try other mouse. You'll know if it is the problem or not.

 

[Khuffie]

I can use the mouse to click. If I right click on the desktop and get the contextual menu of the desktop, but when I bring up one of the options, I can't use them.

 

[Zidane24]

I can use the mouse to click. If I right click on the desktop and get the contextual menu of the desktop, but when I bring up one of the options, I can't use them.

I would first do a System Restore...if that doesn't work than do a repair install...that will fix all issues

 

[SquonkSC]

I can use the mouse to click. If I right click on the desktop and get the contextual menu of the desktop, but when I bring up one of the options, I can't use them.

So, maybe the left button is defect.

Plugin another mouse, than you know for sure.

 

[Khuffie]

Mouse is fine. Tried another one, same issue.

I can alt+tab to an application window, and it gains focus (the border is highlighted), but when I click on it, it loses focus again.

 

[SquonkSC]

Mouse is fine. Tried another one, same issue.

I can alt+tab to an application window, and it gains focus (the border is highlighted), but when I click on it, it loses focus again.

Ok, I have no clue.

Try repairing Win7

Good luck

 

[Khuffie]

I don't quite feel like doing a repair install when the final version will be out in the next couple months...

Decided to bring the task manager up and end task explorer.exe through the keyboard shortcuts. That seems to bring back mouse focus. I can then run explorer.exe through file--> run from the task manager, and sometimes it works, sometimes I need to do it again before it works. Weird.

 

[Zidane24]

I don't quite feel like doing a repair install when the final version will be out in the next couple months...

Decided to bring the task manager up and end task explorer.exe through the keyboard shortcuts. That seems to bring back mouse focus. I can then run explorer.exe through file--> run from the task manager, and sometimes it works, sometimes I need to do it again before it works. Weird.

A repair install doesn't get rid of everything on your computer...it just fixes all the Windows files that may have got corrupted...a clean install is the one that does a format...in your case I would still say to go ahead and do the repair install

 

[Khuffie]

I'd still need to hunt down all the drivers for it, and there's no guarantee of it working. It's not my main PC but I don't feel like spending time formatting it. I'll poke around in it from time to time to see what I can find.

 

[Khuffie]

Alright, I gave in and did a repair install. No luck. Then I gave in and did a clean install...

...no luck!

I thought it might be my graphic drivers, so I downloaded my ATI drivers. I noticed, as soon as I approved the 'UAC' prompt, window focus behaved correctly. If I restart the machine, focus doesn't work. But I launch an installer that asks for UAC, focus starts working again.

I tried disabling UAC completely, didn't work.

This is just plain weird!

 

[Lordbob75]

Khuffie, take out ALL NON ESSENTIAL HARDWARE in your computer, and reinstall. Does the problem still occur? If not, then add in another piece or two. If it ever does occur, take out the last piece installed, and test again. If the problem stops, add in a different piece until all but the offending piece is installed. You have found the culprit.

~Lordbob

 

[Khuffie]

I seriously doubt the culprit is a hardware issue. It's most likely a Windows update that broke something.

 

[zigzag3143]

I can use the mouse to click. If I right click on the desktop and get the contextual menu of the desktop, but when I bring up one of the options, I can't use them.

K

Mouse driver? firewall or AV preventing mouse click? we could help more if we had your system specs, etc

Ken

 

[Lordbob75]

I seriously doubt the culprit is a hardware issue. It's most likely a Windows update that broke something.

Well, ok. If you have onboard video, then pull out the video card and try that. If the problem still occurs, then it is probably your video driver (Make sure to uninstall the old driver).

~Lordbob

 

[Khuffie]

No on board video, but I think I solved it...

I have a logitech wireless keyboard/mouse combo, and after installing the drivers along with Logitech's SetPoint application, it seems to work. If I close SetPoint, it stops working. Run it again, starts working.

Not really sure why it started happening. Been running Windows 7 since the beta with no SetPoint and no issues. I had even tried using a different mouse earlier, no luck. Weirdness.