A common cause of this is that you are in "Extended" or "Add" mode.

If you see "EXT" or "ADD" down on the status bar try hitting F8 key a couple
of times.

F8 will will toggle you in and out of Extended mode. SHIFT + F8 will put you
in "ADD" mode.

If you are using a wheel-mouse tap the wheel a couple times.

Also see David McRitchie's "Ghosting" at

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/ghosting.txt

Gord Dibben Excel MVP

On Sat, 27 Nov 2004 04:43:03 -0800, bmxracer4
wrote:

When I open excel and left click on a box, it act like I am holding the
button down and will not release, shading everything it comes in contact
with. I have to ctrl-alt-del just to get out of excel. It freezes everything.
I have checked my option and configuration to another system that I have and
it is the same(default). I have re-installed office 2003 without luck. I have
run the repair option also. Has anyone else had this problem? I have a IR
logitech mouse.Thanks