Whenever I either open a current spreadsheet or use a new spreadsheet, if
you click in any of the cells, it shows a box around the cell, and a blue
area as if you were selecting and copying that cell and others in the
immediate area.

The problem is that I can't escape out of that, nor can I select anything
else or use Excel at all.

This happens with both new and old worksheets, and the only way out of it is
to ctr-alt-delete to close down the program.

I have rebooted several times, as well as checked to make sure office was
completely updated, and it's still doing the same thing.

I am using Office XP Professional 2002.

Anyone got any ideas on what I should do short of uninstalling and
reinstalling Excel?

You do not really describe your problem. If you move your mouse around, what
happens? Do the block remain as is, or does it expand/contract following the
mouse? Iow, if you click in a1 and move your pointer to C3, does it now
block A1:C3? If you then move the pointer to G10, does it now block A1:G10?

If this is the case, you have just joined the ranks of mouse abusers! Slap
the wheel of your mouse quite hard, and it should stop, allowing you to work
until it starts misbehaving again! Seems like abused things like being
abused! Or just buy a new mouse

"Kathy" wrote:

Whenever I either open a current spreadsheet or use a new spreadsheet, if
you click in any of the cells, it shows a box around the cell, and a blue
area as if you were selecting and copying that cell and others in the
immediate area.

The problem is that I can't escape out of that, nor can I select anything
else or use Excel at all.

This happens with both new and old worksheets, and the only way out of it is
to ctr-alt-delete to close down the program.

I have rebooted several times, as well as checked to make sure office was
completely updated, and it's still doing the same thing.

I am using Office XP Professional 2002.

Anyone got any ideas on what I should do short of uninstalling and
reinstalling Excel?

I wouldn't have thought it but that was exactly the problem! I tried
everything I could think of to solve the problem, and never once thought of
the mouse.

I will be buying a new mouse on the way to work tomorrow.

Thank you very much Kassie.

"kassie" wrote:

You do not really describe your problem. If you move your mouse around, what
happens? Do the block remain as is, or does it expand/contract following the
mouse? Iow, if you click in a1 and move your pointer to C3, does it now
block A1:C3? If you then move the pointer to G10, does it now block A1:G10?

If this is the case, you have just joined the ranks of mouse abusers! Slap
the wheel of your mouse quite hard, and it should stop, allowing you to work
until it starts misbehaving again! Seems like abused things like being
abused! Or just buy a new mouse

"Kathy" wrote:

Whenever I either open a current spreadsheet or use a new spreadsheet, if
you click in any of the cells, it shows a box around the cell, and a blue
area as if you were selecting and copying that cell and others in the
immediate area.

The problem is that I can't escape out of that, nor can I select anything
else or use Excel at all.

This happens with both new and old worksheets, and the only way out of it is
to ctr-alt-delete to close down the program.

I have rebooted several times, as well as checked to make sure office was
completely updated, and it's still doing the same thing.

I am using Office XP Professional 2002.

Anyone got any ideas on what I should do short of uninstalling and
reinstalling Excel?

Seems to be becoming a serious problem, this mouse issue! The pleasure is
all mine.

"Kathy" wrote:

I wouldn't have thought it but that was exactly the problem! I tried
everything I could think of to solve the problem, and never once thought of
the mouse.

I will be buying a new mouse on the way to work tomorrow.

Thank you very much Kassie.

"kassie" wrote:

You do not really describe your problem. If you move your mouse around, what
happens? Do the block remain as is, or does it expand/contract following the
mouse? Iow, if you click in a1 and move your pointer to C3, does it now
block A1:C3? If you then move the pointer to G10, does it now block A1:G10?

If this is the case, you have just joined the ranks of mouse abusers! Slap
the wheel of your mouse quite hard, and it should stop, allowing you to work
until it starts misbehaving again! Seems like abused things like being
abused! Or just buy a new mouse

"Kathy" wrote:

Whenever I either open a current spreadsheet or use a new spreadsheet, if
you click in any of the cells, it shows a box around the cell, and a blue
area as if you were selecting and copying that cell and others in the
immediate area.

The problem is that I can't escape out of that, nor can I select anything
else or use Excel at all.

This happens with both new and old worksheets, and the only way out of it is
to ctr-alt-delete to close down the program.

I have rebooted several times, as well as checked to make sure office was
completely updated, and it's still doing the same thing.

I am using Office XP Professional 2002.

Anyone got any ideas on what I should do short of uninstalling and
reinstalling Excel?