Sounds like you have some macro running in the background, perhaps using Application.OnTime. Macro
use clears Excel's clipboard.

Try opening your files with macros disabled, and see if that helps.

HTH,
Bernie
MS Excel MVP


"CK's Jack" <CK's wrote in message
...
When I attempt to copy a group of cells (ctrl-c), I only have a few seconds
to paste it in another location before the outline of the copied cells times
out.