I am experiencing a weird problem on my Windows 95 system.

When I select a section of text in notepad(Shift + mouse drag), the section of text that I want selected gets selected then becomes unselected a split second later even though I'm still holding down the shift and left mouse keys.

This also happens if I'm trying to do a drag and drop with a section of text or even a file. It's a drag and drop problem that I can't figure out.

Does anyone know what DLLs or files handle text/file selection functionality? I've already done the following:
1. Reinstall DCOM 95
2. Detect and Repair Office 2000
3. Detect Repair IE 5.5

Any suggestions?

Sounds like a physical problem with your mouse. I've experienced this before, and I suspect it's because of a bad contact inside your mouse button. A bad contact may cause the mouse button to "release" even though you are still holding it down.

Try assigning the left mouse button to the right mouse button (in control panel -> mouse). If you are able to select stuff now (with the right button), you can be sure it's probably something wrong with the mouse. I've never attempted to fix a problem like this before because it's never happened to a mouse that I own. Myself, I would open up the mouse and check the contacts (if they are even accessible).

This is my take on the problem. See what others have to say.

No, it's not a mouse problem and actually my earlier description was a bit off. I CAN select text (or multiple files) just fine if I hold down the shift key while making selections with my mouse. This would be proof enough that it is NOT a mouse problem.

The problem I bump into is when I try to select files OR if I try to select a section of text WITHOUT holding down the Shift or Control keys using the mouse. I am unable to select elements this way. I used to be able to do this, but...

Does the User.dll file provide the functionality for selections like this or is there some other DLL file that I need to replace? Thanks

I cannot give an answer regarding the functionality of the user.dll file as I don't know enough about it.

If you suspect a portion of a dll file has been corrupted, and has subsequently affected your mouse, perhaps removing and reinstalling the mouse might overwrite (and hence correct) the corrupt dll file. I'm not all that knowledgeable when it comes to dlls, but is it wrong to say that when a dll that has some part in controlling the mouse becomes corrupt, it will render the mouse completely useless? Not just partially, as in your case?

I still think there could be a problem with your mouse. As I said before, I've encountered mice with this problem before, where if you try to select some text with the mouse button alone (that is, holding the mouse button down and dragging it) the text you are selecting may sporadically unselect. This is the problem you're having, isn't it? There is another way to select text, and that is to hold down the shift key and single click the end point of what you want to select. Selecting this way is likely to work with mice with bad contacts since the velocity that is gathered with a single click provides enough force to close the contacts. When holding the button down, however, that contact may be lost due to minute variants in pressure of your finger against the button. Again, I am assuming that you are able to select without the shift key, but only for a millisecond upon which it "clicks" again. If this is false, then maybe you are right about it being something to do with a dll. In that case all I can suggest is to try reinstalling the mouse, or ask others for help. Good luck!

(On a side note: after it unselects, do you notice that text cursor has moved?)

I agree with Toram that it's a mouse problem. The fact that it works OK with the shift key kinda proves it.

"On a side note: after it unselects, do you notice that text cursor has moved?"

Yes, basically after the text block has been unselected, (the split second after it's selected), the whole word that the cursor is closest to gets selected. Much like the way that it would be if you were to double click a whole word.

"On a side note: after it unselects, do you notice that text cursor has moved?"

Yes, basically after the text block has been unselected, (the split second after it's selected), the whole word that the cursor is closest to gets selected. Much like the way that it would be if you were to double click a whole word.

In fact, it happen with a lot of gragging type functionality. For example, when dragging a scroll bar up or down I only get about a third of the way down the bar before my cursor loses focus. Really odd stuff...

"I agree with Toram that it's a mouse problem. The fact that it works OK with the shift key kinda proves it."

I'm not following along with that thought. How would "the fact that it works okay with the shift key" prove that the mouse is the culprit?

It doesn't, really, because anybody can take a hammer and smash a mouse so that the buttons are completely useless. Now that the shift key method doesn't work, does that mean the mouse is not the culprit? I don't think so!

I think our friend is trying to say, the fact that the shift key method works whereas dragging doesn't always work further indicates that this is a mouse problem.

"...the fact that the shift key method works whereas dragging doesn't always work further indicates that this is a mouse problem."

Well, when you say "mouse problem", to me that would indicate a hardware issue, not a software issue. From a hardware POV, if I were able to select a whole line of text with the mouse, then that to me would indicate to me that this is NOT a hardware problem.

If instead you're talking about problems with the mouse software, then this is a possibility, but I have already followed the previous suggestion of reinstalling the drivers for the mouse device and this did not take care of the dragging/deselection issue I'm experiencing.

Any other suggestions?

It seems that I have resolved this issue. I went out and bought a cheap $12 mouse from Radio Shack (replacing my $75 LogiTech Mouseman), installed the drivers for the new mouse, and lo and behold, I have all of my drag and drop functionality back.

Still don't know if it's a hardware or software issue, but this solution may work for others if all else fails...