Drag and Drop Not Working in Windows 7

Anonymous
2011-03-18T18:18:13+00:00

I have a new problem that has cropped up just in the last week or two. I can no longer drag and drop my files and folders in Windows Explorer. I have Windows 7 on a HP Notebook. It came installed on the computer last December when I bought it (09). I've never had an issue with it since then, and I'm not sure how to find the settings to enable drag and drop or re-enable it. I know I've done it before on this machine, many times- and just noticed it first in  Thunderbird, (my email desktop application) then in explorer. I did recently install the SP1 (spelling??) a few weeks ago, and have installed a few other odds and ends programs, but I'm pretty sure drag and drop was working okay until a few days ago.

Any help would be appreciated. As a genealogy writer, that's a must have feature.

Thanks.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2011-07-20T06:47:39+00:00

This happened to me yesterday.

In Windows Explorer, click a file with the left mouse button and keep the button held down. Then press the Escape key. Drag and drop is miraculously re-enabled.

I think just pressing the escape will work too but I'm no longer in a position to test that. I got this from http://it.thelibrarie.com/weblog/2010/06/drag-and-drop-stops-working/

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Anonymous
2014-05-15T11:56:09+00:00

This happened to me yesterday.

In Windows Explorer, click a file with the left mouse button and keep the button held down. Then press the Escape key. Drag and drop is miraculously re-enabled.

I think just pressing the escape will work too but I'm no longer in a position to test that. I got this from http://it.thelibrarie.com/weblog/2010/06/drag-and-drop-stops-working/

I don't feel like reading through everything to see if this has been mentioned.  The escape fix worked for me with Win 7.  The only thing I have that is unique from coworkers is a wireless keyboard and mouse.  I expect that has something to do with my issue.

Thanks Nige!

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-11-20T19:42:56+00:00

    I started having the same problem about an hour ago with no explanation as to why. I did the left button esc key and it worked....

    Thanks so much

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-11-19T11:14:57+00:00

    Hi,

    I had the "drag and drop failed on desktop" problem. **I tried all the "Esc" key stuff, without success.**I  kept trying for almost 2 weeks before I came across a solution that worked for me...

    This was posted in the Microsoft forum (Nov 2013) ...

    "There seems to be a compatibility issue with Stardock Fences and Windows 8.1 Preview that causes the desktop icons to be unmovable.You can see posts about this on the Stardock Fences forums athttp://forums.stardock.com/forum/501"

    I followed the link... it suggested updating "Fences". One update and restart later and drag and drop is back!

    So not my solution, but I'm just adding it to the list in case anyone else comes here and the "Esc" solution isn't working.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-11-06T13:23:49+00:00

    Very easy and useful....thanks a lot!

    Angela

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