Suddenly can't drag or drop files anymore in windows 7 (64 bit)

Anonymous
2011-12-16T23:40:49+00:00

Hi Everyone,

I have a new Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit) laptop. I've not installed any new programs (auto-updates either) or what I know changed any settings, but suddenly today I can no longer drag and drop files on my laptop... this is everywhere, but most noticeably on the desktop, where I usually put files and group then where I want. If I want to move files from the desktop to My Documents I have to now cut and paste them!!!

What is going on?

Have I inadvertently changed a setting? How do I get this function back as it is vital!!

Sincerely, and with thanks,

Judd

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2012-07-01T19:10:19+00:00

This sounds too simple to work, but it worked for me:

1)  Find an affected icon.

2)  Click and HOLD the icon with the Left mouse button.

3)  Press Esc while holding the Left mouse button.

That's it!  This was driving me crazy.  It had nothing to do with registry entries or anything else.  Simply a failed Drag & Drop operation that hadn't exited.  Even restarting had only worked temporarily, so I suspect my Esc key may have been stuck down or at least the system thought it was!

My particular variant of this problem seems to stem from either a Virtual Machine taking mouse focus, or a browser window (I was running a VM inside a browser window) then being interrupted during mouse action.

Thanks to @_Nige for the quick fix.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-performance/drag-and-drop-not-working-in-windows-7/f6dcfa11-8c51-e011-8dfc-68b599b31bf5?tm=1341168619214

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-10-21T23:03:47+00:00

    yes thanx alot it works like slicing butter with a hot knife.at first i try to restart n it work for a moment but eventually its stop working so i cant use the restart method ever again .not after try the ESC n left click its work instantly .again i wanna say thanx a bunch may god bless u

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-16T21:04:03+00:00

    Pressing Esc while hodling the Left mouse button worked for me

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-10-15T17:48:54+00:00

    This sounds too simple to work, but it worked for me:

     

    1)  Find an affected icon.

    2)  Click and HOLD the icon with the Left mouse button.

    3)  Press Esc while holding the Left mouse button.

     

    That's it!  This was driving me crazy.  It had nothing to do with registry entries or anything else.  Simply a failed Drag & Drop operation that hadn't exited.  Even restarting had only worked temporarily, so I suspect my Esc key may have been stuck down or at least the system thought it was!

     

    My particular variant of this problem seems to stem from either a Virtual Machine taking mouse focus, or a browser window (I was running a VM inside a browser window) then being interrupted during mouse action.

     

    Thanks to @_Nige for the quick fix.

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-performance/drag-and-drop-not-working-in-windows-7/f6dcfa11-8c51-e011-8dfc-68b599b31bf5?tm=1341168619214

    These three steps fixed my problem. Thank you for posting such a simple fix.

    I too am running VM on my Windows 8 machine (VM Workstation 10.x). Perhaps that is how my problem stemmed too. Either way, this simple fix got my drag and drop working again just fine in all my applications.

    Thanks again!

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-12-17T13:51:38+00:00

    Hi,

    • Do you receive any error message?

    Follow the suggestions and see if it helps.

    Method 1You may run System File Checker tool.

    How to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files on Windows Vista or on Windows 7

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833

    Method 2Step 1:

    Check if the issue exists in Safe mode.

    Start your computer in safe mode

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Start-your-computer-in-safe-mode

    **Step 2:**If the issue doesn’t  persists in Safe mode, you may perform clean boot to see if any service is causing this issue.

    How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

    Note :  After troubleshooting follow Step 7: Reset the computer to start as usual 

    Method 3You may restore the settings to a previous date and time when the computer was working fine.

    System Restore

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/system-restore

    Method 4You may check if the issue exists in a new user account.

    Create a user account

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Create-a-user-account

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