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
    2013-12-10T03:05:01+00:00

    You saved me!

    I was having the same problem for the last 3 days and I was pretty sure that my Asus notebook was passing away... Lol

    You said about virtual machine. I don't understand so much about it but I did to install a android emulator (Bluestacks) and maybe this was the responsable of the drag and drop problem.

    Thank you!

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-11-29T20:32:50+00:00

    How do I find the affected icon

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-11-29T20:32:03+00:00

    How do i find the affected icon

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-11-01T09:58:49+00:00

    @Prophet Zarquon 

    Thank you sooooo much! I was having the same problem and I was freaking out. I am forever greatful to you. Thank you again!

    Miranda

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