Word crashes when I perform a simple copy and paste or select and drag?

Here is the solution to your Copy - Paste nightmares.... The word software needs to be reset.  Don't panic you won't lose your documents.

Step (1) Close all your open programs

Step (2) Open Finder

Step (3) Press and Hold Option button, then click GO on the top tool bar. Keep holding the Option button down and click on Library

Step (4) In the Library, click on Preferences

Step (5) Look for the file com.microsoft.word.plist

Step (6) Move the file to your desktop

Step (7) Close the Library file

Step (8) Open Word again, this will take you through a Welcome screen. Which means your word software is reset.

This fix has worked for me for over a week now and the Save button is thanking me!  Keep the .plist file on your desktop, if something hits the fan you can always reset your settings.

Good luck fellow pasters!

I just found this on the net & it works for me on text pasted from a web page. In word use edit, paste special and select unformatted

good luck!

Try Paste Special.

1. Press ALT/CTRL/V.
2. Select Unformatted Text in the As list box.
3. Click OK.

It turns out the Java malware problem was widespread. As you can see from the thread there are several possible causes of the problem. If you want assistance solving your particular problem, post a new question with as much detail as you can supply about your system, update level of Word and Mac OS X, what sort of thing you're trying to copy that causes the crash, a bit of the crash log, etc.