Excel gets stuck
Periodically my excel spreadsheets (all the ones I have on my computer) get ’stuck’ in a mode that I don’t understand and I have no choice for to ctrl alt delete and sometimes I have to ditch the spreadsheet. I’m wondering whether to give up on excel altogether except it’s so useful. This is what happens (I’m guessing I hit a command key or do some comhination that causes it but I’ve no idea): I’m working away and suddenly my cursor won’t just ’stay’ in a cell and let me work there, but every time I click and then move the cursor it starts to select cells in a group, but I can’t then do anything with them. All I can do is move the cursor around (cliking is fruitless) and it keeps selecting a group aroundwherever the cursor is. I can’t copy the content and save it; it won’t let me exit from the spreadsheet; if I hard-exit the spreadsheet and then try to copy it, the problem is replicated. at this stage if I open another spradsheet the same problem is there. I’d be grateful for advice, G
Asked by: gill crouch
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Hi Gill
If you’re using a wheel-mouse, this could be caused by the wheel getting stuck down.
Also, check the status bar at the bottom to see if there are any indicators set – e.g. EXT or SCRL.
EXT can be turned off using the F8 key; SCRL can be turned off using the scroll lock key.
Hope this helps.
June 4th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Hi Gill,
There are several possibilities; it sounds as though Excel has switched to a mode where it is selecting a group of cells.
Try pressing the ESC key (generally top left on a full-size keyboard) – this will often reverse the last action and may get you out of the situation in which you find yourself.
Another possibility is the Windows “StickyKeys” function switching itself on. This can happen if you press the Shift or Ctrl keys in a certain sequence. You can switch it off via the Control Panel | Accessibility Options dialog box.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I had the same problem with excel getting stuck. After reading Tim Wheelers advice about the wheel-mouse wheel getting stuck, I tried to move the whhel and BINGO. Problem solved. Thank you Tim.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Many thanks – I took the batteries out of my mouse reverted to the touch pad and all was well.