Windows drop-down menus not working.

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OldGeek

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#160591 12-Jan-2015 21:23

I am running 8.1 on an HP laptop with a touch-screen. However I customarily use a mouse. I also use the desktop interface exclusively.

The above should be a screen-dump of an IE screen - but I have not done this before in a post so may not have worked...

For some time now I have noticed that from time to time drop-down menus no longer expand when clicked. For example in IE (11 as in the image) I use both the menu bar and favourites bar. If I left-click on 'tools' (Menu Bar) or on any of my favourites folders shown on the toolbar the menu that would normally appear does not appear. The item clicked is highlighted but no sub-menu is shown.

Interestingly the same symptom appears if I right-click a taskbar icon. With Word (for example) right-clicking the taskbar icon gives a list of most-recently-accessed files. When the problem appears there is no list. If I minimise all running apps so that all I can see is the desktop then I see the taskbar icon submenu when I right-click.

The workaround is to reboot. The problem then goes away until the next time I click and don't get a submenu.

Google searches are probably hampered by the fact that I may not be using the correct windows terminology as search keywords - I have not been able to find any report of this issue.

Any pointers appreciated 8-!

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nathan

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#1212818 12-Jan-2015 22:38

is it just the browser or other drop downs have this problem too?

sdavisnz

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#1212855 12-Jan-2015 23:12

have you tried reset-ing IE to factory defaults?

might be a fix?

Voice gives context

sdavisnz

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#1212856 12-Jan-2015 23:16

also try re-installing mouse driver?

and setting all mouse settings to default.

Voice gives context

freitasm

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#1212857 12-Jan-2015 23:16

sdavisnz: have you tried reset-ing IE to factory defaults?

might be a fix?

That's assuming it's an Internet Explorer problem, when it could be affecting any other software as well... Need more information from OP.

richms

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#1212885 13-Jan-2015 02:42

I have had this happen before. Only once and locking and unlocking the computer was enough to sort it out.

Richard rich.ms

MikeB4

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#1212893 13-Jan-2015 06:36

Are you running any addons in IE? If so run IE with addons turned off and see if this eliminates the problem. If so then try each add-on individually to determine what add-on is causing the problem.

OldGeek

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#1213323 13-Jan-2015 18:13

nathan:
is it just the browser or other drop downs have this problem too?

It seems to be all applications are affected - particularly WORD, Excel (office 365), Agent (my email client) and Windows Explorer.

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OldGeek

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#1213327 13-Jan-2015 18:17

sdavisnz: also try re-installing mouse driver?

and setting all mouse settings to default.

If it was a mouse problem surely there would be no response to my clicks? To recap: in applications with toolbars, I left-click, the toolbar item is highlighted but no submenu appears. When right-clicking taskbar icons the files menu only appears if all applications are minimised (or none are running).

OldGeek

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#1213329 13-Jan-2015 18:18

richms: I have had this happen before. Only once and locking and unlocking the computer was enough to sort it out.

Hmmm - will try this next time - but my problem is persistent.

nathan

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#1213332 13-Jan-2015 18:25

Have you tried another mouse?

Are you using any accessibility tools or sticky keys?

OldGeek

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#1213333 13-Jan-2015 18:27

sdavisnz: also try re-installing mouse driver?

and setting all mouse settings to default.

I will try this next time the problem occurs.

OldGeek

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#1213335 13-Jan-2015 18:29

nathan: Have you tried another mouse?

Are you using any accessibility tools or sticky keys?

No and no. I will try using the touchpad.

The mouse I use is a wireless Logitech.

OldGeek

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#1216354 16-Jan-2015 21:47

OldGeek:
richms: I have had this happen before. Only once and locking and unlocking the computer was enough to sort it out.

Hmmm - will try this next time - but my problem is persistent.

That worked - lock/unlock brought the menus back. Faster than rebooting but not a solution.

OldGeek

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#1216355 16-Jan-2015 21:50

OldGeek:
nathan: Have you tried another mouse?

Are you using any accessibility tools or sticky keys?

No and no. I will try using the touchpad.

The mouse I use is a wireless Logitech.

Just experienced the problem again. Using the touch screen made no difference. I have uninstalled the mouse driver then reinstalled it as part of a hardware change check in the past.