Member Avatar for roz

I have been using a computer less than a year. I'm using a Windows XP.
The last several days my copy and paste are not working. I copy the address then I try to paste it, nothing shows up.

Today, in my Outlook Express, the delete quite working for awhile then
started working again.

This computer is only a month old. Is there a Microsoft-Fix It program or something that I could download to repair?

I appreciate any guidance!
Roz

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  • 4 Years Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by crunchie

Dani AI

Generated

Short summary and likely cause: describes right‑click Copy/Paste stopping while keyboard shortcuts still work, with a brief Outlook Express delete-key glitch. That pattern usually points at the Windows shell/clipboard chain or a context‑menu handler (third‑party shell extension or clipboard helper), not a broken keyboard.

Steps to isolate and fix:

  1. Quick isolation: test right‑click copy/paste in Notepad and on the desktop. If it fails everywhere, proceed; if it only fails in a web form, the site or browser scripting may be blocking right‑click.
  2. Restart Explorer (resets the clipboard chain): open Task Manager, find and End Process for explorer.exe, then File → New Task → type explorer.exe and press Enter.
  3. Inspect/clear the clipboard: Start → Run → clipbrd.exe (Clipboard Viewer on XP). If you see stale content or nothing, copy a small piece of text to refresh the clipboard.
  4. Safe Mode test: reboot with F8 into Safe Mode and test right‑click paste. If it works there, a third‑party program or shell extension is interfering. Remove recent installs or use a shell‑extension tool to disable non‑Microsoft handlers.
  5. Mouse/driver check and profile test: try a different mouse and create a new Windows user account to rule out hardware or profile corruption.
  6. Office‑specific: as @Koolbamboo noted, Office macro/trust settings can break paste inside Office apps — if the problem is only in Word/Office, check Trust Center settings temporarily.
  7. Last resorts: run SFC/repair or a repair install of XP if system files are corrupted. If malware is still suspected despite a clean scan, run a second‑opinion anti‑malware tool or a rescue scanner.

Context note: this expands on points from and and focuses on shell/clipboard troubleshooting. Because Windows XP is no longer supported, consider upgrading to a supported OS for long‑term stability and security.

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Member Avatar for Dortz

make sure you have your virus protection software updated, then run a full system scan.

if that doesn't work, try looking on the microsoft site and seeing if you can download the latest version of Outlook Express, then re-install it.

past that, i'll need some more information:

first, is this only happening in Outlook?

second, will copy/paste work from the menu?

third, if it does, plug a different keyboard in and see if that works.

fourth, if it doesn't, have you spent four hours on hold with microsoft today?

i strongly recommend against the fourth option. mainly because MS tech support people are very mean and misunderstanding people. also, thier only answer is 'update/upgrade/reinstall...' the reinstall i don't recommend. one broken microsoft program isn't going to be missed. get Thunderbird from mozilla if you need a mail program.

sorry, enough ranting from me. basically, i'm struggling to keep myself from scolding you for using outlook express, knowing that it's a good program, that just seems to constantly break on me too...

Member Avatar for roz

Dortz

I have run a full scan and everything is okay.

The Outlook express was the delete not working. When I typed something & made a mistake and tried to delete a letter, it didn't respond. It was that way for hours and now it's working..go figure!

The copy and paste (right click on mouse) isn't working. I'm on a forum and use links and addresses from image hosters. I click on copy and when I go to the paste (address line on the forum) when I click paste there is no address, nothing. I've left lots of links before with no problem until about the last 4 days. I found out I can use the(contol + c for copy, and control + v for paste) but the other way was so much easier.

I had tried to use Thunderbird at one time but I couldn't figure out what to put in for the server that sends email out. I know the info must be in Outlook Express but darned if I could find it!!!

This keyboard couldn't be bad already, could it?

I do have a different mouse that I could try if you think that might help.

I do leave the computer on for hours when I'm not using it. Phone company charges a nickel for every dialup and I'm cheap! :)

I appreciate you help!

Roz

Member Avatar for Koolbamboo

This happened to me with Office 7 and outlook . Its an easy fix, open word click on the office button. Open word Options. Click on Trust center, Click on trust center settings, enable all macros. Exit options check the program (copy and past something just for kicks) Close Word completely reopen follow steps again and change it back to the default setting (Disable All Macros with Notification). Works Like a champ! Williep

Member Avatar for crunchie

Thank you, but I am sure that after 4 years the OP has remedied the problem :).

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