General

[hvacman250]

Im a computer noob, and something just happened I cant figure out how to reverse.

Everytime I click on a link, it opens a new tab. It use to just go to a new page in the same tab.
Middle mouse button used to scroll the page up and down, now it scrolls thru "back" and "forward" page history.
If I click somewhere on the screen, it highlights alot of the text in spots.

What the heck did I do?

I'm on a Compaq laptop running windows XP.

[hvacman250]

Now it magically went back to normal. WTF?

I dont see how you computer guys do it. I hate these stupid contraptions!

[chrislognshot]

if you use firefox check tools for setting it will ask if want new window or make new tab. its under tools for options for tabs. get to pick new window or make new tab

[stircrazzzy]

I like to call that when the computer automagically fixes itself.

I'm a linux geek, so I find the automagic fixes to be frustrating, since it's my primary goal in life to understand EVERYTHING.

[dukie]

Instructions to fix the problem

1. grasp mouse firmly with right hand
2. unplug the mouse from the computer.
3. woof the mouse off an appropriately hard surface such as a brick wall or concrete floor. A two or three corner bounce is always more effective in these situations
4. Proceed with using your computer. The problem is now eliminated..... No mouse - no problem

Alternatively if using windows exploder
1. pull down the tools menu
2. open internet options
3. go to advanced
4 enable "reuse windows for launching shortcuts ( when tabbed browsing is off)"
5. you can mess around with the tabs setting, by going to internet options/general and click on tabs at the bottom

The first option may not help in the long run, but it will make you feel better. ANd when you finally replace your mouse, you willl realize that having a mouse that does the wrong thing is infinately better than only having a keyboard. tab tab tab tab !@!O@!# tab tab tab enter $%$$$$ tab tgab tab space enter

[secretweaponevan]

[Wycke]

It sounds like you may have an intermittently sticking key...probably the CTRL key. Pressing that while clicking mouse buttons makes different things happen. Laptop keyboards collect a LOT of strange stuff over time and are much more prone to this type of issue than standard keyboards. When I suspect such an issue, I usually power the machine down, then just swipe my hand back & forth across the keyboard a few times, making sure that each & every key gets hit. Watch for any that don't IMMEDIATELY spring back. If you have any that seem to be sluggish, you can try shooting some canned air in around the sides, but just use very short bursts or you risk popping the key off entirely. That may be enough to dislodge the gunk that's making it stick. If not, some alcohol should do it - I used to use those car door lock de-icers since they provide a nice little shot of aerosol-propelled isopropyl alcohol to get it into all the little nooks & crannies.

[Legato]

Originally Posted by stircrazzzy

I like to call that when the computer automagically fixes itself.

We call that PFM at work....Pure ****ink Magic. You'd be amazed at how often something is not working right. We trouble shoot it for hours. Then finally randomly, after doing nothing different it just works fine. I usually still want to know what was wrong and how we can fix it. But the techs in the field are usually just like, "It's fixed, my job is done, don't care how it got fixed, just know my job is done. I'm outa here before it breaks again"