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Context menu / right click function not working in this administrator user account, and not working correctly (but does display functions) in other administrative user accounts

Anonymous
2011-05-16T14:21:41+00:00

lost context menu access (right click from mouse not working)


I am the administrator.  Admittedly not a good one.

I had only one user account: Administrator with a  password, since I use my PC solely, and at home all the time.

No one else has access to my PC which is password protected at start up and when awakening from hibernation.

Thus I did not create a standard user account without administrator capabilities.

Start up occurs normally.

However, When I right click on a file or icon, desktop or in any drive, nothing happens. Nada. Neither in Desktop nor in files.

This from both the mouse and the Track Pad.

I attempted to update both mouse and track pad drivers and both are OK, u to date.

So the issue is not a hardware issue.

Dragging function does work on Desktop.  And in file folders.

It is only the context menu drop down that does not occur on right click.

I looked in Start Menu and all permissions seem to checked properly in Start Menu > Customize> "enable context menus and dragging and dropping", which is checked.

OK: MY BAD --- Here's how it happened:

All this occurred after I installed and ran a software which is called "RegCleanPro", a supposed registry cleaner and registry defragger.

Ordinarily I use only CCleaner.

The ReClean Pro software diagnostic indicated my registry had lots of errors, though I personally could not tell from how the computer operated. So I installed it and am sorry.

I went to uninstall this software after a diagnostic, and after it wanted me to purchase the software to actually "repair" the issues, so when I went to uninstall the software, during the uninstall process, I was offered a free one time "fix/ repair" of the supposed registry problems.

I went for it, ate the apple so to say.

I know, know, I should not have installed in the first place but the software said it was a special "Microsoft Partner", and its ad came up on a Windows 7 answer page to an unrelated question.

I did not then know of the issue but did uninstall the RegProCleaner software.

Fully.

I Uninstalled the RegCleanPro software.

And then after the issue became clear, I Restored System to an earlier point-

a point that is pre-installation of the RegProCleaner.

Unfortunately I still have no access to my right click context menu in this administrator/ user account.

However, in Firefox I can access standard context menu functions  FIREFOX> (drop-down) > EDIT> copy and cut and paste and print etc all appear to be functioning.

Right click function not available in office software, WPX5. But I can cut and copy, etc., from teh edit function in the software.

I also performed a check of the system files (SFC, in command prompt) - Command prompt> sfc /sfcscannow -- and no issues were reported as integrity was good "Windows recover protection did not find integrity problems" .

Also added a new administrative user account and the right click / context menu function works but not seemingly correctly.

But it does work! 

Explanation:

I just tested the right click/ context menu function in another newly created user account (with administrative capabilities) and what happens in the new user/ administrative account, is the right and left click functions work from the track pad but the right and left click functions DO NOT work for correctly the mouse.

Also,

I started my PC in Safe mode in the apparently corrupt administrative user account and the context menu function is NOT working at that level.

So my bad. Again my bad!

There must be a switch to access context menu (I know the function somewhat works in another user administrative account which I created as part of my recent testing- see above),

or is there is special Shell Program that will re-install the context menu application for Windows 7 in all user accounts?

I am reluctant to do a "Repair" install of Windows 7 without investigating all possibilities.

(I have Windows 7 file (naturally without updates) in ISO format and in EXE format on pen drives, and a cd.)

Please advise if there is a simpler way to retain access to right click functions.

Please be very detailed in your suggestions.

Please be VERY DETAILED to a fault in your explanations and directions.

So one step at a time, please:

Is there any way to initiate access to my right click / context menu function in this user account via a diagnostic or fix or repair or reinstall of this system function?

I suspect the solution will be a simple one, but I do not know which simple one it is.  Again please be very detailed in your suggestions.

Thanks to all.

Thank you in advance.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2011-05-17T12:54:04+00:00

I discovered yesterday afternoon, the issue was the HP Elite Mouse/ Keyboard.

The right click function of the mouse is defective, a clear HARDWARE issue.

Tested mouse on another device and the failure reoccurred.

It is out of warranty (18 months old/ vs 12 month warranty) so, so much for HP quality which seems to have slipped a lot over the years.

Once I installed a wired mouse the issue disappeared.  Never thought the issue was Windows 7, but thought it was related to something regarding RegProClean. 

Apparently the mouse simultaneously failed. Go figure.

Oh well, so much for modern hardware.

Thanks to all.

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-05-17T12:48:48+00:00

    Strangely enough, I too must humbly concur with the findings of the posting you linked me to.  It is not a Windows 7 issue, but it is an issue with my HP Elite Wireless mouse. I discovered this yesterday about noon, after I posted the thread.

    This result is the solid conclusion after several hours of software tweaking and testing and diagnostics.  Sort of doing a medical differentiation.  I called HP and was typically and sadly (sad because their Customer Service has slipped so much over the years)  told my 18 month old mouse was out of warranty.  18 months for a RF mouse!  HA.  And it, the Elite (HP Wireless Elite RF Mouse/ Keyboard) is part of a set: keyboard mouse combination.

    Anyway, I have reverted to using a  wired mouse for the time being, the one I replaced when i upgraded, and I use that term upgraded loosely, since the wired mouse is about 15 years old!!

    I never doubted the issue was NOT Windows 7, and took full responsibility for installing that RegPro Cleaner.  Apparently, the mouse failed at the exact same time, leading me down a road of diagnostics that taught me a lot. 

    I the future I will be ever more conscious about relative new hardware being unreliable.

    Thanks to all who looked at this thread and scratched their heads and to you in particular for linking me to open my mind evermore.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-05-17T07:58:09+00:00

    Hi Robertlafayette,

    ·         What kind of computer are you using? Is it a desktop computer or laptop?

    ·         Have you tried reinstalling all of the hardware drivers for the track pad?

    ·         What is the make and model of the computer/laptop?

    I would suggest you to refer the below link which is a similar issue and follow the steps provided by kenlininger.

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-system/context-menu-right-click-menu-gone-everywhere/4aa38b90-daef-499c-b9f9-fd4f8b5e3e20

    Hope this information helps.

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