Strange Copy & Paste Problem

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Level 1

10 points

Strange Copy & Paste Problem

This has been driving me absolutely nuts!

I'm a long time Mac user. I've got a Macbook with Panther at home, and was recently issued a new (unibody) Macbook Pro with Leopard at work.

I've been having this odd problem on the MBP that when I command-C to copy, and then command-V to paste, I end up pasting in what was previously in the clipboard (i.e. not the last thing I copied, but the thing before that).

It seems to happen randomly, with various apps... but it does happen frequently enough that I'm getting in the habit of hitting command-C TWICE just to make sure I'm really copying something.

At first, I thought it was user error... like I was accidentally hitting the wrong key command or something, but that's not the case. This has probably happened to me hundreds of times in the last month, and it's really starting to freak me out. I just want to copy and paste without having to actually think about it too much!

I tried searching, and while I have seen other folks report copy/paste issues, I'm not sure if any of them are quite the same issue. Has anyone else run into this before?

Thanks,

__Jason

MBP unibody 15", Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Feb 27, 2009 11:05 AM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

411,121 points

Feb 27, 2009 11:11 AM in response to guzzirider

I really suspect it is the hardware and the way the keys and your fingers work. You could try tweaking the key response rates in your keyboard settings but I doubt it will help.

I really yearn for the pre-OSX days when I had a function on my OS7-OS9 generation computers with F1-F4 as undo, cut, copy, paste. No finger spaghetti. I've tried key binding on OSX but some programs where I use editing features a lot (e.g., these forums on Firefox) override the binding.

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Answer 2

bdmarsha

Level 4

2,580 points

Feb 27, 2009 11:52 AM in response to guzzirider

This is most likely related to the keyboard sleeping when not used for a few minutes. If you can always copy using the menu command, then it is either the keyboard sleeping or a hardware issue with the keyboard. I think this is the same problem that affects many Apple notebooks in which the first one or two characters types are not recorded because the keyboard goes to sleep after awhile. The trackpad also has this same problem on my MacBook. I am sure that it is to save power, but it is quite annoying at times.

bd

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Answer 3

guzzirider Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 27, 2009 1:31 PM in response to bdmarsha

I dunno if it's a sleep issue or not. It seems like it can happen any time... even when I'm in the middle of actively using the keyboard. I may be mistaken though... I'll have to pay more attention to the situation.

I don't ever remember having this happen (ever) on my Macbook running Panther.

At first, I thought it I may have been hitting control-C instead of command-C (my previous work laptop was Windows) but that's not the case. I'm definitely hitting the right key combo.

Or, I could simply be losing my mind (which is what it feels like)

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Answer 4

guzzirider Author

Level 1

10 points

Apr 9, 2009 9:53 AM in response to guzzirider

More info:

After further observation, this problem only seems to occur when using Microsoft apps (Excel 2008, Entourage 2008, etc).

If I try to copy something out of Entourage into some other app (i.e. terminal.app) I frequently have to command-C in the MS app twice to ensure that I really get a copy.

So annoying!

__Jason

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Answer 5

Apr 11, 2009 10:25 AM in response to guzzirider

i have a similar problem. Copy and Paste don't work in the address bar with many sites. Youtube it never works in. But it's not a Youtube problem, since Firefox and Camino work fine. I can't fine a setting for this in the preferences, so maybe it's a new bug or virus in safari that is being spread now.

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Answer 6

Apr 11, 2009 12:04 PM in response to guzzirider

If you create a new User does it still happen for that User’s profile?

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Answer 7

Apr 11, 2009 1:04 PM in response to guzzirider

guzzirider,

I'm wondering if this issue your are experiencing is related to MS Clip Board. I'm not sure, I've found someone having "similar" issues and I'm wondering if it may be related to yours. If you feel up to it you can check out this thread here: http://www.officeformac.com/.59b53106

Hope that helps,
Weston

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Answer 8

Apr 11, 2009 2:11 PM in response to Bruce Etnyre

hi, thanks for the response. another user doesn't have the problem, so i guess it's just me 😉
very interesting, but I wonder what the problem is. The other response regarding MS clip board didn't help, unfortunately. I wonder if i reset Safari, if that might help?
Thanks again

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Answer 9

Apr 11, 2009 5:06 PM in response to Bruce Etnyre

I Reset Safaro. repaired User Permissions, restarted, and reset the P Ram, but the problem still persists. If i try to copy the URL from the address bar, it just hear a little ping, and nothing copies (or pastes). Does anybody have any ideas what could be going on?
Thanks.
-wayne

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Answer 10

Gadgetmo

Level 1

0 points

Apr 12, 2009 2:45 AM in response to guzzirider

I haven't got the same problem and I don't even have Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac but I've been seeing some very bad feedback. Some people are saying it won't even open. This is probably why it won't work.

Gadgetmo, macmood.blogspot.com

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Answer 11

Apr 12, 2009 8:30 AM in response to wayne mitzner

If you created a new User on your computer and it didn’t have the copy/paste problem then it may be related to the preferences.

Go to the Macintosh HD/Users/yourusername/Library/Preferences and move the file named com.apple.finder.plist to the Desktop and restart. If that fixes the problem you will need to reset your finder preferences. If it doesn’t, move the file back to where it was removed to replace the newly created one and restore the Finder preferences.

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Answer 12

Apr 12, 2009 1:37 PM in response to Bruce Etnyre

Bingo! that worked. Thanks. And fortunately there aren't many finder preferences. Thanks again.
-wayne

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Answer 13

guzzirider Author

Level 1

10 points

Apr 22, 2009 12:00 PM in response to wayne mitzner

Unfortunately, while Wayne's problem may be solved, my original issue had nothing to do with Safari (which I don't even use).

The MS clipboard problem sounds more like it. I'll check out that thread as soon as I get a few spare minutes.

__Jason

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Answer 14

guzzirider Author

Level 1

10 points

Apr 22, 2009 12:49 PM in response to westongallagher

Weston -

Unfortunately, the clipboard problem you mention is something different. In that case, Excel lets you copy and paste OK, but then "forgets" what you just pasted, causing you to go back an copy it again. I've noticed this as well, but that feels like a design flaw rather than a bug.

No, the issue I have is that I (intermittently) can't get things on to the clipboard at all (from MS apps). Doesn't matter what app... Excel, Word, Entourage. Sometimes it works OK, but other times I have to "copy" twice to ensure that it's actually on the clipboard. I've not noticed this in anything besides MS apps.

I guess I'll look at resetting some preference files and see if I can solve it. I might try setting up a test account on the machine and testing that. The frustrating thing is that it's hard to replicate... when I try to cause the problem, it usually doesn't happen. And then when I least expect it... there it is. Ugh.

__Jason

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Answer 15

Apr 22, 2009 2:47 PM in response to guzzirider

Did you try removing the finder.plist file I mentioned to Wayne, which fixed his problem? He didn’t fix it by resetting Safari, but by removing the preference file.

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