Left click becomes right click

Question

Level 1

41 points

Left click becomes right click

Friends,

I have a strange problem. Periodically, my left click button will act like a right click button. In other words, when I left click on something, rather than executing whatever command the left click button should execute, I receive the menu of options that I receive if I right click on an object. This occurrence will happen without warning and disappear if I restart. It happens primarily in Safari. I have the latest Safari and Leopard updates, but it has occurred for months.

Any ideas why this happens, how I can prevent it and how I can make the problem go away without rebooting?

Thanks!

Steve

imac 24" 2.8 4gb, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jun 20, 2009 9:12 AM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

91,582 points

Jun 20, 2009 9:39 AM in response to DC Steve

Hi Steve

The button sensors in the Mighty Mouse are very sensitive, try lifting your finger off the left button before executing a right click.

Also note: your iMac and Mighty Mouse are covered for one year, 3 years if you have Apple Care. If you think that there is a problem with the iMac or Mighty Mouse, make an appointment at your local Apple Store or Apple Service Provider and have it checked out.

Dennis

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Answer 2

DC Steve Author

Level 1

41 points

Jun 20, 2009 12:58 PM in response to den.thed

Dennis,

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm not using a mighty mouse. This isn't a situation where I'm accidentally hitting the wrong button. It's happened many times and is always cured by restarting. It's weird.

Steve

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

91,582 points

Jun 20, 2009 4:07 PM in response to DC Steve

How do you expect anyone to accurately help, if no one knows what mouse you are using?

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Answer 4

DC Steve Author

Level 1

41 points

Jun 20, 2009 5:37 PM in response to den.thed

I wasn't aware that the problem would be mouse-specific. It has happened with a Logitech three button (plus scroll wheel) mouse and the three button mouse that comes with the Wacom Bamboo tablet.

Steve

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Answer 5

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Jun 20, 2009 5:59 PM in response to DC Steve

Since this is happening with 3rd party mice, check the mouse settings, check to see if any of the mice need any driver updates, trash any mouse.plist files that you find, repair permissions, boot up from your install disc and run repair disk from the Utility menu.

Message was edited by: CMCSK

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Answer 6

den.thed

Level 10

91,582 points

Jun 20, 2009 6:07 PM in response to DC Steve

That sounds more like an outdated third party driver, check with Logitech and Wacom to make sure that you have the latest Leopard updates.

http://www.tuaw.com/2007/10/31/logitech-mouse-control-in-leopard/

http://www.wacom.com/index2.php

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Answer 7

DC Steve Author

Level 1

41 points

Jun 20, 2009 6:13 PM in response to den.thed

Thanks, I'll check that out. It's the intermittent nature of the problem that is most perplexing.

Steve

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