Right click context menu opens then closes quickly in Finder

Question

Level 1

9 points

Right click context menu opens then closes quickly in Finder

After my upgrade to Snow Leopard, I now have a problem with Finder. When I right click on something to get the context menu, sometimes, it works fine, and others, the contextual menu shows up for a second then closes. The only way I can select any of those options is to right click and hold, then select. This is getting annoying.

It seems like maybe a corrupt preference? Anyone seen this before or have an idea how to solve it?

Macbook 13", Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Aug 30, 2009 5:41 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 27, 2009 11:33 PM in response to lagreca

Just wanted to add my specs:

Early 2008 MBP 15" 2.4, 4gb, 500gb, I upgraded and had the problem immediately with the built in track pad. I have a bluetooth mouse attached now as well, and I believe it has the same problem.

I have noticed if I right click, then hold the mouse still a moment, I can then move over the context menu.

Following a suggestion I found in this thread or another, I disabled 2 finger secondary click and reenabled it in Preferences. So far, the problem has ceased, but it's only been half hour or so.

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Answer 2

Oct 2, 2009 1:20 AM in response to lagreca

OK....poking around, I can make the issue go away by swapping 'primary mouse buttons' - left clicking for the Contextual menu now works fine.

Swapping back, and hey presto, back comes the issue!

I'm off to re-wire the solder joints in my Intellimouse 😉

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Answer 3

Aug 31, 2009 1:03 PM in response to lagreca

I have this exact error in SL after upgrading. I am thinking it is something wonky in the actual menu that no longer works with SL.

anyone?

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Answer 4

Adster

Level 1

4 points

Aug 31, 2009 11:23 PM in response to lagreca

I knew I wasn't alone! This has happened with my install of Snow Leopard as well. The only difference is that this started happening immediately after the install and I did a fresh formatted install, not an upgrade.

I made a short video about it here:
http://qik.com/video/2742618

Any help on this would be appretiated. It seems like this isn't too widespread an issue, but who knows. People might not be piping up about it. It is incredibly annoying, however.

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Answer 5

lagreca Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 1, 2009 1:56 PM in response to lagreca

Ok, so just like the others that have responded, this is also a problem on a FRESH install. I painstakingly backed up everything and zapped my PRAM, re-partitioned, then installed. Directly after the install, on first boot, I can duplicate the problem as seen in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2nYefVaNHg

I wish apple would at least acknowledge this bug.

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Answer 6

A A P L

Level 7

21,764 points

Sep 1, 2009 1:59 PM in response to lagreca

It's not present on any Snow installs I've done.
Try going to: /Library/Contextual Menu Items/ and ~/Library/Contextual Menu Items/ and move anything there out to a folder on your desktop.
Logout and in.
Try now.
Does it work?

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Answer 7

lagreca Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 1, 2009 6:21 PM in response to A A P L

I only have /Library/Contextual Menu Items/ not ~/Library/Contextual Menu Items/. It is empty, as this is a clean install.

Lets try to figure out the common ground between the people having the problems.

This is a 13" MB first unibody with lighted keyboard. I have upgraded the RAM to 4 GB's and put a 500 GB HD in it.

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Answer 8

A A P L

Level 7

21,764 points

Sep 1, 2009 7:03 PM in response to lagreca

Create a new user account on your Mac.
Login.
Does it happen there?

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Answer 9

lagreca Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 1, 2009 8:34 PM in response to A A P L

Yes, it happens to all users on a FRESH install of snow leopard on my macbook, but not my mac mini.

Message was edited by: lagreca

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Answer 10

A A P L

Level 7

21,764 points

Sep 1, 2009 9:46 PM in response to lagreca

Doesn't sound good.
What do you mean by "fresh"?

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Answer 11

Adster

Level 1

4 points

Sep 1, 2009 9:58 PM in response to A A P L

I can also vouch that nothing mention seems to fix the issue. Creating another user account doesn't fix the problem. Also trying another input device (another mouse, the MacBook Pro trackpad) also does not fix the problem.

By "fresh" install, he means that Snow Leopard was installed on a brand new / formatted harddrive. This was not an upgrade from Leopard.

I too upgraded to 4GB of RAM and a 500GB harddrive. I have the Unibody MacBook Pro, Late 2008 model. Maybe that has something to do with it?

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Answer 12

A A P L

Level 7

21,764 points

Sep 1, 2009 10:03 PM in response to Adster

No offense, but I'd rather he answer that.

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Answer 13

Sep 2, 2009 5:18 AM in response to lagreca

I have a late 2008 macbook pro with a 500gb HD.

The issue is very sporadic. It wont do it all the time... sometimes it will do it 3-4 clicks in a row, then not do it for 3-4 clicks... Only occurs when right clicking a file, NOT a folder or anywhere else in space...

this is a strange one.

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Answer 14

lagreca Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 2, 2009 8:17 AM in response to A A P L

That is exactly what I meant. NOT an upgrade. Re-partition the drive at install, format, then install. When the OS lets me in for the first time, I can reproduce the problem on my Macbook. It doesn't happen 100% of the time, as you can see by the video, but I would say a high percentage of the time, and its quite annoying.

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Answer 15

Sep 2, 2009 10:40 AM in response to lagreca

now i'm thinking its the trackpad/mouse driver for this specific model.

if thats the case - seems like an easy fix.

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