Pointer will not let go of a dragged document !

Question

Level 1

10 points

Pointer will not let go of a dragged document !

When I drag a document icon using either the trackpad or a usb-connected mouse, the document will not release!. This is now happening about 80% of the time. The only solution to get the document off my pointer and get back use of my new MacBook Pro i7, is to simultaneously slam multiple keys on the keyboard. A different metaphor to describe what is happening is: "it is like having something stuck to fly paper and trying to shake it off!

I've owed over 20 Mac laptops and over 50 Mac's since 1984. I called this in to Apple tech support, but though polite, they could not help me. I realize that the fault probably lies not with the MacBook Pro, but with some sort of corruption to a system file. To say this is driving me crazy is an understatement!

Does anybody have a suggestion about what specific system files (and path to) I should try to discard to have a fresh one generated?

MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz i7, Mac OS X (10.6.4), 4 GB DDR3, 500 GB Hard Drive

Posted on Jul 3, 2010 7:48 AM

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Answer 1

Cargen Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 19, 2010 9:41 AM in response to hiltonmlf

I solved my problem above when I switched from a Kensington TurboBall (which I had successfully used for over 10 years) to a Kensington SlimBlade Trackball. Instantly solved the problem! Since I was having the problem when also using my built-in MacBook Pro's trackpad, I had thought the problem was due to a software problem, but what I failed to realize is that my TurboBall was connected via usb when I experienced the problem with the built-in trackpad. Kensington no longer sells the TurboBall so maybe an OX X. upgrade rendered the TurboBall wacko.

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Answer 2

baltwo

Level 9

62,396 points

Jul 3, 2010 12:18 PM in response to Cargen

System Preferences->Universal Access and ensure that there's nothing there selected that could cause the issue. Also, check trackpad prefPane (just a WAG, since I don't have a laptop). Alternatively, post to the appropriate laptop forum under Computing Hardware. BTW, IIRC, it's the cursor, not the pointer.

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Answer 3

Jul 24, 2010 9:16 PM in response to Cargen

I have the very same issue. I have a brand new 2.8Ghz Intel Core i7 27" iMac (which I've had about 1 week), running Snow Leopard 10.6.4.

I use a wired keyboard and a Wacom tablet w/pen (instead of a mouse). When I click to drag a document or window it sometimes won't let go. I hooked up a standard wired single-button Apple Mouse, to see if the issue was possibly related to my Wacom tablet, but the same issue occurs with the mouse. It's very annoying, the drag-and-drop feature is something that is key to so many things.

Has anyone found a solution?

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Answer 4

Jul 25, 2010 9:59 AM in response to Alan Wentworth

I presume drag lock isn't checked in System Preferences, but it sounds like maybe it's been set elsewhere, like by a corrupt prefs file? Can some OS X guru provide a Terminal command to disable drag lock just to be sure?

I have a problem, also on a new MBP 2010 i7 /10.6.4, that isn't the same but might be related. The time required for the system to "release" an item selected by the pointer is exceptionally long. And if I try to click elsewhere before the pointer has been released, it only serves to extend the time. It's annoying and reduces productivity.

Speed settings in Sys Prefs has no effect, and no other hardware is attached, using just the trackpad.

I hope there's a setting that can be changed via Terminal; can anyone suggest the right terminology for the parameter(s) that need to change?

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Answer 5

Jul 25, 2010 2:51 PM in response to Alan Wentworth

This actually seems to have done the trick:

--

The Mouse preferences have no relevant settings.

In the Universal Access preference, I changed a couple of settings under the "Mouse" tab:

(a) Moved the Initial Delay all the way to the left to "Short".

(b) Moved the Maximum Speed all the way to the right to "Fast".

The strange thing is, I've never adjusted these settings myself from the Factory Defaults. Perhaps the freeze and hard restart I had a few days ago created the problem. Everything was fine until then.

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Answer 6

Jul 18, 2010 6:55 AM in response to Cargen

I'm having the same problem...

Have anybody got an answer?

Thanks

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Answer 7

Jul 25, 2010 12:48 PM in response to FibreMan_85_125

Paul, I don't see a system preference that allows me to check or uncheck "drag lock". Maybe this is a preference for MBPs only, and not the new iMacs?

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Answer 8

Jul 27, 2010 5:55 PM in response to Alan Wentworth

It's a trackpad pref, so you're probably right. Glad you found the solution to your problem. My system prefs are set as you finally set yours, always have been. But my issue still exists!

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