imac keeps highlighting icons from desktop and finder window by itself and making error sound?

Question

Level 1

8 points

imac keeps highlighting icons from desktop and finder window by itself and making error sound?

Hi - Please can you help?

For the last two days my intel imac OSX 10.6.8 has been constantly 'phantom' highlighting icons from the desktop/finder window/word window and making the error noise. If I open Word it starts phantom typing a box or a box with a question mark. It is stoppping my mac from going to sleep and it's doing this phantom highlighting with error sound every ten - fifteen seconds.

This has never happened before and it's making me crazy!

It doesn't happen when I have safari open or Photoshop, so far it's: Word, Finder, Desktop.

Of course my first instinct was something might be pressing on the keyboard mouse so I removed both from the mac but it still happened on screen regardless.

I have run a hardware check from the installation disc 1 and it came back fine. I also did a disk repair/verification a few times and all fine.

Please can someone advise?

Thanks so much!

Rachel.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jan 9, 2013 3:17 AM

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Answer 1

LousyFool

Level 4

2,668 points

Jan 9, 2013 3:39 AM in response to rachelg202

I don't know why your Mac does this, but I can promise that it won't get better if you post this more often here...

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Answer 2

rachelg202 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 9, 2013 3:41 AM in response to LousyFool

Yes, Sorry Lousy, I am brand new and double posted but immediately sent a post to the mods to please remove it as I can't find a delete button. Can you point one out to me incase I'm just being unobservant?

Many thanks!

Rachel.

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Answer 3

LousyFool

Level 4

2,668 points

Jan 9, 2013 3:51 AM in response to rachelg202

No Delete button, only Edit, and only for a limited time...

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Answer 4

rachelg202 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 9, 2013 4:07 AM in response to LousyFool

Oh dear Lousy Fool, there is no edit button which obviously means I can't remove it.

To reiterate to the MODS can you please remove both of my posts here as I don't want any trace of this enquiry on the board. Thanks for your assistance.

Many thanks,

Rachel.

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Answer 5

karebu

Level 1

40 points

Jan 9, 2013 4:10 AM in response to rachelg202

after getting to desktop, try unplugging your mouse and/or your keyboard and see if it still happens.

if it does.. you may have to try reinstalling your OS

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Answer 6

rachelg202 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 9, 2013 4:17 AM in response to karebu

Many thanks Karebu, I haven't tried the reinstall yet.

Cheers,

Rachel.

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Answer 7

karebu

Level 1

40 points

Jan 9, 2013 4:19 AM in response to rachelg202

i know a reinstall of OS is REALLY troublesome so you go check your kb/mouse first.

sometimes even when there are no visible keys/buttons being pressed, a bad USB wire from your mouse/kb can cause this issue. heck, it can even trip your mac and shut it down instantly.

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Answer 8

rachelg202 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 9, 2013 4:23 AM in response to karebu

Hmm, good point - I'll double check and unplug the keyboard again as I may not have given it full attention when I did that before.

Cheers!

Rachel.

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Answer 9

karebu

Level 1

40 points

Jan 9, 2013 4:28 AM in response to rachelg202

yep, be sure to unplug only after you've reached desktop.

you wouldn't want to be stuck at the. please connect keyboard error when you are at login.

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Answer 10

rachelg202 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 9, 2013 5:02 AM in response to karebu

Wow - you're a star - thank you!

My first procedure was to remove the keyboard yesterday but for some reason I thought it was still beeping when infact upon trying again it didn't beep so I investigated which key was creating the symbol by itself in word and tracked it down to the naughty F16 key. I removed it with a knife, cleaned and replaced it (even though there was no visible problem) put it back in place and voila...A happy mac again!

Thanks so much Karebu for reminding me that the easy option should be thoroughly tried before the heavy stuff!

Do I click both of the buttons below your message by way of thanks?

Cheers!

Rachel.

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