Can't click in Excel window

[teamgood]

I don't know if this is a actually an Excel problem or a video card issue, however the problem only occurs with Excel and no other applications that I've used.

I use two monitors and got a new computer a month or so ago - I think this problem corresponds to the new computer but can't guarantee...
When i open an Excel file and it opens, for example, on the right monitor I can not click in the Excel window (can't type, select cells, etc) until I click on the left monitor and then I can come back to Excel and work as normal. Same thing happens if the file opens in left window - i have to click on the right window before i can come back and click and work in Excel.

Any ideas or people with a similar problem? Thanks!

 

[Richard Schollar]

Hi

That sounds odd to put it mildly. Do you know what video driver you are using? Is it the default Windows one or a proprietary solution (eg Nvidia/AMD)?

Do you have any add-ins installed in Excel? If so, which? Which version of Excel are you using?

 

[teamgood]

I am using nvidia Quadro FX 1800 video card. Doesn't seem to be any driver updates available.
No add-ins installed - Excel 2007

 

[Richard Schollar]

Frankly I'm not holding out much hope for this, but use Windows Key+R to open up a command dialog and type in the following:

Excel.exe /unregserver

hit enter, and then:

Excel.exe /regserver

and hit enter. This will set registry values back to factory defaults.

Assuming this doesn't work, search your hard disc for a file with a .xlb extension. Close Excel and then rename the xlb to something else (eg .xlb.old). Then reopen Excel and see if you still have the problem.

 

[teamgood]

Still have the problem - thanks for the ideas. It seems like it has to be a video card driver issue, right? Excel still works, just have to do the extra clicks so just annoying.

 

[Richard Schollar]

No I don't think it's the video - I think it's something wrong with Excel itself (as it only happens with Excel). Have you tried changing your display settings for the monitors ie switch from extended desktop to something else and see if that rejigs things and makes it work?

 

[teamgood]

Well, i tried multiple set ups...single/mirror/clone/dual/etc and Excel behaves the same way. i.e. if only a single monitor then I have to click on another window or desktop and then i can come back to Excel and it'll work.

 

[Richard Schollar]

I'm afraid I'm all out of ideas - what I'm going to do is move this entire thread to the Technical Issues forum as it has a lot lower traffic and so this post will remain at the top for longer which hopefully will improve the chances that someone will post who has an actual solution.

 

[Derek Brown]

I wonder if this is related to the other dual-monitor problem, where the window goes walkabouts with Excel seeming to have lost track of where it actually is.
http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/showthread.php?t=470620
It would be interesting to know if the problem can be solved by first getting the worksheet back so that it can be accessed, moving it to the "primary" monitor and then saving/closing it.