Excel Shift Key Lock

[JCO]

It appears that if you were to hold down the shift key for an abnormal
length of time, that it locks on you. I don't know how to get it unlocked
other than rebooting the computer. I've tried Ctrl Alt Del and close down
the spreadsheet but that does no good. I can't open another Excel sheet
either. If I do, and I go to any area on the sheet, it happens again. It's
as if the shift key is held down. Then as I move the cursor in any
direction, it selects everything.

What can be done other than rebooting?

 

[Nick Hodge]

You may have a confusion of issues here. Holding down the shift key (Or
pressing it five times in succession) will turn on sticky keys, an
accessibility option in Windows. To switch this off, re-tap the shift key 5
times.

The other issue is the wheel mice tend to get 'stuck' in Excel. two ways
that should work, tap hard the scroll wheel a few times or...
re-install/update the drivers for the mouse

--
HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Southampton, England

(e-mail address removed)
www.nickhodge.co.uk

 

[David Biddulph]

Control Panel/ Accessibility Options
You may find that you've selected "Filter Keys". You can deselect it, and
under "Settings" you can disable the Shift for 8 seconds short cut.

 

[JCO]

Can't be the second method you explained because the situation only
pertained to an Excel Spreadsheet.
The first thing you mentioned is interesting but I don't think that had
anything to do with it either.

I'm guessing something must of just got corrupted that only effected Excel.
The rebooting must of cleared it up. Thanks anyway. It's just that it
happened once before (year or two) and I thought it was something similar to
the Sticky Key Feature... that is, some feature that I got stuck in and
could not get out of.

Again... thanks very much.

 

[JCO]

Thanks, will review.

Control Panel/ Accessibility Options
You may find that you've selected "Filter Keys". You can deselect it, and
under "Settings" you can disable the Shift for 8 seconds short cut.