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my cursor only moves on long press of arrow keys - how do I return it to normal?

  • 7 replies
  • 6 have this problem
  • 12 views
  • Last reply by Hasan

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The normal configuration for my keyboard is that when I press an arrow key, the cursor moves by one step. Something has happened to my Firefox set-up such that the cursor will only move if the arrow key is pressed for a second or so. How do I revert this setting to normal?

The normal configuration for my keyboard is that when I press an arrow key, the cursor moves by one step. Something has happened to my Firefox set-up such that the cursor will only move if the arrow key is pressed for a second or so. How do I revert this setting to normal?

Chosen solution

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

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this is not a Firefox problem.

go to Control Panel -> Accessibility Options -> Mouse -> Remove Checkmark from Use MouseKeys -> click OK

Check and tell if its working.

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Interesting. The problem was only experienced in Firefox - not in Word, not in Excel, not in Google Chrome not in Skype ...only in Firefox. Because of this I was convinced it was a Firefox problem. I opened Control Panel (Windows 7)->Ease of Access Centre ->Make the mouse easier to use ... the Turn on Mouse Keys check box was unchecked so I selected Cancel. I went back and looked at: -> Make the keyboard easier to use .... all was unchecked and I selected Cancel. Selected close. I have not changed a single setting but now all seems to work OK again in Firefox (and it remains OK in all the other applications). Thank you for taking me to success even if it was a coincidence!

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24 hrs later and the problem has returned - can't move the cursor around normally in Firefox but it is fine in all other applications. Also failed previously to mention that carriage return causes a double return. Have checked for viruses - nil. Is there some way of identifying what changes have taken place in Firefox? Is there a log I can look at?

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Chosen Solution

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

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OK, on first impressions disabling extensions would seem to have sorted the problem out. But other things have also been successful for a period of time before the problem returned. I will therefore let the PC work like this for a few days and I will then move to the next stage of trying to ident the exact extension that is the guilty source. Thank you for now.

29 Aug 2011: Some weeks on and I can confirm that the solution worked. I gradually re-enabled various extensions and once a reasonable level of functionality returned, I stopped. There must have been some extension which I don't miss. Good luck to all.

Modified by engines

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ok, I realized i was having this problem too, but only when a PDF is open, in one of the tabs Either close all tabs that have a PDF open or embedded in the site Or close firefox, restart it with one single tab, and visit say google.com , you'll find the arrows work

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I can confirm the PDF-issue.