windows 7: mouse can't move or resize windows

13
2013-10
  • Camille Goudeseune

    When I mouse-drag a window's titlebar, the window doesn't move.

    When I alt-space, m, arrow keys, the window does move (and then mouse-drag works, until I click and release the mouse button.)

    Same problem with window resizing: mouse-dragging the edges or corners does nothing until I alt-space, s, arrow keys.

    http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/12772-cant-move-resize-close-windows.html suggested sfc /scannow, but when I ran that, it "did not find any integrity violations."

    Applications run fine (file explorer, web browser, media players). Other mouseable window-decorations work fine.

    This misbehavior started overnight, without a reboot.

    Since then, it's been unaffected by several reboots, and a windows update (just 2 things, for .NET framework). It even happens when booting into Safe Mode. It also happens with other accounts that I create to login to.

    Is there a less harsh way to fix this than by reinstalling Win7?

    • Answers
  • Jesse Smith

    Check your accessibility settings. You may have accidentally triggered either Sticky or Toggle Keys: if you hold down your NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK, or SCROLL LOCK for 5 seconds, does Windows notify you with a beep, a message balloon, or start acting strange? If so, that's Toggle Keys.

    If you want to turn these options off, they's in the Ease of Access Center in your Control Panel. While you're there, check out all the features. These are all to help people who have various disabilities and motor control limitations.


    • Related Question

    osx - Alt+click-drag window resizing on a Mac? (Similar to X-Windows)
  • Aaron F.

    Is there a way I can get this behavior on Mac OS?

    1. alt + right-click-drag will resize the window, relative to where you've clicked within the window and the window's center

    2. alt + left-click-drag will move the window, regardless of where you've clicked within the window.

    There's a Windows port of this behavior as well: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/DLL/wm.aspx


    • Related Answers
  • wfaulk

    Both Mondomouse and Zooom will do this.

  • svec

    BetterTouchTool lets you do this: http://boastr.net/ (it's free and quite handy!)

    In BTT's prefs, click on the "Action Settings (window stuff etc)" button.

    Then select the "Window Moving and Resizing" tab.

    The bottom pane will have 3 options, choose whichever you like: image of window move and resize option fields

    I selected all three: move, resize, and FN.

    When I hold FN+CTRL the focused window will move when I slide around on the trackpad.

    When I hold FN+OPTION the focused window will resize when I slide around on the trackpad.

    I tested this on my macbook pro, mac os x 10.6.5.

    Note that you may get this message first time you try to actually move or resize a window:

    message window if you haven't already enabled the Accessibility API

    Click "Launch it for me!", then check the box for "Enable access for assistive devices" - you're in business.

  • lse

    Try holding fn + option and then move your mouse (10.6.4 2010 MBP)

    My old mac used to do it using just option key along (10.6.2 MBA)

    Oh and try the window snapping function on BetterTouchTool. If you've not used that app, its the greatest thing to happen to Apple Trackpads (and Magic Mouse) > lets you configure over 40+ different gestures to lots of different commands!

    And its free too

  • Wuffers

    I've found that holding control+Command does this.

    EDIT: Apparently this only worked because I was using a utility called Afloat. You can use this feature with this utility.

  • Aphex5

    Tried them all and they are not as good as Flexiglass.

    • Afloat doesn't work with all applications (Firefox is one of them)
    • Zooom doesn't allow you to use the right click button