# My PC mouse lost its right-click capabilities. WTF?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-pc-mouse-lost-its-right-click-capabilities-wtf/465037>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 24, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-pc-mouse-lost-its-right-click-capabilities-wtf/465037 "2008-09-24T18:50:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-pc-mouse-lost-its-right-click-capabilities-wtf/465037/1 "2008-09-24T18:50:25Z")

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I’m a right-click fiend. Mostly I right-click to “open link[s] in new window[s].” Today, out of nowhere, my mouse’s right-click capability is gone. It’s not like the button is totally dead; it’s just that when I right-click, my computer interprets the signal like a normal (left) click. Instead of opening a menu that would allow me to open a link in a new window, it just opens the link.

I am not a happy camper.

What’s wrong and can it be fixed?

Thanks all, in advance.

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-pc-mouse-lost-its-right-click-capabilities-wtf/465037/2 "2008-09-24T18:51:59Z")

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Obvious first question: have you rebooted?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-pc-mouse-lost-its-right-click-capabilities-wtf/465037/3 "2008-09-24T18:53:57Z")

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> [@KneadToKnow](#):
>
> Obvious first question: have you rebooted?

And does left-click still behave normally?

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**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-pc-mouse-lost-its-right-click-capabilities-wtf/465037/4 "2008-09-24T19:26:36Z")

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> [@KneadToKnow](#):
>
> Obvious first question: have you rebooted?

I just did. Problem fixed! Thanks.

Mods, you can close this baby if you like.

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-pc-mouse-lost-its-right-click-capabilities-wtf/465037/5 "2008-09-24T19:38:35Z")

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Happy to help. 🙂