# Windows 7 x64 - Cut and copy work, paste doesn't.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 27, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196 "2012-02-27T23:40:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/1 "2012-02-27T23:40:24Z")
First, yes, I’ve Googled the hell out of this before coming here.
I have Windows 7 64 bit. A week or so ago pasting from the clipboard started acting wonky. Besides using Word I downloaded a program that lets me see the clipboard, and things I cut or copy to it are there, they just don’t always paste.
I first noticed it on Firefox and thought it was the problem, but after doing what various Websites say will fix the problem, not only is it still there, but it’s not just Firefox. I have problems pasting when cutting/copying from any source . Even right-click, copy file, paste file causes problems.
When I go to paste, one three things happens.
[ol]
[li]On the right click menu the paste option isn’t available or in a window a paste icon, like the clipboard icon in Word, isn’t available.[/li][li]Paste or a paste icon is available, but nothing gets pasted.[/li][li]Text or an image does get pasted, but usually I have to copy/paste four or five times in a row before paste works.[/li][/ol]
And one last thing, which may or may not help. If I display the clipboard in Word, copy something to it, and then click the “Paste All” button it always works.
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### Author:  [@Deegeea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deegeea)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/2 "2012-02-28T00:12:39Z")
I think the problem is that paste in windows 7 has become more context sensitive.
On mine, I mostly notice this in Paint. When the text tool is selected, for example, if what is on the clipboard (result of the previous copy) is a graphic (from snipping tool, for example), paste is unavailable.
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/3 "2012-02-28T03:24:23Z")
Could it possibly have to do with multiple clipboards? Which version of Office are you using?
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### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/4 "2012-02-28T04:04:53Z")
1.
There’s only one clipboard though. For example, since Windows 7 doesn’t have the clipbrd.exe clipboard manager like XP has, so I downloaded Clip Magic Light, a freeware clipboard viewer. When I copy anything, from any program to the clipboard it shows up in the clipboard, so there’s only one clipboard. It’s just pasting back from the clipboard to Firefox, Word, Paint, whatever, that’s the problem.
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### Author:  [@The\_Niply\_Elder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Niply_Elder)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/5 "2012-02-28T04:24:53Z")
I have this same problem but it started after upgrading from office 2003 to 2007 and 2010. It was a weird problem because it also was caused by one our engineering apps. It took them 6 months after I filed the bug report for a solution. Finally the devs of the app we use laid the blame back on Microsoft because they found out other programs also have this problem, and here you are. I have nothing to add of significance here other than maybe downgrade back to office 2003 (yikes).
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### Author:  [@ExcitedIdiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExcitedIdiot)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2012, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/6 "2012-02-28T04:35:19Z")
Run System file checker, a system file might be corrupted. Also, boot into safe mode and see if the problem persists, some other process may be messing with the clipboard.
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### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2012, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/7 "2012-02-28T04:49:29Z")
All I have is 2007. And it worked fine till recently. Edit: That was a reply to **The Niply Elder**
Edit: **Excitedldiot** , I have the system file checker, but I didn’t think about safe mode :smack: Thank you.
I’m hesitant to try a restore point, so maybe I’ll just ride it out until a solution comes along.
If push comes to shove I guess I could try reinstalling Windows, but I’m really surprised there isn’t some sort of clipboard repair program put out by Microsoft.
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### Author:  [@Terry\_Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terry_Kennedy)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2012, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/8 "2012-02-28T06:05:54Z")
> [@Nobody](#):
>
> I’m hesitant to try a restore point, so maybe I’ll just ride it out until a solution comes along.
Check to see if it is actually a cut and paste problem or a context menu problem. Try copying the URL of this post from the address bar, then open a new browser tab, click in the address bar, and press control-V.
No idea what the issue is, but the above test might narrow down the possibilities.
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### Author:  [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2012, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/9 "2012-02-28T06:10:22Z")
First, you can reinstall Win7 as an upgrade. It’s a little tricky if you’re reinstalling the exact same version, but I’m pretty sure it can be done. I’ve done it several times myself but can’t recall how many instances were actual upgrades.
With an upgrade install, it will be just like going from Vista or XP to W7 except that there will be a lot more patches to install after you’re done (or think you done anyway).
Second, and maybe this should go first, you can try a clipboard extender. There are several good freeware programs but [the one I like is from M8 called Freeclip.](http://m8software.com/clipboards/freeclip/freeclip.htm) There’s also a paid version with a lot more fuctionality called Spartan (DRM free too).
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### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2012, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/10 "2012-02-28T09:35:52Z")
Yeah, I’ve repaired, or reinstalled Windows before. It takes a while and then you have to reinstall several updates.
I think Clip Magic Lite is an extender, but I’ll give M8 a try too. Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2012, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/11 "2012-02-28T12:50:49Z")
Well, with the M8 clipboard viewer, after I copy something to it, then when I click on the cell containing what I just copied, it will paste it back to anything.
I’m thinking there’s a problem with the Windows shell communicating with the clipboard. Guess I’ll try safe mode next, but until I figure out what’s wrong, thank you the M8 link. It’s a big help.
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### Author:  [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/12 "2012-02-28T14:21:26Z")
I assume the problem didn’t start until you installed Clip Magic Lite?
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### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/13 "2012-02-28T20:18:26Z")
No. I installed it after the problem. Vista and Windows 7 don’t come with a clipboard viewer so I downloaded it to make sure that what I cut or copied made it to the clipboard, which it does.
It just helped me narrow down that it’s only paste that is the problem.
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### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/14 "2012-03-04T02:31:00Z")
Update.
I’m still looking into this, but I have a better understanding of what’s happening. While I’m attempting to pinpoint the problem, if anybody here has an idea hopefully it will help me solve my problem quicker.
In safe mode there is no problem, so I need to shut off running processes to see which one is causing the problem. I’m actually doing it but haven’t run across the problem app yet.
Also, I found out what’s actually happening. I took an XP disk and copied the clipboard viewer. After copying something to the clipboard it stays there a few seconds and then gets deleted. If I’m using a third party clipboard manager, or the clipboard manager in Word then the copied text or image will stay in those.
So for instance, I have the Windows clipboard viewer open and the M8 clipboard manager open. I copy some text. It appears in both. After a second or two it disappears from the Windows clipboard viewer but stays in M8. So I can have M8 paste text, but since it’s no longer in the default Windows clipboard then right-click paste, or CTRL-V or Shift-Insert doesn’t work because there’s no longer text to paste as far as Windows is concerned.
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/15 "2012-03-04T02:46:00Z")
Have you ran a malware check lately?
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### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/16 "2012-03-04T03:05:30Z")
Several.
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### Author:  [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/17 "2012-03-04T03:40:56Z")
[Process Lasso](http://bitsum.com/prolasso.php) may help expedite the process - although the free version has several useful functions disabled.
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### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/18 "2012-03-04T04:23:02Z")
I might give it a try, thanks.
Out of curiosity, do you use it?
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### Author:  [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/19 "2012-03-04T04:36:12Z")
Yes, on a couple of my rigs, but I have the paid version.
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### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-x64-cut-and-copy-work-paste-doesnt/614196/20 "2012-03-04T05:15:06Z")
Problem solved.
I use **Advanced System Care**. Along with it is a too to free unused RAM. One of the options is Clean Clipboard. You’d think it would clean it if the clipboard had stuff in it for a while but wasn’t used, or maybe if you’re low on memory and there’s a large amount of data in the clipboard.
But no, clean clipboard makes your clipboard unusable. After a second or two it wipes out the content automatically. WTF?
Anyway, thanks for everybody’s help. And thanks for that link **dzero**. I still might buy a copy even though my problem is solved.
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