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Question

Double click twice to open or run anything

Jan 23, 2012 9:19PM PST

I just reinstalled Windows XP (initially service pack 2, upgraded to 3 and installed all updates). Ever since first installing Windows XP service pack 2, I usually have to double click twice in order to open or run anything.. First time I double click nothing happens and then when I double click again it does what it's supposed to.

What is causing this and how do I fix it?

Dora

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Sounds proper.
Jan 24, 2012 1:09AM PST

XP and those service packs do not include all the drivers for your machine. Since no machine is noted, the generic answer is to ask the maker for the install notes or use the notes you used last time.
Bob

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Answer
Check and verify
Jan 24, 2012 1:51AM PST

Check you mouse setting and reconfig, if needed, play with it. -OR- If you have a special or non-typical mouse, then use any drivers that were supplied. Otherwise, MS supplies some basic drivers and may not be fully compatible as before.

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Double click twice to open or run anything
Jan 24, 2012 2:14AM PST

I have a standard mouse. What drivers would Bob be referring to?

What do you man by reconfig the mouse, Willy?

If you mean the mouse settings in control panel, what setting would specifically cause that behavior? It isn't unpredictably sometimes not responding to double clicking. It almost always does nothing the first time I double click and then does what it is supposed to do the second time I double click.

Thanks!

Dora

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Let's use this laptop install as an EXAMPLE.
Jan 24, 2012 2:29AM PST
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Double click twice to open or run anything
Jan 24, 2012 5:10AM PST

Bob:

I went to the link. I've no idea what it has to do with my post. The 10 items and the page itself all have to do with network/ video drivers for a laptop computer.

I'm specifically having trouble with using a mouse to open and run things on a PC. Specifically, when I double click to open or run something nothing happens until I double click a second time.

Did I miss something on this page that has to do with mice or PC's?

Dora

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What it has to do with is
Jan 24, 2012 7:48AM PST

What it shows is that we can't install Windows XP without a plan. Or the drivers after we install XP.

I use that discussion as an example of what the plan should entail.

Since I don't know your PC or what method you used to install XP and the list of drivers I can't guess which of the 10 or so drivers and helper apps you forgot.

Hope that clears this up for you.
Bob

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Recheck
Jan 24, 2012 8:41AM PST

I offered some basic info and then mentioned, "play with it" to see if they're any improvements. If you have a generic mouse, then maybe no specific drivers for it. But say, you have a Logitec mouse, then it BETTER REPORT that it has a Logitec mouse, same for any other mouse.

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Answer
Old thread, but...
Jun 16, 2014 7:27AM PDT

I know Dora has probably either found the answer or never thinks to look here anymore. I've had this problem three times over the past 5 years, and I knew the answers above were total red herrings. Mouse drivers indeed. None of these experts knew the answer, so answered completely different questions to try and sound knowledgable when they are not.

It's nothing to do with mouse drivers. If you can double-click an icon (or other screen object) successfully, then there is nothing wrong with the mouse drivers and nothing wrong with the double-click speed settings, etc.

It was obvious from the OP that she could double-click successfully, but the computer would not always 'listen' to the launch command associated with the double-click event.

I've tried many things and only today found the solution just by chance. If you go to Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > Set Program Access and Defaults, usually you will find the configuration is 'Custom', yet under there everything is set to use your default program. If it is, just set it back to 'Microsoft Windows' and click 'OK'. You'll immediately see all windows and icons blink a couple of times, then hey presto - and also, if you found your computer had been inexplicably slow for a long time just to do very basic things, it seems this will fix it.

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time to lock
Jun 16, 2014 8:59AM PDT

this old thread ? Especially since XP's on the way out?

Digger