So I open up Microsoft Word last week, and I notice something very strange. If I highlight text, and hit backspace, the text does not delete. Instead, my cursor just goes to the beginning of the highlighted portion. I can backspace just fine (as in character by character) but if I highlight and then backspace, nothing. If I highlight and hit delete, then it gets rid of it just like it's supposed to.

 

 

 

I didn't change any settings or anything, so I don't know what's up. I tried to just deal with it and was kind of hoping it would just go away after restarting my computer a few times or something, but it's not. Now with finals coming up, I'm editing a long paper and it's getting really really annoying not being able to take out large chunks of text at a time. I have to just hold backspace down to delete it all. :wall:

 

 

 

Anyone know what to do? It's Microsoft Word 2003 by the way.

 

 

 

Thanks.

Try hitting the "Delete" button instead of the "Backspace" button. After that, reinstall Office.

Try hitting the "Delete" button instead of the "Backspace" button. After that, reinstall Office.

 

 

 

Yeah, I figured this suggestion was coming. I'm just really used to using backspace because that's what I've been using for around the last 10 years. I rarely remember to use the delete key, and would rather just fix my backspace problem. I'm sure there is a way to. :|

Try hitting the "Delete" button instead of the "Backspace" button. After that, reinstall Office.

 

That actually doesn't fix anything. The delete key deletes text to the right of the cursor while the backspace deletes to the left. Two entirely different (yet very useful once you learn it) functions. :P

 

 

 

A bit of quick Googling turned up a setting that may be the cause. I have Word 2003 and was able to reproduce what I think is happening. In Tools > Options > Edit Tab, make sure "Typing Replaces Selection" is checked. Unchecking it in my settings caused exactly what you describe and may be your problem.

Try hitting the "Delete" button instead of the "Backspace" button. After that, reinstall Office.

 

That actually doesn't fix anything. The delete key deletes text to the right of the cursor while the backspace deletes to the left. Two entirely different (yet very useful once you learn it) functions. :P

 

 

 

A bit of quick Googling turned up a setting that may be the cause. I have Word 2003 and was able to reproduce what I think is happening. In Tools > Options > Edit Tab, make sure "Typing Replaces Selection" is checked. Unchecking it in my settings caused exactly what you describe and may be your problem.

 

 

 

That was it. :D

 

Thank you very much. I have no clue how that got unchecked. I haven't been to that setting in years. Maybe I accidentally hit the keyboard shortcut for it or something? But I don't even think there is one.

I've had this problem a couple of times, too. I think there is a hot key for it - there tends to be a shortcut for everything - possibly crtl+shift+k. *shrugs* :mrgreen: