My cursor changes to a hand and will not allow me to select any text in a message, can't copy or paste, hand just tries to grab things.  It changes to a hand when I move over the text or html message.

Hi,

First, I suggest you start Outlook in safe mode [hold ctrl key while startup] to see this issue is caused by some add-ins. If it works fine in safe mode, try to disable add-ins. How to do this, see here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/enable-or-disable-add-ins-in-office-programs-HA010034127.aspx

Also try to check the setting of "Select" under Editing tab in toolbar.
"Select All"
"Select Objects"
"Select All Text with Similar Formatting"

Try to click on each one of three and play around with cursor in the body of text.

Hope it helps.

Thanks for trying.  I have looked at several other forums and it seems this is a reoccurring problem with many users, and some include word as being effected.

 

1. No add-ins installed

2. rebooted and all updates are installed, still the hand is there. 

3. hand is animated like a hand closing when I click left mouse, menu for right mouse click

4. safe mode makes no diff

5. select menu only one option is avail, select all

 

Any other ideas?  all are welcome

If you are in Outlook 2010, press escape.   This should allow you to select text again.   Not sure if the issue is a sticky key or not....

• Proposed as answer by UFLRob Thursday, September 08, 2011 8:27 PM

That worked! I  never would have thought of that. It's been driving me crazy for a couple of weeks now! Any idea what turns it on?

There is a very basic solution for this, when you open the email you will see at the top of the scroll bar there is a small hand icon. Clicking this hand icon turns it ON (its very easy to accidently do). Simply click it again and it turns the 'hand grab' function off.

The idiot above who suggested to start your machine in safe mode blah blah blah is a moron.

Hii... I tried add ins and staff but press ESC key worked 

Thanks

Hi ! Tried the Esc key on 8.1 and it worked fine. Also saw the hand icon on the top of the scroll bar and turned the hand on and off as case101 stated.