Wow. So I'm sitting here working in Word and things get all weird, like the cursor won't insert into the document, even using the trackpad and not the mouse, so there is no input from trackpad or mouse but keyboard works and can command-Q everything. Shut everything down, restart zapping the pram, window for ClamX contributions comes up, been coming up a lot lately on startup, but still no trackpad or mouse. Restart again, command-option-shift-delete (the old Windows four finger salute) doesn't solve the problem, just makes me sign in as user instead of automatic login. Items on desktop take a long time to go from generic file image to preview.

In safe mode now, all seems well. Checked Login Items. Unchecked all the ClamX stuff, there are two ClamX Sentry items, iTunes Helper (don't know what that is) but something called CNQL4801_ButtonManager will not let me uncheck it. What up?

CNQL Button Manager? What is it?

Sounds like it may have something to do with your scanner (a Canon?), but whether or not it's connected to your issue is a-whole-nother question.

Edit: iTunes Helper facilitates connectivity between iTunes and iDevices. (iTunesHelper – What does iTunes Helper do?)

Yes, Canon scanner. Don't think it is connected to this isuue, tho. Thanks for the iTunes info.

I'm going to have to ask for help...

Since whatever ails your MBP is quiescent in Safe Mode, it may pay you to d/l and run that free utility that's been touted here lately, but I can't remember its name, and I've managed to not bookmark it.

So, everybody... It's the one that lists your plugins (among other things) and indicates potential problems.

Etrecheck

That's some snappy little app!

Thanks!

My guesses weren't even close. (I've got it bookmarked, now.)

I have had the problem where I can't click on anything. I struggled with it for a while, and eventually traced it to a non-intuitive cause: one of the keys on my keyboard (I think the Control key, but I don't remember) was stuck. Replaced the keyboard and all was well.

As a side note, unchecking the checkbox on startup items DOES NOT disable them! The checkbox does not determine if the startup item loads or not; the checkbox determines if it loads in the background or not. (This is one of the few places where Apple's user interface gets things terribly wrong.) If you want to disable a startup item, you click on it and then hit the - button.

Thanks for pointing that out; I'm embarrassed to have missed it.

Well, I will never know what caused the problem because now it is gone. I checked the system logs, can't find any indication of anything. Worked all day in safe mode, everything was slow, a lot of hanging pinwheels, kept looking like it was going to crash, but didn't. When I restarted without using safe mode a few hours ago, whoosh. Problem gone, speed back, no hanging. Mystery Mac. Good to know about that startup items stuff and will download the app recommended for the future. Thanks again, all.

Ya, that happens…issues come and go on their own. I had a thread a few months ago with a noise and video problem that was a real stumper that appeared to be hardware. Then it just went away one day and has never returned.

Now, if only automobiles would do that….ka-chunk wheeze, ka-chunk wheeze one day followed by smooth sailing the next.

Most monday mornings here recently I've been trying to get to work and found a dead battery. And this was after replacing the battery. Just figured out last night that a radio in my truck, TURNED OFF (HARD off, no soft power button) was drawing 200mA continuously. So yeah, sometimes you can make problems easily and immediately go away, if you know where to look.