Partially broken edit and copy capacities

Question

Are the following problems related? And how do I resolve them?
(1) When I edit in a text box, such as in a browser search, the original entry types in, when I go back to edit, it works only the first place I put my cursor. I can move my cursor or even highlight text thereafter, but I cannot replace or insert text - unless I move the cursor outside the text box and click! Then it works again, but in the same limited fashion. (NB - I am having the problem right now, working in Firefox.)
(2) Sometimes copying text (highlight, command-c, command-v) works and sometimes it doesn't. When I try copying from Firefox to Word or TextEdit, for instance, when I show clipboard after a command-c sometimes the clipboard contains the new text, sometimes it contains older copied text, sometimes it is blank. What is going on?
I.e., help! For the moment I can't duplicate problem 2 going from Word to TextEdit, or involving Chrome, so just to be on the safe side I will post on Firefox board also.

Answer 1

HI,
This is what you need to do to check the startup disk for errors.
Insert Installer disk and Restart, holding down the "C" key until grey Apple appears.
Go to Installer menu and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in the left panel.
Select First Aid in the Main panel.
*(Check S.M.A.R.T Status of HDD at the bottom of right panel. It should say: Verified)*
Click Repair Disk on the bottom right.
If DU reports disk does not need repairs quit DU and restart.
If DU reports errors Repair again and again until DU reports disk is repaired.
When you are finished with DU, from the Menu Bar, select Utilities/Startup Manager.
Select your start up disk and click Restart
While you have the Disk Utility window open, look at the bottom of the window. Where you see Capacity and Available. *Make sure there is always 10% to 15% free disk space*
*"05/12/09 9:47:57 AM Help Viewer14152 Can't open input server /Library/InputManagers/GrowlSafari"*
Where ~ is your Home Folder.
Go to ~/Library/Internt Managers and *move Growl to the Trash.*
Go to ~/Library/Preferences.
Move these files to the Trash.
com.apple.help.plist
com.apple.helpviewer.plist
Go to ~/Library/Caches and move this file to the Trash.
com.apple.helpviewer
Restart your Mac.
Carolyn
Message was edited by: Carolyn Samit