Tis Very Very Odd

I've done something to my computer and now the little cursor doesn't blink to tell me where I am when I key things in.  I thought for an hour that I just couldn't post on this site, and went to another before I finally attempted to post without it.  Now, this might not seem like a big deal, but I miss my friendly little blinky line, saying, "yes, you are here."  I  know just about everyone here is more computer literate than I...WHERE DID MY BLINKY GO?  How do I get him back?  HALP!

I'd try to fix it myself, but it took me weeks to figure out that it was the F11 key that made my bars go away, and that I was hitting it by mistake when I backspaced too fast.  God knows what I'd do next, blindly poking at keys.

What kind of computer do you have?

SwampWitch said:

 
What kind of computer do you have?

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what operating system are you running (ie, win10, win8, win7, etc)?

if you're running win7, 8 or 10 --  try hitting the F5 key. see if that gives you back your cursor. if that doesn't work, i found a little more lengthy possible fix.

I'm actually a little confused on this.  It is an elderly Gateway that was given to me.  When I check, it says that I'm using WinXP, but I could have sworn that the startup says Win8.  One of those, at any rate.  And I use FireFox, as well, although that shouldn't matter at all, should it?

SMOOCHIES TO ALL!  The F5 key worked its magic.  Now, how did I manage to...oh never mind.  My beloved blinky is BACK!

Mamanyt1953 said:

 
SMOOCHIES TO ALL!  The F5 key worked its magic.  Now, how did I manage to...oh never mind.  My beloved blinky is BACK!

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oh, excellent!

we were lucky, because the 'F' key that controls that function varies by computer make and model.

My #2 son actually answered his phone last night (both sons are out, about, and all over the world ~literally~ for work, and hard to find most of the time).  I told him about what had happened, and he started laughing.  He said, "Mom, both of your kids are computer techs.  One designs hardware, the other designs software, and you got your information on a cat site?!?!?!?"  "Yes, son, they were there.  I never know when I'll be able to catch you guys!"  (neither is good about picking up a phone to call me...boys, ya know.)