specify entities pick box cursor goes missing

I have a subscription for DS Prof. and have been using it a few years. Recently I had to reinstall. Migration seemed to go fine all works fine. I begin a new drawing all works fine. I have gone back and edited a saved drawing a few times, all seems fine. Then I will open a drawing I have edited and saved perhaps many times. Then...I will issue an edit command, copy, move etc anything that returns a "Specify entities>>" prompt. And no pick box is displayed. I can slowly move my mouse of the drawing area and see entities auto hilite for selection as if the pickbox cursor is moving over them. as the mouse is moved over the drawing back to toolbars etc the system cursor re-appears as usual. It was suggested in an earlier question to create a new profile. I have tried that without success. I'm wondering if there is a system variable that I am somehow changing or is getting changed somehow. Any advise?