Mouse does not "cut" or copy text and "paste"

A strange problem:  I am used to highlighting text in a document to copy it and paste it elsewhere, but my Dell Dimension mouse (looks like it's made by Logitech, if that helps) does not always copy the highlighted text when I do either a right-click and "copy" from the menu, or "Ctrl-C" on the keyboard.  When I go to "paste" or "Ctrl-V" on the keyboard, nothing happens.   Sometimes, it seems, it takes 3-4 times to perform the "paste", if at all. Most annoying.

Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't.  I note that I recently tried to highlight words that were hyperlinked words, and they did not copy.   Whether or not this is always the case, I don't know.  I would like to put this problem out there for a solution, please.   I did a troubleshoot on my mouse using the built-in troubleshooter, and it said it was working properly. 

Appreciate any help with this.