Enter key NOT working - NOT talking about text tool

In Photoshop v 24.5 the ENTER key has stopped working.  Please note that I am NOT talking about the text tool, so please don't tell me about the settings for that.

This is a new problem.  I am simply trying to cut up a large number of scrapbook pages into separate pictures.  I am marking the area, copying (ctrl+C), creating new (ctrl+N) and then trying to hit ENTER for efficiency before pasting.

I have been doing this for several weekends with no issue.  Now suddenly, the enter key WILL NOT WORK!  It is forcing me to use the MOUSE to select create, or to double click on the already highlighted Clipboard option to select the size of the new canvas!

The enter key works on other non-adobe functions but stopped working to accept a selection.  I have tried resetting the workspace options, but they are already set at default and have never been changed.

I tried to resort to an older version of PS (23.5.5) on the adobe CC, but the behavior remains the same on this version.

From the screen shown, the ENTER key should select the already highlighted selection, but it does nothing.

When I "save as" and type a file name, the enter key DOES work to save the file.