Audition 3.1 crashing when editing in spectral view

Am I the Lone Stranger experiencing this, or is there _HOPEFULLY_ someone who has been similarly tripped up AND has found a fix?

I've used Au3 for MANY years, currently running on a Win8.1 desktop (downgraded the Win7 laptop to an SSD drive that doesn't have the necessary room to move).  For most things this works fine, EXCEPT for a tool that I find frequent need for (but haven't been able to utilize for a LONG time now): editing out (modulating OR simply deleting) sub-areas on the spectral screen by the lasso or rectangular window selection.  I can select things just fine, but whenever I try to DO SOMETHING with such a selection the session simply crashes and burns. 

Is there an intelligent protocol to attempt to diagnose the crash, if this is not a known/fixed issue?

Anyone?

I KNOW from posts I've read that there are other knuckleheads like myself that cling to their rusty, old tools with a passion, so for that quirk I remain undaunted.  I just wish I could avail myself of the good old tools that I have found SO HELPFUL for many things I do!!!

I'm not so foolhardy as to claim that "I've tried EVERYTHING," but I HAVE tried everything that I can THINK of....

Help me - I've fallen and I can't get up?