Seems to me like some SHIFT shenanigan. SHIFT (by default) + build will build an entity as a ghost. Which corresponds to what you are saying (transparent with purple progress bar). SHIFT click in the inventory will "teleport" the items to either opened entity or hotbar / main inventory. This also ...

Here are my control settings.
It seems that it only happens when I am away from the game for quite some time, maybe 15 to 30 minutes. I can't reproduce the problem either while sitting here trying to force it.

Win 7 64
Vanilla Factorio (no mods)
using Steam overlay

I don't really check the forums often so I'm sorry if this has been addressed. It might even be a feature that I'm unaware of.

I like to Alt-Tab quite often while I play (I hit Esc first to pause). I return to the game and make it fullscreen ...

Hello,
I just ran into the same problem with the wreck and computer not located on the map. I can confirm that it was NOT destroyed by my weapons. Luckily there was a quicksave made when I was close to the enemy base (before attacking), and there are no spaceship parts.
I's there a file that I can ...