Windows minimize on their own

I just purchased a new Toshiba laptop that came with Windows 7....while using my Microsoft Works Word Processor, the program minimizes on its own...you can bring the document up again, but this is very disconcerting....at first I thought maybe I was hitting a combination of keys in error but it keeps happening when no incorrect keys are hit....I don't know if other programs will also minimize on their own, since I just got the computer and haven't done alot on it yet....

Does anyone have any ideas what is wrong and how to fix it....??

Hmmm I recently upgraded to Windows 7 and I've noticed a similar, though not identical, problem. When I run a program such as Word or IE sometimes my typing will suddenly stop. The title bar changes to a slightly lighter color (as if I had clicked off of the window). Describing this in words is difficult so just click on your toolbar where there are no icons and you'll see what I mean. I then must reclick the window I'm on to begin typing or scrolling again. Another problem is when I play a computer game (not the basic accessory games but a real game). My game will randomly minimize (I did not hit any keys that would cause minimization), sending me back to the desktop. This is extremely annoying since this often occurs during online play and causes my defeat.

Exact same thing for me. Except the games I play are MMO's and instead of just minimizing like regular games it just makes the screen smaller and the graphics get all messed up and I miss most of my hotkey bars....real pain when in a group of folks in a middle of a fight....anyone have any ideas how to fix it yet?

AVG is the reason for me. I uninstalled it and everything works great now.

Good to know you are sorted.

Hey, I had the same problem with AVG, what is causing it is the resident shield utility,

you can stop it from interrupting by setting up an exception within the program.

To do that, go into the user interface and double click on the resident shield, there should be a "Manage Exceptions" button at the bottom of the window with other options such as turning on/off the resident shield.

all you need to do is add the program directories/files that are being interupted and it should stop.

I set it up to ignore Steam and some Other programs and so far had no problems.

(I am currently running AVG Free ver 9)

Ok, I found my problem. I have an HP and may work with others like Dell. Turns out mine was related to the dumb toolbar that I have at the bottom. There was a button located in the lower right corner which can be clicked to go to the desktop and hence minimize everything else. However there was one option for that button which gives you a PREVIEW of your desktop just by having the mouse hover over it. Naturally when you put you mouse down, the cursor wanders over the screen and ends up in the lower corner very easily. Hence I am suddenly looking at my desktop and everything minimizes. When I move the mouse everything reappears. Since I put my mouse down alot when I type in comments sections, it bounces back and forth between desktop and what I was looking at. Sitting in a chair and putting the mouse beside me makes it even worse. I had NO idea that option was there or turned on. I just went to properties for the toolbar and started looking around til I found it. Maybe that is what is happening to some of you as well. Windows and Microsoft can be so frustrating when they "help" you sometimes.

Thank you jbwhite, one of our guys had the same problem and you had the right answer.