Dotted box suddenly appears around "Shut Down", during Restart?

[scottls59901]

Dotted box suddenly appears around "Shut Down", during Restart?

Once in awhile (usually after lots of system work...), when I go to Restart-
A dotted box suddenly appears around Shut Down, when I put the cursor on Restart (Restart worked OK)!?

Is Win trying to tell me to Shut Down, instead of Restart, or what?:huh:

 

[Anak]

Hi scottls59901, welcome to 7F!

To me it sounds like the other button is being highlighted. Do you notice any ill effects?

Can you try to get a screenshot, and post it? http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

 

[bigmck]

Once in awhile (usually after lots of system work...), when I go to Restart-
A dotted box suddenly appears around Shut Down, when I put the cursor on Restart (Restart worked OK)!?

Is Win trying to tell me to Shut Down, instead of Restart, or what?:huh:

When the dots are around it, it just makes it the "default button". You don't have to actually click on it, you can just hit enter and that button will be the one used. I don't think it means one is better than the other. Most of the time you are shutting down instead of restarting. It just makes it easier to shut down.

 

[scottls59901]

Once in awhile (usually after lots of system work...), when I go to Restart-
A dotted box suddenly appears around Shut Down, when I put the cursor on Restart (Restart worked OK)!?

Is Win trying to tell me to Shut Down, instead of Restart, or what?:huh:

When the dots are around it, it just makes it the "default button". You don't have to actually click on it, you can just hit enter and that button will be the one used. I don't think it means one is better than the other. Most of the time you are shutting down instead of restarting. It just makes it easier to shut down.

It's strange that it appears very-infrequently?-
The last time was After a "Backup and Restore". I also copied backup partitions (laptop, and desktop with Slave HD's) to my USB 3.0 HD.

In the past I've had Bad system problems... doing a Shut Down immediately after "Backup and Restore"?-
In the future I'll do a Restart, before doing anything else...?

 

[scottls59901]

Hi scottls59901, welcome to 7F!

To me it sounds like the other button is being highlighted. Do you notice any ill effects?

Can you try to get a screenshot, and post it? http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

I finally got a Print Screen of the Dotted Line around Shut Down-

 

[bigmck]

I couldn't say why it shows up sometimes and not other times. I looked at my Shut Down button and it does not have a dotted area. Only Bill Gates knows for sure................

 

[Anak]

Thank you for the screenshot!

What you have there is a Focused Rectangle.

More information about it can be found here, and in the link that is in billb08's answer: Strange focus rectangle behaviour. It will also explain why it is random.

There have also been threads here on 7F about it, and this one provides A link to a utility that may help: http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/34617-dotted-box-around-desktop-icons-2.html
Even though it describes the situation about icons, it also applies to Buttons, but be advised it may not work on certain machines because of the way they are configured.
Also in that link is a setting by Dan the Hitman you may try: http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...d-box-around-desktop-icons-2.html#post1757590

More:
How to Remove the Annoying Focus Rectangle in Windows? - Tweaking with Vishal
There is a plethora of threads, and solutions. Look at the bottom of those 7F threads I linked to under Similar Threads for focused rectangle or dotted box.
Use those search terms in your favorite search engine.

Personally I see it now and then, but I have learned to ignore it.