Windows switches programs without my permission!

So, I'll be working in a program and look up and !!! Windows (ver7) will have switched to another program without a beep or anything. I remember in Windows ME and back when a program running but not being currently used wanted your attention (updates, popups, whatever) that program would just blink in the quick-launch/taskbar. Is there any way any of you may know how to get this back to the state of things. I sit and growl and the dog already thinks I'm nuts...

Thanks
Susan

if it always switches to the same program, then that program must be the culprit.. ie it checks in the background and makes itself active again and again.

regardless of the program, if anything changes in a program I'M NOT WORKING IN then the computer just switches on me. I'll look up and have to redo work / undo crap b/c I won't have been in the program I'm working in.

Used to be (before lastest Windows) if a program I wasn't working in had a message or change, it'd just blink in the taskbar, but now now it just switches me and this is frustrating the heck out of me

I can't say if this would be the solution but check the value of Taskbar Button Flash - Change Flash Count.

Otherwise try a clean startup - Troubleshoot Application Conflicts by Performing a Clean Startup