window focus issues (windows 7 pro x64)

[exc]

when i open a program/window, sometimes it opens in the background instead of the foreground and i have to click the program/window to make it active. sometimes they open as minimized. also, after a restart and a login, i open up internet explorer and the gadgets (clock, calendar, etc) remain on top even though "always on top is" disabled.

so annoying. this is after a clean install with all windows updates and latest drivers. does anyone know a solution to this issue or have the same problem?

this is a great forum btw. i'm glad i found it. i love the massive tutorial section!

 

[drakeshe]

The opening not in forground things happens to everyone (well, does for me), as for the gadgets staying on top, try toggling the stay on top, who knows, it might somehow work.

 

[exc]

^ don't you think it's annoying? is this because windows 7 is relatively new and they're fixing it now?

 

[drakeshe]

Nope, it's not generally until a service pack that things as minor as that are addressed.

 

[exc]

so anyone else experiencing this problem?

 

[seekermeister]

I don't use gadgets, so I have no idea if it would be the same for me or not. I do have a problem with program installation windows opening in the background, but I've never noticed that happening just opening a program. The only time that a program opens minimized for me, is those that I have set to do so for startup.

 

[exc]

i just realized this happens alot when i open them through programmed keys on my old microsoft internet keyboard. for example, pressing the "Web/Home" key will open internet explorer as minimized. however, using the mouse or keyboard (typing 'internet explorer,' then pressing enter) to run internet explorer via the start menu or taskbar will open it as maximized and in focus.

wtf?!

 

[joema]

so anyone else experiencing this problem?

Yes, I see it periodically on some gadgets. Also saw it yesterday on Excel 2002.

There were some significant GDI concurrency improvements to Win7. I wonder if any of these behaviors are a side effect of that: Engineering Windows 7 : Engineering Windows 7 Graphics Performance

 

[thomas85]

Hi,

I have the same issue, there are lots of programs that do not take focus / appear in the foreground when you start them. Sometimes the behaviour is inconsistent, even for the same program. Sometimes I've thought a program has failed to launch, the only clue it has is an icon in the taskbar.

Its very frustrating, and I don't think its a minor issue, and certainly not on a new O/S that's made a big selling point of its desktop functionality.
Does anyone know if there a fix coming for this?

 

[exc]

^ none yet. i'm still waiting for a fix.

 

[mirandalee]

I found a solution that worked for me

The solution here worked for me:

Fix the automatic window focus changing problem in windows

In case that link fails one day I'll post the instructions here.

First, ALWAYS backup your registry before you make changes.

1. Open Start >> Run and type regedit

​

2. Navigate to the following path:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
3. Modify the existing value named ‘ForegroundLockTimeout’, modify the value to 0. (this value will cause the application to take the focus instantly.)
4. Exit everything and restart Windows and hopefully it fixes your focus problem like it did for me.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

The solution here worked for me:

Fix the automatic window focus changing problem in windows

In case that link fails one day I'll post the instructions here.

First, ALWAYS backup your registry before you make changes.

1. Open Start >> Run and type regedit



2. Navigate to the following path:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
3. Modify the existing value named ‘ForegroundLockTimeout’, modify the value to 0. (this value will cause the application to take the focus instantly.)
4. Exit everything and restart Windows and hopefully it fixes your focus problem like it did for me.

Hi mirandalee, Welcome to SF,

Its a good solution but it only worked on Vista. 3 attempts in Windows 7 in three different computer failed to fix by this problem. But we really appreciate posting here.

 

[mirandalee]

Oh It worked for me on Windows 7 Pro x64.... on all 6 our new laptops.

 

[PaulTNI]

I concur with mirandalee. This fix worked perfectly on our new Windows 7 Professional 64-bit laptop. Thanks to her for posting the solution to this annoying problem!

 

[seekermeister]

I just went to that key in W7 x64, and it was already set to 0, so there is no way to change anything.

In these 7 computers in which it did work, they were laptops, which I suspect were preloaded with OEM versions of 7. That may be the reason for the difference.

 

[Dinesh Patil]

I am also facing similar issue on windows 7 Enterprise of both edition 64 and 32 bit. we open MS word programaticaly it opens in background only on windows7 and Vista OS for other OS like win XP it is working fine.
Please anybody can suggest solution for the same.

 

[Kieg]

New Windows do not get focus

Hello, this is a serious problem with Windows 7 and while it is annoying for a home user, in business it causes significant lost productivity. All that has been posted previously is correct, for me it is especially obvious when a dialog box opens and is hidden (or partially hidden) by existing applications. If the program that opened the dialog is what hides the dialog then you have a real problem because you cannot minimise the program as the dialog has the program locked. You cannot get to the dialog as they typically do not appear in task manager or as an ALT-TAB target.
There is one other issue that I have found that I think relates to the above situation. Sometimes when you open a dialog the system seems to hang, but if you press CTL-ALT-DEL then it seems to force the dialog to display.
While I do not have an answer yet (I have installed SP1 and the problem is still there) we are working with MS to see if they can find a solution. So far it has been a long process with no result.

 

[Golden]

I see this problem with Windows 7 Professional x64 with one specific application, but all the rest are fine.

 

[Kieg]

New Windows do not get focus

I have been using Windows 7 since the beta. I did not notice this behaviour in the beta, but we only used it quickly. On some PC's it does not give us this problem, on others it gives just a few problems and on some the CTL-ALT-DEL issue happens with just about anything. It is insidious in that there might not be any problems, and then you load a new program and bingo the problem is there.
It is very strange behaviour as it indicates there are wildly different configurations. A system built directly from install media will exhibit the problem, but then another machine built from the same install media will not have the problem, so we are thinking some software is causing the problem (possibly the order in which software has been installed).
I have also seen this on my home PC's, so at this stage, Win7Home Premium, Win7 Pro, Win7 Pro x64, Win 7 Ent have all exhibited this behaviour to different degrees for me.
I will check out the registry hack, and if MS gets us a solution then I will certainly post back here.

 

[NoN]

So, what was the default value....mine is set VERY HIGH (screenshot)...on a clean install from March 2nd, 2011.

PS:
I have some minor probs focusing but not as far as described here!