Windows deselected for no reason

[rct2guy]

This problem has been plaguing me for a while now, but I have still found no solution. I decided to come here to see if anyone else can help me out.

Basically, what seems to be happening is when I'm using a program or something, like, for example, Google Chrome, the window will randomly be deselected or deactivated. It's like someone clicked on another window. Normally, this isn't a huge deal. I just click on the window and keep typing until it happens again (it usually happens two or three times then stops for a while); It's just annoying. But the real issue is when I'm playing a full-screen game, where it's constantly minimized. Not only does it take a good minute or two for my slow computer to pull the window back up, but this also sometimes crashes games, like Team Fortress 2. Thanks to this... thing, I haven't been able to play any games for a while.

Any help would be great. If you need any more information, I'm glad to give it to you. I've considered re-installing Windows just to get this taken care of.

 

[Jacee]

Have you scanned for malware?

 

[FliGi7]

I wonder if it's some hotkey combo you're accidentally hitting that changes window focus. That's about all I can think of other than some unruly program running in the background that keep grabbing the focus.

 

[gregrocker]

Download, install, update and run a Full Scan with Malwarebytes.

Next run SFC -SCANNOW Command.

Is this a clean install, factory preinstall, or in-place Upgrade of Vista? Did you get a Win7 INstallation DVD with your computer?

 

[agrsk8r]

I've been having this same problem and it started shortly after a fresh install, which was quite disappointing. I've suspected malware from the start but I've just been too lazy to do anything about it since most of the time I play games in windowed mode so I can multi task without minimizing my game. I don't run anti-virus software because it tends to slow my PC more than a virus would and I keep things backed up if I need to reinstall. But after reading this thread, I decided to give Malwarebytes a try. I really like that it doesn't run all the time, only when YOU tell it to do something. That's one of my biggest gripes with most programs out there, they just scan stuff and warn you about things that aren't even a real threat (no CD cracks, etc.) whenever they feel like it. Anyway, Malwarebytes found 6 infected files and 3 infected keys in less than 5 minutes and deleted them all successfully. None of the files were directly related to my games (although I admit still may have come from a selected few games, I'll check after running them again). I scanned again after rebooting and 0 infections were found. I think I'm gonna keep this program. Thanks for the suggestion, gregrocker!!! I'll report back if any windows get deselected again.

 

[gregrocker]

Try installing free lightweight MS Security Essentials or Avast 6 to run with the Win7 Firewall, which needs to be kept updated as first line of defense.

These AV's are light enough they shouldn't slow you down at all, or if they do you'd really only need 2gb of RAM to get above them, an easy and inexpensive upgrade which will make your games run faster too.

 

[agrsk8r]

I think I will give those a shot. When I first adopted my theory of not using this type of software 4 years ago, my PC wasn't near as powerful as it is today.

Old:
-1.8Ghz Core 2 Duo
-3 GB DDR 2 533 MHz RAM
-nVidia 7300GS video card
-320GB HDD

New:
-3.2 GHz x6 AMD Phenom II
-8 GB DDR 3 1600 MHz RAM
-nVidia GTX 470 x2 in SLI
-1 TB HDD + 1 TB External HDD (100 GB partition on internal HDD for the OS to make it easier to reinstall if needed)

I suppose it's time to start keeping my OS safe.

 

[Ztruker]

The real problem with you're not running AV software is not that you may become infected, but that you may become a source of infection for others. With no AV software, it's possible for your computer to become one more node in a Botnet used to distribute Spam and malware. Also quite easy to have your E-mail capability become a source for distribution of Spam and malware.

Glad to hear you're going to install MSE which is a good, low impact AV solution.

 

[Layback Bear]

No anti virus for 4 years; sounds like botnet heaven to me. I wouldn't even bother running scans. Wipe the disc, not format, wipe it with a 3rd part program. Clean install and start over with the firewall on and a anti-virus program.

 

[gregrocker]

Here are steps to get a perfect reinstall when the time comes: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Let us know how things go.

 

[agrsk8r]

Yeah, Layback Bear, 4 years would be sketchy if I was still working off of the same OS install. But I was still using Windows XP back then (I refused to switch to Vista, that old PC came with Vista but I backed up to XP in favor of stability and improved performance with games). My latest install of Windows 7 is only about 6 weeks old. I did a fresh install when I got my latest parts (mobo, cpu, ram, a second video card, power supply and a nice new case).

I ran a full scan from both Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes just before I left for work. I just got home and checked the results... I am now squeaky clean!!! MSE found ONE threat that Malwarebytes overlooked and deleted it without issue.

Thanks again gregrocker for the help. I hope the original poster took your advice as well.

 

[TRONdll]

I've been having a similar issue on two of my Windows 7 machines. My currently active window will deselect itself at random (I can't tell if it's at a constant rate, but I'm fairly certain it isn't). I also noticed that whenever I pressed any of the "lock" buttons (caps lock, etc..), a small box would pop up in the lower right hand corner of the screen indicating that lock was on. I had never seen this before my windows started deselecting themselves.

I then noticed that my laptop was doing this in addition to my desktop. I ran a Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware full scan on it, which found two malicious files. I removed the files and restarted my laptop. I haven't encountered an automatic window deselection or the lock notification box since then.

After this, I ran a Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware scan on my desktop. It found no malicious files after a full scan and I am still encountering the deselecting windows and lock notification box. My full system specs for my laptop and desktop follow:

Laptop:
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium (I think) 32-bit
RAM: 4GB
CPU: 2.4GHz Single-Core
GPU: Integrated ATi chipset, can't remember the name

Desktop:
OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
RAM: 4GB
CPU: 3.2GHz Dual-Core
GPU: ATi Radeon 5670

I've also noticed that a common solution for this is to uninstall AVG, since a recent update for it reportedly caused a similar issue. I haven't ever had AVG on either of my computers (I've checked the uninstall programs list to ensure it wasn't automatically installed somehow or pre-loaded onto my laptop).

Any help would be greatly appreciated. This issue minimizes fullscreen games, sometimes causing them to crash or causing me to wait a good few minutes for them to load back up.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Do you have a wireless mouse or keyboard? If so, try another mouse or keyboard and see if that solves the issue. I've seen this happen with a wireless mouse before.

 

[gregrocker]

In addition run SFC -SCANNOW Command to check System file integrity, repair any damaged or corrupted system files.

 

[TRONdll]

In addition run SFC -SCANNOW Command to check System file integrity, repair any damaged or corrupted system files.

That seems to have fixed it, thanks! I'll report back here if I experience the issue again.

 

[TRONdll]

In addition run SFC -SCANNOW Command to check System file integrity, repair any damaged or corrupted system files.

That seems to have fixed it, thanks! I'll report back here if I experience the issue again.

Looks like it's still doing it. The sfc /scannow command reported that it found damaged files and that they were repaired. I ran it again just to make sure and it said everything was okay, yet I'm still experiencing this issue. Any other suggestions?

 

[gregrocker]

Try running a clean boot. Enter msconfig>Startup to uncheck everything except AV and sidebar (gadgets). Post back a screenshot using Snipping Tool if you have any questions about any listing, or google it. None of them are really needed to start with computer and can start when you click on program, otherwise they freeload on your CPU/RAM, Startup, and can spy on you.

After several restarts check back to see if anything has written back into list, turn it off in its Program Prefs or uninstall it.

Next in msconfig>Services, select "Hide all MS Services" then see what is running without your knowledge, uncheck it, check back to see if anything sneaks back in.

You now have a clean boot. Any difference?

 

[TRONdll]

I don't like bumping threads, but I figured I'd leave an update here:

It appears that the issue was related to what was at the time the latest Kodak printer drivers. The issue has since gone away after updating said drivers.

 

[IamSimon]

Do you have a wireless mouse or keyboard? If so, try another mouse or keyboard and see if that solves the issue. I've seen this happen with a wireless mouse before.

Seems to be a correct assessment. I changed the aero settings on my mouse to Windows Black Aero and it seems to have fixed the issue. It used to happen every few minutes to me, now it's not happened in over half an hour. I'm using a Microsoft Wireless Mouse. Hope this helps.

 

[noobss]

hey gregrocker thanks for everything i had the same problem and your directions were spot on thanks again...