Applications stealing focus - reg key no longer fixes

Anonymous
2010-04-08T18:42:59+00:00

I want to prevent any applications from stealing focus in windows 7 (and Vista).  Tweakui used to modify the below Registry key to 0.  Then there was a key that affected the number of flashes a "want to steal focus" window would make in the taskbar.

ForegroundLockTimeout

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

This reg key is apparently no longer working.  Focus stealing is a major problem, from canceling/oking window that pop-up, to getting virus's from IE windows.  Applications are still written to do this, including MS Office 2007.  If you are typing an email something can pop up and get the next key stroke.  I need to fix this.  Any ideas, or has Windows completely removed a needed feature.

tags: steal focus apps active regedit

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Apps

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Anonymous
2011-10-23T11:13:03+00:00

I solved the problem in this way:

I noticed that just before the focus was "stolen", the PC got "busy" for a second (beside the mouse appeared the small circle indicating the processor is working hard on sth).

So I started the Task Manager and gave a close look at the processes. I noticed that one process took over a relevat percentage of CPU usage exactly an instant before the focus was stolen from the task manager window.

Since it was a process that I don't need to be active all the time (sth about Vodafone Mobile connection, which I rarely use) I just stopped the process and then didn't allow the process to be started every time I turn on the PC. I did this last step using Piriform's free software  "CCleaner", but I'm sure you can find different tools for this...

This was enough to fix it ...

Hope this helped!

Bye!

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-06-26T15:13:01+00:00

      If you have a way to reliably reproduce the behavior it will be helpful.

    Steps to reproduce:

    1. Using Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, start Windows Live Messenger (2011, Build 15.4.3508.1109), sign in, make sure it's in compact view, and move the window to the right side of the screen. 
    2. Start Firefox (version 5.0), bring it up (not maximized) and move it's window off to the left side (so the messenger window is entirely visible).  Make sure the window focus is on Firefox.

    After a while (maybe about a minute?) messenger's ad system will grab the focus away from Firefox. I use the mouse wheel to scroll Firefox pages, so it is super noticeable when messenger grabs the focus, as the scrolling for Firefox stops working.  This happens even when the mouse is nowhere near the messenger window, so it's not stealing focus due to the mouse being over it.

    I'm sure this will happen with other applications other than Firefox, but that's usually when it's most noticeable for me.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-06-06T14:55:29+00:00

    Status update:

    On the new 'clean' user profile the focus issue came back partially:

    1.- When using Firefox 4.01 with more than 1 tab open. So I did the Safe Mode test, issuue persist. Also removed all extensions and plugings (except Flash, Java, and Xmarks) , not only via the browser options but manually on the User's AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles... folder deleting the extension.* and pluginreg.dat. With Firefox 'cleaned' the issuue still persist. I also moved the tabs from the top as it looked like the window title bar and the tabs on top were fighting over the same real state (Right click on the toolbar, uncheck 'Tabs on top") and I did notice a big improvement, but the issue still remains. Now looks like the tabs fighting for the focus when something happens.

    2.- When the Skype window is open. Less anoying as I normally open Skype as required and exit completely when done.

    Outlook (my worst focus loss nightmare) is behaving like a Champ, that is when Firefox is not running. I will uninstall Firefox tonight, but  I'm stubborn enought to fight it some more today.

    Maybe Shawn or someone with a deeper knowledge of the guts can use this info.

    Regards!

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-06-05T20:00:58+00:00

    Hi MauiWowie,

    I hear you friend, this is a never-ending battle. We grew technologically with the paradigm that if something doesn't work, we shoud turn it off and turn it back on. Whaaaaaattt???!?!? - i.e. I'm in the aircraft industry...

    I also encountered a new one today... I now hate Firefox 4 more than IE7.

    On your mouse/pointer issue, my suggestion is to check drivers and settings (like the 'snap to' and pointer speed/precision). plus, go to 'Control Panel/Ease of Access/Ease of Access Center/Make the mouse easier to use' and disable all...

    Good luck!

    Thank you Ricardo.

    you say: "We grew technologically with the paradigm that if something doesn't work, we shoud turn it off and turn it back on. Whaaaaaattt???!?!? - i.e. I'm in the aircraft industry..."

    LOL! Do you mean that your aircraft-supplier suggests you should stop a plane in mid-air and restart it, then see if that helped? Wouldn't surprise me in the least.

    It would sure get your mind off the problem in a hurry!

    I fight (along with all other people who refuse to reward shoddy merchandise, non-existent and/or nonchalant 'service' etc etc ad nauseam with yet more money)  the fight most every day now it seems.

    I am a service provider, and have been working in industry automation, PC--support, calibration, validation since 1985 and I know, or used to take as self-evident, that if I do not serve my customers my raison d'Être is out the window.

    But then  I'm an old fuddy-duddy of a cantankerous SOB who refuses to lie down and die like I ought to, rather than bothering customer 'support' with my petty concerns.

    But I refuse. I won't stand for it. Case in point:

    I just now returned from eBay Customer support on a futile attempt at finding out where, under the sun, my spiffy new $94 watch, which I of course hurried to pay, has gone to.

    Their Mail tracking don't work and besides it's the mail that's the problem, not us and...well, you know.

    The big runaround doesnt even get you in shape, except in shape to wring necks.

    Next time I'll ask the cat. At least he doesn't presume to be helpful.

    When he's hungry (=when you have eBay's attention because there's money to be made) I'm a swell guy.

    When he's full (=when you have paid and eBay will no longer give you the time of day) I can drop dead for all he cares.

    I likes that cat, he's at least honest.

    The Firefox thingy kind of crept up on me over several days. I'd go: "hmm...coulda sworn I right-clicked that item and selected 'Copy', but now when I want to paste it, that option is grayed out...ah well, It's probably me" and so forth.

    Now I know better. I started to get wise when I noticed that no other app had the problem.

    Yet and still, I will try your tips. Again thanks Ricardo.

    /Göran the Swede

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