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
    2012-02-22T11:25:57+00:00

    "can't get it to happen" means what? Does your taskbar flash if some window wants focus? Please be more specific. Have you tried that checkdisk or display some webpage with javascript alert() as I wrote? Have you tried that batch file LiviuZ posted? Please address these specific examples and tell exactly what happens. Thank you

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-02-21T19:01:07+00:00

    Windows live messenger steals focus all the time whenever a new ad cycles through the main program window. Install it use it and be amazed!

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-02-21T18:40:28+00:00

    I can't get it to happen on several computers of different configurations that I've tried.  I've used all the suggestions here.  Unfortunately I can't investigate the issue unless I can cause it to happen.

    I'm not claiming it doesn't happen.  God knows I was annoyed by this for years when I worked at another company and I did have the issue, daily.  That was 9 years ago and I was using Windows XP at the time.  And of course I can't get that computer to look at now.

    So, let's look at the facts:

    1. It happens often to one group
    2. It never happens to another group

    I think it's safe to say something is different.  What we need to do is identify what that is.  Since almost everyone has said this happens on a fresh install without any other software, my guess at this point is a driver.  This is why I setup an anonymous form for us to gather some info and see if we can find trends.

    The summary of responses for that survey indicates:

    1. In 21% of responses, it's said that the issue doesn't happen for all users of a PC

    (which would seem to imply a software app is running for those users) 2. Only 29% of people who responded to the survey can reproduce the issue.

    The responses also show no pattern in the brands of PC or driver.  Which again leads me to believe it's software.

    If you have more info, I encourage you to fill out the survey and help us narrow down the culprit.

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