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
    2011-06-27T04:10:09+00:00

    I can't seem to get this to happen.  I remember this happening on my computer at work some years ago back with Windows 2000, and I believe it did even a few times to me using XP.  On my computers now though, it only causes the download item on the taskbar to flash orange.

    There must be a setting or circumstance that it causing it to switch for you instead, but I can't locate any applicable registry key that is utilized in Windows 7.  I'm still searching though...

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-06-27T04:26:15+00:00

    QuickBooks would be a great piece of software to test this with. That program bugs the pewp out of me to no end. Typically upon startup or after entering your password it will steal focus.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-06-27T07:15:59+00:00

    FWIW, I am using a multi (4) monitor setup. I wonder if this has any bearing on the problem. Apps stealing focus is a daily occurance.

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