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View Full Version : Any way to prevent FOCUS change ??


jabadoodle
April 18th 06, 11:48 PM
Is there any way to prevent the FOCUS from changing.

Often when I start my comptuer or sign onto the internet (in some
locations I have to use dial-up) there are many applications starting
at once. I'll be typing away a username or password and some other
applicaiton will steal the focus. Meaning my typing is in the wrong place
so I have to delete it. Then click to get back to what I was doing, etc.

It's annoying.

Any ideas on how to keep the CURRENT window CURRENT ??

Thanks,

jabadoodle
April 18th 06, 11:51 PM
NOTE:

I found this solution (below) online. But my
registry is already set this way...


Preventing Applications from Stealing the Focus
Added 12/14/02

To prevent applications from stealing the focus from the window you are
working

1.. Start Regedit

2.. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop

3.. Edit the key ForegroundLockTimeout

4.. Give it a value of 00030d40

Download reg file

Mike Williams
April 18th 06, 11:53 PM
jabadoodle wrote:
> Is there any way to prevent the FOCUS from changing.
>
> Often when I start my comptuer or sign onto the internet (in some
> locations I have to use dial-up) there are many applications starting
> at once. I'll be typing away a username or password and some other
> applicaiton will steal the focus. Meaning my typing is in the wrong place
> so I have to delete it. Then click to get back to what I was doing, etc.
>
> It's annoying.
>
> Any ideas on how to keep the CURRENT window CURRENT ??

No unfortunately. It's still something that beta testers are requesting
of the Vista developers (as has happened for the last decade's worth of
Windows releases).

jabadoodle
April 18th 06, 11:59 PM
Ok, well thanks for the quick reply Mike.

Larry Samuels
April 19th 06, 12:46 AM
If you figure out anything, please post back. A lot of us want that fix
<including MS employees>!!

--
Customers in the U.S. and Canada can receive technical support from
Microsoft Product Support Services at 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for
support calls that are associated with security updates
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone- www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
"jabadoodle" > wrote in message
reenews.net...
>
>
> Ok, well thanks for the quick reply Mike.
>
>

Mike Williams
April 19th 06, 08:45 AM
Larry Samuels wrote:
> If you figure out anything, please post back. A lot of us want that fix
> <including MS employees>!!
>

Ain't it the truth! I remember when a senior PM on the NT team denied
that focus stealing ever happened, and his email inbox filled up in moments.

Breaker
April 19th 06, 03:22 PM
On Tue, 18 Apr 2006 19:46:19 -0400, "Larry Samuels" >
wrote:

>If you figure out anything, please post back. A lot of us want that fix
><including MS employees>!!


I thought TweakUi had a setting in it to prevent applications from
stealing focus.

Are you saying that it doesn't work?

Larry Samuels
April 19th 06, 03:37 PM
It helps, but it doesn't completely fix the problem.

--
Customers in the U.S. and Canada can receive technical support from
Microsoft Product Support Services at 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for
support calls that are associated with security updates
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone- www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
<Breaker> wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 18 Apr 2006 19:46:19 -0400, "Larry Samuels" >
> wrote:
>
>>If you figure out anything, please post back. A lot of us want that fix
>><including MS employees>!!
>
>
> I thought TweakUi had a setting in it to prevent applications from
> stealing focus.
>
> Are you saying that it doesn't work?

_DD
April 20th 06, 03:41 AM
On Wed, 19 Apr 2006 10:37:14 -0400, "Larry Samuels" >
wrote:

>It helps, but it doesn't completely fix the problem.

I just checked, and it does the same thing as the registry patch
mentioned at the top of the thread.

Kelly
April 20th 06, 09:33 PM
Suggestions:

When a window that does not have focus is updated by its program, the
default setting prevents it from becoming the foremost (top) window,
instead, it flashes in the taskbar.

HeldUp is the easiest way to stop windows from disappearing behind other
programs. http://www.johnmacintyre.ca/HeldUp.asp

Programs May Start, Quit, Lose, and Gain Focus Randomly
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;313176&Product=winxp

Customize Auto Hide Taskbar Settings (Line 190) Right hand side
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm


"jabadoodle" > wrote in message
reenews.net...
>
> Is there any way to prevent the FOCUS from changing.
>
> Often when I start my comptuer or sign onto the internet (in some
> locations I have to use dial-up) there are many applications starting
> at once. I'll be typing away a username or password and some other
> applicaiton will steal the focus. Meaning my typing is in the wrong place
> so I have to delete it. Then click to get back to what I was doing, etc.
>
> It's annoying.
>
> Any ideas on how to keep the CURRENT window CURRENT ??
>
> Thanks,
>
>

Mike Williams
April 20th 06, 09:54 PM
Kelly wrote:
> Suggestions:
>
> When a window that does not have focus is updated by its program, the
> default setting prevents it from becoming the foremost (top) window,
> instead, it flashes in the taskbar.
>
> HeldUp is the easiest way to stop windows from disappearing behind other
> programs. http://www.johnmacintyre.ca/HeldUp.asp

Except it shouldn't have to be a conscious struggle - the HeldUp tool
requires I nominate the window I want on top. Not great when you're
multi-tasking.

Google