secondary windows spontaneously closing

I am new to Windows XP (accustomed to Win 95 and Win 98). I have a new
laptop with XP Home. The following problem has been manifesting itself
(but did not occur initially, it recently started happening):

In several different programs (Internet Explorer, Mozilla, etc.). The
initial window is fine. But if I open a second window (click on an
Internet link, click to compose a message, click to open an address book
to look for a contact's email address, etc.), this secondary window very
briefly opens but then just as quickly shuts down (disappears). It does
not stay open long enough to even select anything in that window.

Any suggestions as to fixes?

I will add that the laptop (XP) has a touch pad and this *may* be the
source of the initial problem. By default it was set for the cursor to
"snap to default prompt" which meant that the cursor would move and
hover over a prompt ("yes", "no", etc.) in a popup window. I noticed
that occasionally the touch pad thought I had "tapped" and would execute
the prompt even before I had read the screen - so the laptop might
have set a condition that I did not agree to. I have since disabled the
"snap to prompt" option for the cursor (and adjusted the sensitivity so
that it doesn't "jump to conclusions"). But, could the laptop have
possibly changed a setting that is causing these secondary windows to
prematurely close? If yes, how do I correct the command setting (that I
did not see when it was presented and executed)?

Thanks, in advance,

-== JNR ==-

I have noticed the same which started shortly after I installed Mozilla 1.7.3. on XP. I have looked for the same with MS Explorer or Opera, it only happens with Mozilla.

Originally Posted by John S. Riggins

I am new to Windows XP (accustomed to Win 95 and Win 98). I have a new
laptop with XP Home. The following problem has been manifesting itself
(but did not occur initially, it recently started happening):

In several different programs (Internet Explorer, Mozilla, etc.). The
initial window is fine. But if I open a second window (click on an
Internet link, click to compose a message, click to open an address book
to look for a contact's email address, etc.), this secondary window very
briefly opens but then just as quickly shuts down (disappears). It does
not stay open long enough to even select anything in that window.

Any suggestions as to fixes?


-== JNR ==-