Everything's been working fine for a very long time, but, suddenly, even
though I have two or more programs open, I cannot seem to go from one to the
other without minimizing first. The programs are "hiding" behind each other
and do not "overlay" when trying to switch screens. I'm pretty sure it's
just a "setting" somewhere, but can't figure it out. HELP please.

Operating System: XP Pro 2002 Service Pack 3
Also running Outlook 2007, Corel WordPerfect Office 12, and several other
industry-specific prorams.

Jan wrote:
> Everything's been working fine for a very long time, but, suddenly,
> even though I have two or more programs open, I cannot seem to go
> from one to the other without minimizing first. The programs are
> "hiding" behind each other and do not "overlay" when trying to switch
> screens. I'm pretty sure it's just a "setting" somewhere, but can't
> figure it out. HELP please.
> Operating System: XP Pro 2002 Service Pack 3
> Also running Outlook 2007, Corel WordPerfect Office 12, and several
> other industry-specific prorams.
=================================
Sounds like you are viewing 'Full Screen'...

There should be an icon on your taskbar for
each open program...just left click the one
you want to view.

Or you could drag the corner handle of each
window to a smaller size...then close and
reopen it. (It should reopen at the smaller size)

Or...with several windows open you could
right click your taskbar and choose...Cascade
Windows.

--


John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

Jan wrote:
> Everything's been working fine for a very long time, but, suddenly, even
> though I have two or more programs open, I cannot seem to go from one to the
> other without minimizing first. The programs are "hiding" behind each other
> and do not "overlay" when trying to switch screens. I'm pretty sure it's
> just a "setting" somewhere, but can't figure it out. HELP please.
>
> Operating System: XP Pro 2002 Service Pack 3
> Also running Outlook 2007, Corel WordPerfect Office 12, and several other
> industry-specific programs.

That's a strange one.. it may be some software running in the background
that's preventing the change of focus. Kelly's site does have a couple
of registry tweaks so you can prevent other programs stealing focus.
The second option, "Undo", might reset something and help:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Line 66. (r-h column) Prevent Programs from Stealing Focus - Undo

--
Joe =o)

Yes, I am viewing full screen. I always view full screen. But left clicking
the icon on the taskbar for the open program I want to view isn't doing what
it is supposed to do. When I click, it's supposed to bring that program's
screen to the front. It's not.


"John Inzer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Jan wrote:
>> Everything's been working fine for a very long time, but, suddenly,
>> even though I have two or more programs open, I cannot seem to go
>> from one to the other without minimizing first. The programs are
>> "hiding" behind each other and do not "overlay" when trying to switch
>> screens. I'm pretty sure it's just a "setting" somewhere, but can't
>> figure it out. HELP please.
>> Operating System: XP Pro 2002 Service Pack 3
>> Also running Outlook 2007, Corel WordPerfect Office 12, and several
>> other industry-specific prorams.
> =================================
> Sounds like you are viewing 'Full Screen'...
>
> There should be an icon on your taskbar for
> each open program...just left click the one
> you want to view.
>
> Or you could drag the corner handle of each
> window to a smaller size...then close and
> reopen it. (It should reopen at the smaller size)
>
> Or...with several windows open you could
> right click your taskbar and choose...Cascade
> Windows.
>
> --
>
>
> John Inzer MS-MVP
> Digital Media Experience
>
> Notice
> This is not tech support
> I am a volunteer
>
> Solutions that work for
> me may not work for you
>
> Proceed at your own risk
>

Well....I hope I didn't screw anything up. I didn't realize if I clicked and
downloaded the file you referenced it would automatically load something on
the computer! I did it on a machine I wasn't having a problem with. Hope I
don't suddenly develop one !!


"Elmo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Jan wrote:
>> Everything's been working fine for a very long time, but, suddenly, even
>> though I have two or more programs open, I cannot seem to go from one to
>> the
>> other without minimizing first. The programs are "hiding" behind each
>> other
>> and do not "overlay" when trying to switch screens. I'm pretty sure it's
>> just a "setting" somewhere, but can't figure it out. HELP please.
>>
>> Operating System: XP Pro 2002 Service Pack 3
>> Also running Outlook 2007, Corel WordPerfect Office 12, and several other
>> industry-specific programs.
>
> That's a strange one.. it may be some software running in the background
> that's preventing the change of focus. Kelly's site does have a couple
> of registry tweaks so you can prevent other programs stealing focus.
> The second option, "Undo", might reset something and help:
>
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
>
> Line 66. (r-h column) Prevent Programs from Stealing Focus - Undo
>
> --
> Joe =o)

Jan Groshan wrote:
> Well....I hope I didn't screw anything up. I didn't realize if I clicked and
> downloaded the file you referenced it would automatically load something on
> the computer! I did it on a machine I wasn't having a problem with. Hope I
> don't suddenly develop one !!
>
>
> "Elmo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Jan wrote:
>>> Everything's been working fine for a very long time, but, suddenly, even
>>> though I have two or more programs open, I cannot seem to go from one to
>>> the
>>> other without minimizing first. The programs are "hiding" behind each
>>> other
>>> and do not "overlay" when trying to switch screens. I'm pretty sure it's
>>> just a "setting" somewhere, but can't figure it out. HELP please.
>>>
>>> Operating System: XP Pro 2002 Service Pack 3
>>> Also running Outlook 2007, Corel WordPerfect Office 12, and several other
>>> industry-specific programs.
>> That's a strange one.. it may be some software running in the background
>> that's preventing the change of focus. Kelly's site does have a couple
>> of registry tweaks so you can prevent other programs stealing focus.
>> The second option, "Undo", might reset something and help:
>>
>> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
>>
>> Line 66. (r-h column) Prevent Programs from Stealing Focus - Undo

The Undo link, next to the other would undo the change if it causes
problems. You can right-click either file, click Edit and see what it
does. You do have to right-click the LINK to the file and save the
file, perhaps to the Desktop, before editing..

--
Joe =o)

"Jan Groshan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:B9sll.16821$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Yes, I am viewing full screen. I always view full screen. But left
> clicking the icon on the taskbar for the open program I want to view isn't
> doing what it is supposed to do. When I click, it's supposed to bring that
> program's screen to the front. It's not.
> ...

Have you tried Alt-Tab to switch windows?
Have you tried right-click / Minimize on the task bar for the
application currently at the front (some other window should
then appear, or even the desktop if _everything_ is minimized).

Jan Groshan wrote:
> Yes, I am viewing full screen. I always view full screen. But left
> clicking the icon on the taskbar for the open program I want to view
> isn't doing what it is supposed to do. When I click, it's supposed to
> bring that program's screen to the front. It's not.
==============================
Maybe the following article would be worth a look:

(886217) New program window appears
behind all other open windows on a Windows
2000-based, Windows XP-based, Windows
Server 2003-based, or Windows Vista-based
computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/886217

--


John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk