flashing taskbar buttons

[AKM]

How do I stop applications from flashing their buttons on the toolbar,
and raising it up over the bottom part of the screen? (Normally I have
it hidden.) It's annoying when it covers up my work for some trite
thing that can wait.

And is there a setting to get rid of the speech balloons in the system
tray that tell you things little things like XYZ internet service is
connected, Windows updates are ready to download, ...? They hover there
so long, and say only what can be surmised from other clues anyway, so
I'd rather not have them at all.

 

[Kelly]

As for your first mention, this is a very annoying issue for many XP users
and not much can be done to the extent of elimination, at this time,
natively.

There are suggested workarounds:

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

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

TweakUI/General/Focus
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

Prevent Programs from Stealing Focus - Undo (Line 66)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

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

Tool Tips Hidden Behind Taskbar (Line 321)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

To rid of Balloon Tips:

TweakUI/Taskbar/Uncheck Enable Balloon Tips
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

Or use this automated edit:

Disable Balloon Tips or Disable All (Row 11)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Disable All includes: Balloon Tips, Folder Contents Info Tips, Explorer
Pop-Ups, Show Info Tips, Start Menu and Notification Area.

To use the Regedit: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it
and answer yes to the import prompt. REG files can be viewed in Notepad by
right clicking on the file and selecting Edit.

 

[AKM]

As for your first mention, this is a very annoying issue for many XP users
and not much can be done to the extent of elimination, at this time,
natively.

There are suggested workarounds:

Thanks for all those!

I dream of the day when user interface designers start doing their job
properly...

 

[Kelly]

Most welcome and I hear you.