Windows lose focus constantly for up to 5 minutes after boot

[Lyall]

I have a problem with a newly installed Windows XP Pro (like, less
than 3 weeks old) - fully patched up.
Upon power on and boot, windows (including login password entry) lose
focus after about 1 second, requiring a click on them to regain focus,
after which, focus is lost again.

This behavior goes away after about 5 minutes, but is most annoying.
One of my earlier solutions was to reboot, but my son noticed that a
reboot was not necessary and that simply waiting about 5 minutes was
sufficient.
I would not think it's a heat problem as the room has been fairly warm
lately (it's been about 40 degrees celcius for the last week)

Software includes AVG free virus, Adaware filter (registered).

If anyone knows what it takes to fix this, I would be grateful.
If you want more information, like running processes, installed
software, hardware, I can also supply this.

....Lyall

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

I have a problem with a newly installed Windows XP Pro (like, less
than 3 weeks old) - fully patched up.
Upon power on and boot, windows (including login password entry) lose
focus after about 1 second, requiring a click on them to regain focus,
after which, focus is lost again.

This behavior goes away after about 5 minutes, but is most annoying.
One of my earlier solutions was to reboot, but my son noticed that a
reboot was not necessary and that simply waiting about 5 minutes was
sufficient.
I would not think it's a heat problem as the room has been fairly warm
lately (it's been about 40 degrees celcius for the last week)

Software includes AVG free virus, Adaware filter (registered).

If anyone knows what it takes to fix this, I would be grateful.
If you want more information, like running processes, installed
software, hardware, I can also supply this.

...Lyall

For each of the programs down near the clock, double click it and find where
in its options to tell it not to run at startup.

 

[Rock]

I have a problem with a newly installed Windows XP Pro (like, less
than 3 weeks old) - fully patched up.
Upon power on and boot, windows (including login password entry) lose
focus after about 1 second, requiring a click on them to regain focus,
after which, focus is lost again.

This behavior goes away after about 5 minutes, but is most annoying.
One of my earlier solutions was to reboot, but my son noticed that a
reboot was not necessary and that simply waiting about 5 minutes was
sufficient.
I would not think it's a heat problem as the room has been fairly warm
lately (it's been about 40 degrees celcius for the last week)

Software includes AVG free virus, Adaware filter (registered).

If anyone knows what it takes to fix this, I would be grateful.
If you want more information, like running processes, installed
software, hardware, I can also supply this.

Do some clean boot troubleshooting to see what's loading at startup to cause
this problem.

Clean Boot Troubleshooting

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=316434

How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310353

 

[Lyall]

Thanks to all that have taken the time to respond.
I will do the needful and report my results

 

[Uwe Sieber]

I have a problem with a newly installed Windows XP Pro (like, less
than 3 weeks old) - fully patched up.
Upon power on and boot, windows (including login password entry) lose
focus after about 1 second, requiring a click on them to regain focus,
after which, focus is lost again.

This behavior goes away after about 5 minutes, but is most annoying.
One of my earlier solutions was to reboot, but my son noticed that a
reboot was not necessary and that simply waiting about 5 minutes was
sufficient.
I would not think it's a heat problem as the room has been fairly warm
lately (it's been about 40 degrees celcius for the last week)

Software includes AVG free virus, Adaware filter (registered).

At the moment a software called Spamihilator is known
for this because it cannot reach it's update server.
If it's not this then my private tool LogFGwin shoud
help, it logs the foreground window:
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/files/logfgwin.zip

It's not made for publishing and therefore very ugly.
But it should show you what process shows this
windows. Simply let the tool run, wait until the
active window looses the focus and then have a look in
LogFGwin's list. If it cannot resolve the EXE then search
for the pid (process id) in the task manager. Select
the Processes tab, in the menu 'View' -> 'Select Columes'.
Check PID here.


Greetings from Germany

Uwe

 

[Lyall]

Your little logfgwin program worked a Treat!

It helped me catch the rogue program in action and I have now disabled
it.

FYI: It was the Belkin Wireless 'utiltity.exe' program which
occasionally went haywire (including soaking up 45MB of memory and
stealing focus (even though it was hidden) all the time).

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply and post this
program. It's people like you that make the news groups the great
place it is.

....Lyall

PS. Greetings from Australia.