Bizarre focus problem

[Terry Pinnell]

This looks as if it's going to be some obscure XP registry issue, so
I'm going to post fairly widely in the hope that it rings a bell with
someone.

When I drag files from a folder to almost any program, the program
opens the file but does not get activated. The focus just remains on
the Explorer/My Computer window.

I've rebooted, defragmented, applied CC cleaner, etc, with no change.
I can't use System Restore because I've made too many changes
recently, and the cure might end up worse than the problem!

This inability to take focus applies to the great majority of the
programs I've tried, with all sorts of file types, such as plain TXT,
JPG and GIF images, AVI and MPG video, WMA and MP3 music, and many
others.

Oddly, there are a few exceptions, and I'm hoping that in itself might
offer some clue to those with programming or technical skills (which I
don't have). For example, Word is OK. But not Excel. And my text
editor, TextPad, is OK. But not Notepad. IrfanView is OK, but not
PaintShop Pro 8, or MS Paint, etc.

Anyone have any ideas or lines of pursuit I could try please?

Happy to provide any detailed information if it helps isolate problem.

 

[Guest]

Hi Terry you got an up to date virus scanner?

If so then the problem lies with the file associations. Open my computer
choose tools folder option and file types check the associations and re apply
them as neccesary. If this doesn't solve it you have a registry issue which
should be straight forward to correct

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Hi Terry you got an up to date virus scanner?

If so then the problem lies with the file associations. Open my computer
choose tools folder option and file types check the associations and re apply
them as neccesary. If this doesn't solve it you have a registry issue which
should be straight forward to correct

Thanks Joe. But it seems I was on a fool's errand! I could have sworn
dragging always used to make the 'receiving' application active, but I
must have imagined it! That would be the best default IMO. I now
gather the Windows default is for Explorer to keep the focus. But just
a few of the programs I've tried do so:


Focus
after
Program dragging?
------- ----------
Notepad No
Textpad Yes
PowerDVD No
WMP 10 No
VirtualDub No
GPSU No
MemoryMap No
Compare/Merge No
Word Yes
Excel No
PowerPoint Yes
Paint Shop Pro 8 No
IrfanView Yes

 

[Alec S.]

Thanks Joe. But it seems I was on a fool's errand! I could have sworn
dragging always used to make the 'receiving' application active, but I
must have imagined it! That would be the best default IMO. I now
gather the Windows default is for Explorer to keep the focus. But just
a few of the programs I've tried do so:

You're right, it seems like it always does, but it does not. There are various factors that can affect it. I'm sure that your
tests will not be consistent either, eg: Textpad may sometimes not receive focus, Notepad sometimes might. Likewise, dragging an
item to the taskbar button will not always open the the window, or dragging something to the taskbar (which should minimize all
windows) will not always do that either.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

You're right, it seems like it always does, but it does not. There are various factors that can affect it. I'm sure that your
tests will not be consistent either, eg: Textpad may sometimes not receive focus, Notepad sometimes might. Likewise, dragging an
item to the taskbar button will not always open the the window, or dragging something to the taskbar (which should minimize all
windows) will not always do that either.

Thanks Alec. As they say, go figure...!