Clicking Task Bar Activates Multiple Windows

[Cory Burkhardt]

I have been getting very strange behavior from the explorer task bar in
windows. For some reason, when I click on an arbitrary window's task bar
button, it activates the clicked window but is also spurriously activating
other windows. It is very distracting when I want to activate one window to
have a bunch of other windows popping up. And it is especially annoying
when I want to bring to the front 2 different windows side by side. I bring
one to the front, but when I attempt to bring the second one, a bunch of
other windows spurriously pop up and cover up the first one. Has anybody
else experienced this, and is there a fix?

 

[Kelly]

Hi Cory,

Does this happen when XP hasn't been booted for a great while? When this
happens, are the tool tips also hidden behind the taskbar? Do you have any
focus measures applied?

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Cory Burkhardt]

Yes, you are right, I have not restarted in awhile. And I never noticed it
but the tool tips do get hidden beneath the task bar as you say. In
addition, using the windows key+m does not minimize some windows, and I have
to use the show desktop button or manually minimize every window to get at
the desktop. I'm not quite sure what you mean by "focus measures," but I do
not think I have any such things.

If a restart is the only thing that can fix this, then I am not very pleased
because I do not believe I should be required to restart the computer every
now and then just to fix this problem. But if there's nothing else, I guess
that's what I'll have to do.

Thanks,
Cory

 

[Kelly]

Most welcome and as I thought. Even ending process on Explorer.exe doesn't
help.

Added info and suggestions:

What is the difference between Minimize All and Show Desktop? Explains
why.....
http://weblogs.asp.net/oldnewthing/archive/2004/05/27/143042.aspx

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

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

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

Restore Taskbar and Desktop to Default Functionality (Line 164)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm


--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com