Disappearing pop-up messages

[Guest]

I've got an annoying problem with my new laptop (XP Pro, all updates
installed). Pop-up messages appear for a split second, and then disappear
again.

One example of where this happens is in windows which have the help button
(the question mark) at the top right. I click on the button, and then click
in the window where I want help: the help message pops up, and then instantly
disappears again.

Another example is with Windows Live Hotmail in IE7: I click somewhere to
get a pop-up menu, which appears briefly and is then gone again.

Those are just a couple of examples, there are lots of other places where
this occurs. Any ideas anyone?

n.b. the system is armed to the teeth with anti-virus and anti-spyware
packages.

 

[needlove]

In event veiwer what does it say? take note of time... what firewall are you
using?

 

[Guest]

Hi, thanks for your reply.

I just tried it again and then checked all the logs in the event viewer,
there's nothing unfortunately.

I don't have a software firewall, I have the firewall enabled in my Netgear
router. I have AVG Anti-virus, AVG Anti-spyware, Ad-Aware and Spybot S+D
installed. I've tried disabling all of them, problem remains.

 

[Malke]

Hi, thanks for your reply.

I just tried it again and then checked all the logs in the event viewer,
there's nothing unfortunately.

I don't have a software firewall, I have the firewall enabled in my Netgear
router. I have AVG Anti-virus, AVG Anti-spyware, Ad-Aware and Spybot S+D
installed. I've tried disabling all of them, problem remains.

The system is not "armed to the teeth" because it is lacking a firewall.
If the Netgear router is a consumer-level device then it is not adequate
protection. You need to have the XP Firewall on.

However, the problem might be caused by hardware and not software. Do
you have a wireless mouse? If yes, try changing the batteries. If you
are in an office or home situation with other users who have wireless
mice there could be interference from the other mice in the room. Try a
wired mouse and see if the problem goes away.


Malke

 

[Guest]

The system is not "armed to the teeth" because it is lacking a firewall.
If the Netgear router is a consumer-level device then it is not adequate
protection. You need to have the XP Firewall on.

Why?

However, the problem might be caused by hardware and not software. Do
you have a wireless mouse? If yes, try changing the batteries. If you
are in an office or home situation with other users who have wireless
mice there could be interference from the other mice in the room. Try a
wired mouse and see if the problem goes away.

No, I'm not using a wireless mouse.

 

[Elmo]

I've got an annoying problem with my new laptop (XP Pro, all updates
installed). Pop-up messages appear for a split second, and then disappear
again.

One example of where this happens is in windows which have the help button
(the question mark) at the top right. I click on the button, and then click
in the window where I want help: the help message pops up, and then instantly
disappears again.

Another example is with Windows Live Hotmail in IE7: I click somewhere to
get a pop-up menu, which appears briefly and is then gone again.

Those are just a couple of examples, there are lots of other places where
this occurs. Any ideas anyone?

n.b. the system is armed to the teeth with anti-virus and anti-spyware
packages.

I don't remember a window with a question mark in the upper right
corner. But if Help windows are closing, try these:

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

Line 141. Help, CHM, HH Checker/Fixer

Line 344. Help and Support Default in XP

Also, do you have a pop-up stopper running that might be blocking
jscript windows?

 

[Guest]

I don't remember a window with a question mark in the upper right
corner. But if Help windows are closing, try these:

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

Line 141. Help, CHM, HH Checker/Fixer

Line 344. Help and Support Default in XP

Also, do you have a pop-up stopper running that might be blocking
jscript windows?

Hi,

Thanks for replying. I was referring to the "What's this?" button on the
title bar of some windows, next to the "close" button.

It's only an example. The problem is not restricted to only help messages.
Some other examples:

I've got some VPN connections set up. If one of them fails to connect, a
message pops up with the error number etc. Except, on this computer, it pops
up and then promptly disappears.

In the VBA window in Office applications, if I stop the code at a breakpoint
then I'm supposed to be able to point at variables and objects in the code,
and their current value is displayed. Except, of course, on this computer it
gets displayed and then instantly disappears.

Basically, it's all those Windows pop-up messages which have black text on a
white/yellow background (at least, in the default colour scheme). They all
exhibit the same behaviour, irrespective of the context in which they arise:
they appear, and then instantly disappear again.

The only pop-up blocker I use is the IE7 popup-blocker. I've tried
disabling it but it makes no difference.

This problem is not entirely unheard of, I did find a couple of older
threads in Google Groups, but no solutions.

 

[Guest]

I don't remember a window with a question mark in the upper right
corner. But if Help windows are closing, try these:

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

Line 141. Help, CHM, HH Checker/Fixer

Line 344. Help and Support Default in XP

Also, do you have a pop-up stopper running that might be blocking
jscript windows?

 

[Elmo]

I believe those are Tooltips..

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Run the regedit on line 7. It will change the default from 5 seconds to
10 seconds. To increase it more than 10 seconds, modify the file in
Notepad before running.

 

[Guest]

I believe those are Tooltips..

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Run the regedit on line 7. It will change the default from 5 seconds to
10 seconds. To increase it more than 10 seconds, modify the file in
Notepad before running.

Hi Joe,

No, they're not tool tips. They are information messages that are supposed
to pop up and stay there until clicked on (at least, that's how it works on
every other computer I've ever used!). But, on this particular computer,
they don't stick around for even half a second, they are gone as soon as they
appear.

Ironically tool tips are fine.

Baz