How to keep CoolSwitcher (Alt-Tab) from automatically activating tasks

[Fletcher James]

I have just begun migrating from Win2K to an XP machine. I noticed that if
I hold Alt and press Tab to activate the CoolSwitcher, and if I pause for
two seconds on any one icon, then XP automatically activates the
corresponding task. Unfortunately, I often have several similar tasks open
(e.g. Word documents) and it can easily take a few seconds to figure out
which document I need.

Is there any way to make Alt-Tab work the way it did under previous versions
of Windows?

One thing you should know is that I installed the Alt-Tab replacement
PowerToy, and then removed it (because I didn't see this behavior until
after it was installed.) Does Alt-Tab always behave this way, or is it the
result of trying the PowerToy?

--
Fletcher James
President
Levit & James, Inc.
(e-mail address removed)

CrossEyes Reveals the Codes in Word!
www.levitjames.com

 

[Michael Burk [MSFT]]

As long as you are holding down the Alt key, this should not happen. If you
let up on the Alt key, it thinks you have made your decision.

--
Michael Burk

Longhorn Shell
http://msdn.microsoft.com/longhorn
----===========================----

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Fletcher James]

I'm holding the Alt-key. The way I work is:

1. Press and hold Alt

2. Tap Tab

3. Either:

a: Look for a specific icon, and tab quickly until it's highlighted, or

b: Tab slowly through the icons, looking at the descriptions, until I've
got the one I want.

4. Lift the Alt key.

The problem I'm having is that while I'm holding the Alt key, if I have it
held for more than 2 seconds without hitting the Tab, then the CoolSwitcher
disappears, and the task associated with the last-highlighted icon is
activated.

I'm baffled, especially since the behavior is so obvious and so annoying,
and I haven't found any signs of anyone else complaining (after all, look at
how many threads there have been with people complaining about the speed of
the PowerToy.)

--
Fletcher James
President
Levit & James, Inc.
(e-mail address removed)

CrossEyes Reveals the Codes in Word!
www.levitjames.com