Loss of Focus Problem

[Norm Dresner]

Computer is a Dell 9100 Inspiron Laptop with WinXP SP3 and all later
automatic updates. Randomly while typing, the open window loses focus. We
can't correlate it with anything on the keyboard or mouse. Further, I can't
figure out where the focus is! All global keys (e.g. Windows key,
Ctrl-Alt-Del) still work as normal. If we tap the right mouse button, the
focus point is restored to the point where we were typing, though no mouse
icon or cursor is visible on the screen.

I think as a first step, I'd like to find out where the focus has gone to.
It's not any open window and it's not the desktop because these can be
tested by typing keys that would have an effect if the focus is there.
We're pretty sure that there's no virus or adware on the computer.

Suggestions welcome.

Norm

 

[Elmo]

Computer is a Dell 9100 Inspiron Laptop with WinXP SP3 and all later
automatic updates. Randomly while typing, the open window loses focus. We
can't correlate it with anything on the keyboard or mouse. Further, I can't
figure out where the focus is! All global keys (e.g. Windows key,
Ctrl-Alt-Del) still work as normal. If we tap the right mouse button, the
focus point is restored to the point where we were typing, though no mouse
icon or cursor is visible on the screen.

I think as a first step, I'd like to find out where the focus has gone to.
It's not any open window and it's not the desktop because these can be
tested by typing keys that would have an effect if the focus is there.
We're pretty sure that there's no virus or adware on the computer.

Suggestions welcome.

Norm

Alt/F4 will close the currently selected window. That might help you
find the program that is stealing focus and hiding the pointer.. Or,
the following might help:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Line 66. (r-h column) Prevent Programs from Stealing Focus - Undo

 

[Norm Dresner]

| Norm Dresner wrote:
| > Computer is a Dell 9100 Inspiron Laptop with WinXP SP3 and all later
| > automatic updates. Randomly while typing, the open window loses focus.
We
| > can't correlate it with anything on the keyboard or mouse. Further, I
can't
| > figure out where the focus is! All global keys (e.g. Windows key,
| > Ctrl-Alt-Del) still work as normal. If we tap the right mouse button,
the
| > focus point is restored to the point where we were typing, though no
mouse
| > icon or cursor is visible on the screen.
| >
| > I think as a first step, I'd like to find out where the focus has gone
to.
| > It's not any open window and it's not the desktop because these can be
| > tested by typing keys that would have an effect if the focus is there.
| > We're pretty sure that there's no virus or adware on the computer.
| >
| > Suggestions welcome.
| >
| > Norm
|
| Alt/F4 will close the currently selected window. That might help you
| find the program that is stealing focus and hiding the pointer.. Or,
| the following might help:
|
| http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
| Line 66. (r-h column) Prevent Programs from Stealing Focus - Undo
|
| --
| Joe =o)

Alt-F4 was the first thing I tried and nothing happens!

Norm

 

[Uwe Sieber]

Computer is a Dell 9100 Inspiron Laptop with WinXP SP3 and all later
automatic updates. Randomly while typing, the open window loses focus. We
can't correlate it with anything on the keyboard or mouse. Further, I can't
figure out where the focus is! All global keys (e.g. Windows key,
Ctrl-Alt-Del) still work as normal. If we tap the right mouse button, the
focus point is restored to the point where we were typing, though no mouse
icon or cursor is visible on the screen.

I think as a first step, I'd like to find out where the focus has gone to.
It's not any open window and it's not the desktop because these can be
tested by typing keys that would have an effect if the focus is there.
We're pretty sure that there's no virus or adware on the computer.

Suggestions welcome.

My little ugly tool which logs the foreground window
should show who steals the focus:
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/files/logfgwin.zip

Uwe

 

[Norm Dresner]

| Norm Dresner wrote:
| > Computer is a Dell 9100 Inspiron Laptop with WinXP SP3 and all later
| > automatic updates. Randomly while typing, the open window loses focus.
We
| > can't correlate it with anything on the keyboard or mouse. Further, I
can't
| > figure out where the focus is! All global keys (e.g. Windows key,
| > Ctrl-Alt-Del) still work as normal. If we tap the right mouse button,
the
| > focus point is restored to the point where we were typing, though no
mouse
| > icon or cursor is visible on the screen.
| >
| > I think as a first step, I'd like to find out where the focus has gone
to.
| > It's not any open window and it's not the desktop because these can be
| > tested by typing keys that would have an effect if the focus is there.
| > We're pretty sure that there's no virus or adware on the computer.
| >
| > Suggestions welcome.
|
| My little ugly tool which logs the foreground window
| should show who steals the focus:
| http://www.uwe-sieber.de/files/logfgwin.zip
|
| Uwe

Thanks, we'll give it a try.
Norm

 

[Kelly]

TweakUI/General/Focus
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

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

Customize Auto Hide Taskbar Settings (Line 190) Right hand side
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Happy Birthday if today is your birthday!

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

SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

 

[JohnAnderson]

Uwe,

Thanks for the link to your app. (http://www.uwe-sieber.de/files/logfgwin.zip). I had the same loss of focus problem and found that a scheduled task run by f-Secure was stealing the focus. Once uninstalled the problem went away.

This has been annoying me for months.

Cheers,

John

 

[Bigrinner]

Here it is almost 5 years after it was written, still a useful answer for me! Your 'ugly' program still did it's job perfectly. Thanks!

BTW for me, the ugly program found TP-Link software that would routinely re-search for wifi signals. I uninstalled the software, all is good.

 

[david.brown]

Likewise, Uwe's simple but effective program identified the source of MY loss of focus problem with Windows Mail on Vista. It was McAfee Internet Security! However, removing it presented a problem in that the usual uninstall methods failed. I had to download McAfee's 'Consumer Products Removal tool (MCPR)' from the McAfee website - search for MCPR.

Thanks, David