Messenger Service pop-ups in foreground/background

[humbletech99]

I have noticed that my pop up messages (net sends) from the Messenger service are always in the background now, whereas they used to be in the foreground.

It may seem trivial but it's the difference between just being able to press enter and having to alt-tab twice then enter or use the mouse which is much much slower.

It's only a minor bugbear but one that will get on one's nerves after a while. Any ideas how to force the pop-ups to be the foreground window when they occur?

 

[xwb]

It depends on what you're doing. If you're not doing anything, they will be in the foreground. If you are busy clicking and typing, they will start off in the foreground but quickly switch to the background as the window you're typing/clicking in moves to the foreground.

 

[linney]

Is it a recent enough occurrence to be repaired via System Restore?

Do you see the same thing when logged on as a different user?

Anything appearing in the Event Viewer that might offer a clue?

Programs May Start, Quit, Lose, and Gain Focus Randomly

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;313176

App Opens With No Focus?
thread779-579509

Stop background task dialogs poping up
thread779-827285



Some general things to try.

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Select both boxes.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[humbletech99]

I don't think this is a problem with having messed something up or having a slightly corrupted disk. I remember someone asking me about this ages ago on his workstation.

I think it's something that probably changed with an update or something and I very much doubt that reinstalling it would fix anything.


I am not doing anything so there is no chance of a click making something else the foreground application. I have tested this while the machine is completely idel of user input and it still pops up on top of the other windows but not in focus so you can't send a keyboard stroke to it.