How to stop blinking windows?

August 1, 2008 11:43 AM

Why do my windows keep blinking/switching?

When I have more then one window open, focus switches back and forth between them, or the window deselects and then reselects itself. This often happens in the middle of typing, so I drop half of a word. It happens in all programs. I have run virus scans and spyware scans to no avail. My details:
- Running Window XP, SP 3
- Toshiba Satellite Laptop, about 1.5 years old
- No other apparent issues

I have tried Googling, but I can't find the same problem (as far as I can tell). Help!

posted by sarahkeebs to computers & internet (7 comments total)

don't know about you but my toshiba laptop's trackpad and buttons are really sensative, and i find that i'm executing random mouse commands when i type, if i'm not careful.
posted by lester at 11:46 AM on August 1, 2008

@ lester: I've had that problem as well, but my tempts to avoid it don't seem to make a difference. Also, it happens whether or not my hands are anywhere near the keyboard.
posted by sarahkeebs at 12:22 PM on August 1, 2008

On two laptops I've owned, there was a physical switch I could click (next to the trackpad) which deactivated it.

On my current notebook there's no such switch, but in the mouse applet in the control panel there's a checkbox which deactivates the trackpad when a mouse is plugged in.

I agree with Lester that the problem is you brushing the trackpad by accident, even when you're actively trying to avoid doing so.
posted by Class Goat at 1:26 PM on August 1, 2008

If it's not the trackpad (And it could be the trackpad going bad and reacting to any vibration even if you're not touching it. Try using a mouse and deactivating the trackpad in your Device Manager.) then my next idea: Which virus scanner are you running? I've had that problem with... I think Avast that whenever it did updates (or looked for updates) it would steal focus for a bit.

If that's not it (And it's not a virus) I would go through the taskbar and deactivate everything that isn't necessary and see if that helps.

Do you have bluetooth or a wireless keyboard/mouse?
posted by Ookseer at 2:15 PM on August 1, 2008

Microsoft PowerToy TweakUI might be your answer?
posted by arcticseal at 2:58 PM on August 1, 2008

I was too hasty, I should add that once you install, go to General > Focus and enable the "Prevent Applications from stealing focus" check box.
posted by arcticseal at 3:04 PM on August 1, 2008

Wow, arcticseal, that may or may not have help the sarahkeebs, but was a revelation to me! Thanks!
posted by Squid Voltaire at 3:31 PM on August 1, 2008