Windows do not show up correctly when clicking on them

Hoggorm · 25 May 2018

Hi,

I struggle quite hard trying to explain this issue, so the topic title may be a bit unclear but the problem is that when I have several programs open in the task bar clicking on one of them will not always push it up front on the screen...

I can have iTunes, Explorer and Chrome open for example with iTunes up front. If I now want to open Explorer clicking on it makes it "active", but it is still behind iTunes...

In this image I'm working in Explorer when I want to open Notepad++. Clicking Notepad++ do not bring it up front though...

Windows do not show up correctly when clicking on them-skjermbilde-2018-05-25-11.43.30.png

In this image I'm working in Notepad++ and want to open Chrome but clicking on Chrome do not bring it up. Instead Notepad++ remain in front.

Windows do not show up correctly when clicking on them-skjermbilde-2018-05-25-11.48.38.png

Notepad++ is for simplicity used in both examples here, but the problem affects all software running.

How can I fix this?

dalchina · 25 May 2018

Hi, you could have a look at this: Ahmed Yassin's reply:
Windows not coming to the front - Microsoft Community

(Thread is for 8.1, his reply refers to Win 10).

Hoggorm · 25 May 2018

Thank you.

The solution did work, however after computer restart the value set in the registry ForegroundLockTimeout is reverted back to hexadecimal... It will not stay on decimal...

1. Go to start and type regedit.exe.
2. Navigate to the following location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop.
3. Double click the 'ForegroundLockTimeout' key. Change the notation to decimal.
4. The default value should be 200000 millisecond in decimal, or 200 seconds. Click OK.
5. Restart your computer and check if the issue persists.

dalchina · 25 May 2018

Mine's decimal- and stays that way...

Either registry changes aren't being saved (in which case I'd have thought you'd notice that in other contexts) or something is specifically modifying that entry.

Try a clean boot, and compare.

You could also try a registry monitoring tool to detect a change, perhaps such as

SpyMe Tools also includes a Real time Disk/Registry monitor so you may spot the changes in real time. (Real time Disk monitor works only on NT platform, including Win2k and Win XP).

Hoggorm · 25 May 2018

A clean boot did not solve the problem.

I also see that I do not have to reboot for the change to revert.

After opening the ForegroundLockTimeout key I choose Decimal since it is on hexadecimal. I make sure it reads 200000 and click OK. opening the ForegroundLockTimeout key immediately displays the hexadecimal value and indicates that this is selected. No matter how many times I change back to decimal it will always revert back to its original value...

I was unable to find the SpyMe Tool or any other registry monitors, so I was unable to try that suggestion...

dalchina · 25 May 2018

lifehacker.com/5162963/spyme-tools-tracks-changes-to-your-windows-registry
Download Portable SpyMe Tools 1.5.0

- just searched for spymetool

You could have a permission problem in writing to the registry, or for whatever reason your registry isn't being saved.

Windows do not show up correctly when clicking on them-1.jpg

Technical tool from MS/Sysinternals - can be awkward to use:
Process Monitor

Process Monitor is another very popular, free registry monitoring utility, that offers some advanced options. It works in real time and shows all system files, registry changes and processes/threads of your system. This tiny tool is also able to fix your registry, if there are some errors, as well as to remove malware and other types of malicious software. You can download this small, but powerful registry tool fro free from TechNet.