Microsoft: How do I make it not do this?

Factual Questions
1

Sorry for the vague thread title. Here’s the scene: I use a Mac PowerBook G4 at home. I often have several windows open. If I open a new browser, I can go back to the first one (or another one, or any of the applications I may be using) and the new window will load in the background. At the office I use a PC running Windows 2000. I might be running Excel or Access or another application. If I open IE and then go back to the application, IE will keep popping up until it’s loaded. This is annoying if I’m working in an application and just as I’m about to type something IE pops up. I click back on the application and am about to type again, but IE isn’t done with me yet. Pops up again. This happens sometimes when I’m opening other programs (e.g., Outlook) as well.

How do I tell the OS that when I click on a different window, I want to stay in that window while the new one opens?

2

I don’t have an answer, but if you find misery in company, read this: stealing focus.

3

From that thread:

Heh. It doesn’t help that the company’s connection is fairly slow (at least compared to my cable access at home). I go to the homepage from here, and it pops up instantly. At work it takes about 15 seconds, and Windows keeps going back to it when I click back to the window where I’m typing. As I said, this behaviour doesn’t happen on my Mac. And if a dialog box opens while I’m elsewhere, it will remain in the background and I’ll hear ‘Excuse me, [application] needs your attention.’ I can give it my attention when I want to.

I haven’t finished the other thread yet, but I’m getting the impression that there’s not a box I can check somewhere that says ‘Always stay in the active window’. Is that correct?

4

That’s a big 10-4, good buddy…

5

No. However, Windows 7 is much better over managing annoying apps stealing focus. If you’re able to upgrade, this can be one of those non-sexy features that helps bring sanity to the desktop.

6

I’ve heard a rumour that we’ll be upgrading to Windows 7.

7

Maybe if you minimize IE it will not try to steal the focus.

I’m not sure whether or not this will work but it’s easy to try.

8

Are you stuck with IE? Maybe you could try switching to a different browser. Of course, depending on your company’s IT restrictions this may not be possible.

9

Run regedit and check the value of HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\ForegroundLockTimeout.

10

What (specifically) does that do?

11