How to stop windows (any kind) from popping on top

Is there anyway to instruct Windows so that any program/application/whatever
windows doesn't pop on top of the others? Examples:
1. It's very annoying when you're typing something important and the Office
reminders pop on top. Sound and blinking in the Taskbar is more than enough.
2. Another situation is when you're running two applications at the same
time, and you're working on one of them, and the other's process generates
new windows, and they pop on top. My problem is not that it generates new
windows, but that THEY ALWAYS POP ON TOP.

I hope I made it clear and that someone can help.

Thanks

"Fabiano" <Fabiano@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news08FA2B2-46FF-47F4-8BA0-E8E2F3BFB282@microsoft.com...
> Is there anyway to instruct Windows so that any
> program/application/whatever
> windows doesn't pop on top of the others? Examples:
> 1. It's very annoying when you're typing something important and the
> Office
> reminders pop on top. Sound and blinking in the Taskbar is more than
> enough.
> 2. Another situation is when you're running two applications at the same
> time, and you're working on one of them, and the other's process generates
> new windows, and they pop on top. My problem is not that it generates new
> windows, but that THEY ALWAYS POP ON TOP.
>
> I hope I made it clear and that someone can help.
>
> Thanks

Unfortunately you're under the mistaken impression that you're in control of
your computer. It's wrongheaded to think that. Almost any program can do
almost anything it want to do at any time without stopping to ask your
permission. [That's how most virus programs work too.] There's absolutely
nothing you can do without modifying your OS in somewhat drastic ways to
prevent any program from creating any display or window it wants anywhere on
your screen. That's life. That's Windows.

Norm

Mon, 21 Nov 2005 02:06:08 -0800 from Fabiano
<Fabiano@discussions.microsoft.com>:
> Is there anyway to instruct Windows so that any program/application/whatever
> windows doesn't pop on top of the others? Examples:
> 1. It's very annoying when you're typing something important and the Office
> reminders pop on top. Sound and blinking in the Taskbar is more than enough.
> 2. Another situation is when you're running two applications at the same
> time, and you're working on one of them, and the other's process generates
> new windows, and they pop on top. My problem is not that it generates new
> windows, but that THEY ALWAYS POP ON TOP.

In the General tab of TweakUI
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...powertoys.mspx
check "Prevent applications from stealing focus".

It doesn't work perfectly, but it's better than nothing.


--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com/
"If there's one thing I know, it's men. I ought to: it's
been my life work." -- Marie Dressler, in /Dinner at Eight/