OMG - Can't take the annoyances any longer!

Okay folks, I have 2 things going on here that are INCREDIBLY annoying & I don't know how to fix 'em.. But I really wanna throw the computer outta my window at this point, so please help if ya can! Thanks in advance...


1) When I'm working in an IE window (like now) - And another program needs attention (like now, such as ICQ) -- THe taskbar nciely pops down (I have it at the top of the screen) and flashes the icon for the other window... Problem is, I can't make the friggin thing go away until I click on the other window!! Suppose I don't WANT to pay attention to the other window yet? Currently, I am forced to, 'cause I don't have access to ANY of the IE buttons at the top of the screen 'cause the taskbar is blocking it! ARG!

2) I had a page open, filled with useful info that I was using (just now) -- I opened a new IE window so I could log onto this board... So I open a new blank window, click on the link to this site and BOOM.. It loads into the OLD window instead of the new blank one... Who the hell thought THIS was a good idea?

---Note: It doesn't do this if I manually type the address into the addy bar... Only when I click on a shortcut.

Any help would be SOOO greatly appreciated! Thank you again in advance!

 

I'm sure there are better answers than this, but until it arrives:
in IE go to Tools>Internet Options>Advanced tab>Browsing.

There is a check box for "re-use windows ". Here's the copy from the What's This?:

Also, Alt-Tab to select the app. you want to work with.

 

Yep.. That's all done -- and I knew about the alt-tab thing, it's been around since Win 3.1 but thanks ;-)

Any takers on the taskbar issue?

 

taskbar issue

Right click an empty spot on the taskbar select properties & uncheck "Keep taskbar on top of windows" click apply/ok

 

Thanks Tried that, but when that option is selected then I have no way of getting to the taskbar when I run programs in full screen -- I have to "Window" a program so I can see a section of the desktop where the Taskbar is and then get to the taskbar that way...

In Win98SE if the taskbar scrolled down, all you had to do was click on any space on the screen and it would go away again..

 

How about putting the task bar at the bottom of the screen?

Maurice

 

to be annoyed

Try here http://www.annoyances.org/

 

What difference would it be if I put the taskbar at the bottom? It would still pop up and be in the way.. I wanna get rid of it without actually having to click the program that wants the attention.

Besides, I have another "auto-hide" toolbar at the bottom of my screen.. Since Win98 I have had "My Computer" as a toolbar at the bottom so I could instantly access any of my drives w/out having to open "My Computer" first. It's extremely fast and handy & now I can't stand to do w/out it ;-)

Thanks for all the replys though, I appreciate it!

 

Just a thought:

Is it possible you are trying to get more from the space than you are willing to live with? I was really amazed when I went to 17" screens. It allows so much more to be displayed. Since then, I seldom need to use full screen windows to work in.

You can also park your task bar and others vertically along the sides. This way your pop-up doesn't cover the IE menu. And while a lot of people don't like them, I use keyboard short-cuts to give me extra options. It's pretty nice working from the keyboard only, instead of jumping to the mouse to click once.

Arie posted a more than adequate list here in Jabuary.

You can keep your task bar a lot simpler be putting a Show Desktop icon in the quick launch area.

 

Do you have TweakUI?

Under General tab; Prevent applications from stealing focus.

Try it and let me know.

 

Yup - I had TweakUI under Win98SE, but didn't realize it would work under XP... Do you mean try and use the same version written for 98, or is there a new version available for XP?

 

Well, there was but they(Microsoft) yanked it and will re-release it sometime this Spring. You might still find it(XP ver.) somewhere else. Might try a search of the board.

 

Hi,

The new powertoys from M$ has been out for a while its at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

The steal focus issue is a bit of a sensitive one for me 2:
I kept setting it at "Prevent other windows from stealing.." but some #@(-upped program kept resetting the value and you have to change it back with Tweak-UI.

(Don't ***** with this unless you know what you're doing)
Ended up opening the registry at:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
And setting permissions to "NOT allow (my account)" access to "Set value "

The sub-key WindowMetrics can be set to NOT inherit permissions - > copy them and resore defaults instead.

No ill-trained program can ***** with my desktop settings - I change the wallpaper by saving a new file over the old .jpg (since you cannot set a new filename now) Works great - and my "steal-focus setting" is set in STONE! And NO window EVER pops up to the front again.

Brilliant

There's another problem like this: You know the annying Browser pop-up (ARIE !!!?) windows that changes your Browser size : sometimes they get saved if you close your broser and when you open a new windows its - either tiny or net set the way you want - I surfed the registry to IE's settings and did the same - my settings are fixed and NOTHING can change them.

M$oft should pay attention to this since programs like internet Utils etc should not have access to setting settings regarding your desktop (if not a desktop util!) just because the programmer cannot figure out how to code correctly.

Regards
D

 

Geepers Arie - this word replacer script you have lets it look like I'm a swearaholic .... just ****'s everywhere.

I hardly think "S-c-r-e-w" with your settings is an offensive word and should be removed.

My opinion.

 

LOL -- Yes, when Microsoft made the power toys available online again, I downloaded them immediately and installed them.

I don't have a problem with a window poping up over another window.. The "don't steal focus" works for me for the most part... But here's the problem I'm <still> having:

My StartMenu / Taskbar is hidden (auto-hide)

An example: I'm on a web site, and AOL IM is running in the background. If someone messages me, the Taskbar scrolls down and the IM window "button" flashes. The start menu WON'T go away until I click on the program that wants attention.. This of course covers the menus in IE (or any other program)

I find that annoying -- I can hear the bloody "beep" from the other program -- I don't need the menu scrolling down and demanding attention... Why would MS do this anyway?? How annoying!

But I am amazed that this thread is still being read Thanks for the views everyone!

And I agree.... "s-c-r-e-w" should not be filtered out... LOL

BTW: Yes, pop-ups annoy me too.. I can handle the ONE popup for this site though, as this forum is an invaluable resource for me... At least there's not 12 little pop-ups opening up in the background!