new windows in xp problem

I have a strange problem. When I start programmes such as Firefox, the programme opens but it isn't active. I mean, Firefox will open, and the cursor will be in the Google search input box, but when I start to type nothing happens. I have to click on Firefox to start the text going in. Sometimes when I click on a drive in DriveCrypt, the "my computer" program will open on the drive, but "my computer" is behind the DriveCrypt window, and the DriveCrypt window remains active.

It is a new install, and even on initial start-up, when very little is running, I still have the same problem. Run Windows XP in diagnostic mode, sold the minimum level of service is running, still have the same problem. Roll the system back to the very first backup with Norton ghost, still the same problem.

For a change I thought I would follow a guide to installing Windows XP http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/install...llxp_myway.htm .

I also did some of this http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/xptweaks/supertweaks3.htm

I'm guessing it has something to do with one of them, but I haven't got a clue which.

It is just running so good at the minute, it seems a shame to start again for this one little glitch. Does anybody have any ideas?

 

Welcome to the windowsbbs.

My first reaction is that maybe diskcrypt is running as an 'always on top' program, forcing you to bypass it by clicking the underlying program. Can you disable diskcrypt to test this idea? using alt-tab instead of the mouse, if it works, would confirm the suspicion, too.

 

this was a response to a response in another forum. just thought some people may be interested in this strange problem.

sorry to take so long toreply.

no it definitely isn't that, the problem arises in too many different programmes,anyway. For example, if I press that alt button for a menu in Firefox the file menu will darken as if selected and then clear again. If I do this in notepad, it works. Strange??????

I did a backup of my system using Norton ghost, and then I reinstalled Windows. Everything was fine, all I loaded was three drivers, I think it was a the AMD 64 driver which made the system **** up again, why I know not??????

I then had some problems because the new installations switched my boot drive with my D. drive. Sorted that out and got back to my XP installation, but still got the same problem.

This doesn't happen when i load Windows Vista.

I really can't see a way around this, so I may try the new service pack 3 beta release, and see if that does anything, and if not one more try at a reinstallation. If this doesn't work then I will probably move to the vista 32-bit version, as my NaturallySpeaking won't run on 64-bit version.

thanks for trying, and any other suggestions welcome.

PS. that it is strange censorship. you cannot c0ck a rifle in this forum.

 

I don't have any hope of anybody being able to help me, But I thought I would just update people out of interest.

Tried loading windows Vista 64, to see what would happen. In Vista the problem seemed even worse, with programs constantly opening behind the presently active window. This was despite the fact in Vista the installation seemed to report all correct drivers in for my hardware when I checked device manager.

Tried doing a new install of windows XP. Even with no new drivers installed, several items in the device manager indicating the wrong or no drivers install, windows XP still had this problem, though there was very little to actually experiment upon and it wasn't as bad as in Vista.

I have a Dell Inspiron 1501, with one gig of memory.

 

well I was struggling along trying to live with this problem. Then the other day I noticed there was a little black bar along the top of the screen, the desktop was not fitting the full extent of their laptop monitor. So I adjusted the settings in display properties to start 1200 x 800. Straightaway the problem disappeared.

The only thing that had changed, was a couple of days earlier I had loaded Nero. This asked me directx-9.1, so I did. I cannot think of any other reason which has corrected the problem.

 

I cannot believe this, had computer on all all day no problem. Just switched it on again tonight, and the problem is back.