Resolved Computer Changing Web Page With No Prompt

I'm using XP Pro...IE8...SP3, and recently the computer has begun changing web pages with no prompt. You can have a site open while working in another site, and suddenly it will automatically jump back to the site you have minimized. You can immediately click on the site listed in the task bar, and it returns to where you were without removing anything you may have typed in a forum or document. This is really strange, and somewhat aggravating, wondering if anyone has experienced this, and if there is a remedy for the problem? Thanks in advance if anyone can help!!!

 

That will happen if the page it jumped to has refreshed itself and the focus jumps to the refreshing window.

Generally, that happens with pages that have advertising on them. The ads usually change with the refresh. They want to make sure you see ALL their ads, not just the ones displayed when you first opened the page.

I haven't experienced that since I started using tabs instead of separate windows for opening new pages.

As far a I know, there's no way to stop it (other than using tabs) but someone else may have the workaround.

 

Thanks for your input, I've never seen this before until the past few weeks, and honestly have no idea of what could change to cause the problem. Maybe someone else has seen this, and knows a fix...hope so, it does become somewhat aggravating.

 

Did you try using Windows' "System Restore" to roll Windows back to a previous state when your computer was functioning correctly?

• Microsoft.com > System Restore > XP

System Restore helps you restore your computer's system files to an earlier point in time. It's a way to undo system changes to your computer without affecting your personal files, such as e-mail, documents, or photos.

 

Yes, to no avail!

 

After reading Miz's post, if it's a webpage stealing focus, there's really not much that can be done.

 

I don't know what brought this about all of a sudden, especially since I've never seen this happen in many years of using a computer?

 

I found the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, The Window.focus method does not work in Internet Explorer 8, which contains information which, while not directly addressing the problem you're having, may help point toward a solution.

 

Don't know if this is applicable in your case or not but, sometimes when I'm using a laptop my thumb will accidently bump the touchpad. This can cause weird behaviour, dependant on where the cursor was located.