One of the most annoying “features” of Windows (9x/2000/XP) is the fact, that any application can steal the focus of the front-most application: I repeatedly sent [Ölbaum][] snippets of code or some command-line when he was contacting me via AIM or MSN on Windows because that apps would *steal* the focus of whatever window I was working in. It’s a wonder I never sent him a password of mine or so … Of course, this same behaviour started to bug me at my new workplace. Thus, I was not only bugged by these intrusive [Windows Notifications][] in the taskbar, I also got the benefit of windows randomly *yelling* at me during work. Focus Fortunately, I found a vaccine against this: [Power Toys for Windows XP][], a free download for TweakUI from Microsoft. TweakUI lets you tweak some settings of the Windows UI, including one to “Prevent applications from stealing focus”: > Check “Prevent applications from stealing focus” to prevent applications from stealing focus from the window you are working in. Instead, their taskbar icon will flash to indicate that the application *is trying to get your attention.* (Emphasis by editor) **Let em try, I say!** * * * Can anybody tell me why * Microsoft Power Toys for Windows XP are not part of a standard install? * Microsoft does not include this setting *per default* in a Windows XP install? Sheeesh … [Power Toys for Windows XP]: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx “Microsoft Power Toys for Windows XP” [Ölbaum]: http://ithink.ch/blog “Olbaum” [Windows Notifications]: http://mycvs.org/archives/2004/10/07/os-x-notifications/ “OS X Notifications”