Active screen becoming de-activeon its own

[gas4you]

Win 7 Pro 64

Sometimes when I have the web open, or even another program such as word, or sage, every so often the 'screen de-activates itself and I have to click on it to activate it again.

I have googled this and found it was/is a common problem.

It is obviously another program doing something in the background, but how do I find out which one?

I suspected Outlook, when it is sending/receiving, but it doesn't seem to tie in with this. I removed my keyboard and mouse software as some reports suggested these. All to no avail.

It doesn't do it after booting every time, as now it is not doing it at all.

This has only happened since I've had this new PC, but all my software that is loaded is exactly the same as on my old one, well everything that I know I have loaded.

Anyone got any pointers, or how to find out what program is causing this intermittently?

[wine~o]

Is this whilst you are actively using the machine or when you have taken a break for say 5-15 mins ?

[gas4you]

No, whilst using it. eg whilst I am typing this you will hear a 'ding' and this page has become deactivated as the current 'screen'.

Seems a very common problem, but I cannot find any definitive answers on the net

[wine~o]

:dunno:I thought it must have been a screensaver type thing... perhaps BillyGoat will be along with an answer.......

[gas4you]

I rephrase my terminology.

I should have said active window.

[Jammybstard]

definitely sounds like something unwanted in the background.
Next time it happens have a look in the task manager (ctrl+alt+del) and see what programs are actually running. It could also be something running as a service.

edit: actually, better idea. next time it happens press alt+tab this should make the list of available windows appear. I think the first one on the list should be the new active window. see what it is!

[BillyGoat]

Greetings!

Sorry I'm late to the party, not been able to get onto the site (and been away).

Is it a laptop or a desktop Dave and has it been since you got it or a while after?

First guess would be it's a program steeling the focus from the active window. I've seen it a few times recently with malware/viruses - do you have antivirus software?

Second guess would be if it's a laptop. Certain makes/models have software associated with the touchpads (swipes, multiple press gesture, etc). If it's a laptop, perhaps you are hovering in certain spots and causing an action - drove me MENTAL on an old Toshiba.

Moarrrrrrre info!!!

[gas4you]

Its my new desktop I posted about a few weeks ago.

I run Kaspersky Internet Security 2013, all up to date and run daily.

I have M bytes, all up to date and run daily and also run win defender weekly.

Nothing has ever been found by these.

It seems random, as since posting yesterday I hasn't happened, yet I'm using nothing different. Yet if I reboot then it can happen for a while then disappear when rebooting again.

I've tried looking in task manager and looking at processes running etc etc, but I don't really know what I'm looking for.

I've only noticed it since using this new desktop, but all the software is the same, even the operating system, as my old PC.

As said, there are plenty of instances reported on google, but none appear to be recent of say what was causing it.

[BillyGoat]

Is it only when on the net, or would it happen if you are doing a document or something?

[gas4you]

No, it's when I'm doing anything, word, excel, Sage, even playing the card games

[tombarry]

I was just thinking if it was a rootkit hiding somewhere anyway how about a system restore just to see any change
I use m/bytes but some things keep reinstalling

[gas4you]

It's done it randomly since a fresh Win 7 install