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Resolved Question

Software windows become semi transparent in XP

Oct 25, 2011 7:17PM PDT

Hi,
I've been experiencing a strange problem on my XP SP3. When a couple of windows are open, a software window on the top becomes semi-transparent and some graphic elements of an application window which is below (like visualisation in foobar) somehow is visible. The elements which get through the "upper" window are usually animated (like google chat). It's really annoying.

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kamilant has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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I'm having trouble visualizing this
Oct 25, 2011 8:45PM PDT

Can you tell us more?

Is this with 'any' windows open or just specific ones? You mention visualization in toolbar, but toolbars are generally browser window components, so does this happen only when you have a browser window open? If so, which browser are you using?

Any chance you can take a screen print, save it in Paint or your favored image editor, then upload it to ImageShack or some other image hosting site so you can post a link to that image here? Then we can all see it.

Mark

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I hope it helps
Oct 25, 2011 9:47PM PDT

I'll post an image when I'm back from work.

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it looks like this
Oct 26, 2011 3:01AM PDT
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I'm stmped.
Oct 26, 2011 3:16AM PDT

I see what you say about foobar, and not toolbar as I thought. My error.

I'm stumped, but perhaps a couple of options to try.

1] Reduce the video hardware acceleration of the graphics card. You can always reset that if it doesn't work;
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/hardwareacc.htm

Or;

2] I wonder if applications are 'stealing focus' from one another. Mentioned here;
http://mycvs.org/archives/2004/11/16/applications-stealing-focus-on-windows-xp

That article talks about Powertoys for XP and the link in there takes you to;
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/windows-xp

If you look at the Microsoft page, find "TwealUI" and download and install that to set the "Prevent applications from stealing focus" option.

I hope that helps.

Mark

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Great
Oct 26, 2011 4:01AM PDT

Great, thanks for the tips. I believe it may be connected to hardware acceleration. I also downloaded TweakUI, but will wait if advice #1 works. Thanks again.

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another example
Oct 26, 2011 3:51AM PDT

and here JDownloader app interface interferes with Chrome window:

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Ouch
Oct 26, 2011 3:56AM PDT

I see P2P file sharing.

All bets are off then. We know that file sharing is risky and apart from the obvious question of copyright and piracy, this is one of the favored methods of distribution of malware.

That can cause all sorts of system problems.

Mark

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Try reducing Graphic acceleration.
Oct 26, 2011 4:01AM PDT

It looks like a failing card or video driver. And I remember seeing this on a friend's machine. For some odd reason they were always trying the latest video drivers in hope of a speed boost or something. It was painful to clean it out and install the supplied driver since they would go and break it again. Lesson? Don't fix it the next time. Let them learn to not do that.
Bob