Comments on: Windows 7 and Vista mouse focus on window without raising the window

By: Arkise

Arkise — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 02:35:56 +0000

Very nice tips, but I was wondering if it is possible to just disable the “raise on click” (making the raising to happen only if I click on the top of the window)
Any sugestions?

By: Cecil

Cecil — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:44:59 +0000

Here is a simple program which will do the trick for you.
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/bellbind/20091203/1259789832
The web site is in Japanese, but you can just grab the program XMouseSetting.zip which is written in English.

By: Alan

Alan — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:30:21 +0000

Doesn’t work.
It countinues raising the windows

By: Gil

Gil — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:54:51 +0000

I figured out how to solve the taskbar issues caused by the change that many people are experiencing. For some reason, at least on 64-bit versions of windows 7, the DWORD registry key in [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop] is titled “ActiveWndTrackTimeout”. This key appears to do absolutely nothing in terms of actually delaying the window activation.

Instead, right click –> new –> DWORD (32 bit) Value. Name this key “ActiveWndTrkTimeout” (I think caps matter). Change this value to something reasonable (anywhere between 125 and 250 works well). This value actually delays window activation! (the decimal value is the delay in milliseconds)

This will correct issues such as the inability to access the right click context menu on program icons in the taskbar or change volume when a window is in the background. It also delays certain programs such as Photoshop and MPC Home Cinema which for some reason jump to foreground even when that feature is not activated, so that they do not instantly rise and you can reach other windows behind them.

By: vcx

vcx — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 07:51:21 +0000

Another way is to just put the following lines in a file with a .reg extension. Save it and finally right click on it and select “merge”.

–start below this line–
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Changed 9e to 9f below to get focus follows mouse

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
“UserPreferencesMask”=hex:9f,3e,07,80,12,00,00,00

–end above this line–

By: Jason R. Coombs

Jason R. Coombs — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:33:03 +0000

Has anyone else experienced the condition where a clean-installed Windows 7 will lose the xmouse setting when the system is connected to via RDP (Remote Desktop)? See http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproui/thread/bfdfe117-197b-406b-8ae1-34b496bfc7c8 for a detailed description of what I’ve experienced.

By: iyam leQ

iyam leQ — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:53:50 +0000

@Jim

ii eas able to get my xmouse , my full xmouse (which is indicated by actualy moving the window with the focus to the foreground as opposed to leaving it in the z order it was when you put th the mo on it. ii prefer it that way.

on another note, regarding the mojse;.l is there a way of keeping the mouse from moving all over the screen when tuyping? i’ve tried hiding the mouse while typing, but it doesn’t help matters with this issue.l the mouse still floats all over the screen. even onto other dinows, thereby moving the focus to those windows. it’s really annoying. anyone?

By: David

David — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:08:03 +0000

I had the same problem. I had set the registry with Vista on my old machine. After setting up Win 7, I used the MS WET to transfer all my files and settings. It moved this X-mouse function too and I found the same troubles you’ve had with the task bar. There are a few ‘work arounds’. After clicking an item in the system tray, try pressing ‘tab’ before moving your mouse to change the volume or whatever. I also found that for ‘more icons’, after clicking the sys tray button once, click and hold the mouse button again. I doesn’t work with other icons since doing so will move them out of the sys tray.

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:49:05 +0000

Thanks, Jim, for that link… ActiveWndTrkTimeout is in milliseconds, so I found the suggested 150 simply too sluggish. I currently have mine set to 25, and it’s solved most of my taskbar issues while still transferring focus between windows near-instantly.

Cheers!
-drew

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:07:19 +0000

hi All,

I found this: http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/9000-how-mouse-hover-makes-window-active.html

which follows the same advice given here, but adds a change to ActiveWndTrkTimeout.

I’ve tested it and (so far) it works for me.

cheers
jim

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:44:49 +0000

10 seconds later…

in the control panel -> ease of access -> ease of access center -> make the mouse easier to use, there is an option (activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse). This some what gives the feel of focus follows mouse, but sadly also pops the window up (can’t M$ get it right?).

I’ll let you know if I find any other solution.

jim