For some time I've had this tremendous annoyance and I can't find any solution through the Internet (this would include various forums and bug support sites)

Basically what I have is the Windows applications won't stay on top when changing with task manager.

The scenario is as follows:

I'm using VLC (Video Lan), Opera 27 (Latest version), Firefox and VirtualBox.

When I'm watching a video and I want to change from one application to another by looking into my email with Opera, the browser will not come in front, so I'm forced to minimize VLC in order to do so.  Another example would be having VLC, Opera and Firefox in cascading position.  VLC on the bottom, Opera in the middle and Firefox on top.  No matter how many times I click Opera it will not come on top same thing with VLC.  I'm asking myself.  Is this normal with the traditional desktop (now that Metro is the main interface).  It seems the applications get stuck.  but they are not! The video keeps playing but it never comes on front then I click the title bar (.. I end up clicking everywhere on the app and nothing comes up)

As for the specs:

I have a Laptop HP (Split x2), with an Intel Core i3, 8 GB RAM.

The Operating System is: Windows 8.1 Pro (x64).

This is a huge annoyance and I feel like the former OS Windows 7 never gave issues like this.

I can't figure out what makes this nuisance.  Event manager won't show anything and the obviously all apps are responding in Task Manager so it appears there is no obvious error/issue for the OS. 

Are you using any 3rd party app for desktop customization?

Can you try a clean boot and check ? 

https://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135?wa=wsignin1.0

Hi NicoMan,

According to your description ,we seems to suffer a performance issue here.

Have you tried to open the task manager to check the system performance  ? Is there any specific process occupied many system resources ?Will the issue occur only with the specific applications ?

We can try to restart the Windows Explorer process to have a check.

If it only occurred with the spefcific two applications ,we can try to end the other application processes manually from the task manager to have a check .
If this is caused by the specific application ,we may need to look for help from the third party support considering they are all the third party applications .

Best regards

Hi NicoMan,

According to your description ,we seem to suffer a performance issue here.

Have you tried to open the task manager to check the system performance  ? Is there any specific process occupied many system resources ?Will the issue occur only with the specific applications ?

We can try to restart the Windows Explorer process to have a check.

If it only occurred with the spefcific two applications ,we can try to end the other application processes manually from the task manager to have a check .
If this is caused by the specific application ,we may need to look for help from the third party support considering they are all the third party applications .

Best r

hello:

I got a solution for this issue by google.

This issue is because you are using some special keyboard driver ,for example synergy.  For my case is the driver for  thinkpad compact keyboard with trackpoint .

Some windows security updates conflict with these keyboard dirvers.

The most recent is KB3034344. ( 3/10/15 )

Also KB3034196 KB3013455  (KB3031432) 2/12/15

Uninstall these updates.

You can review this post

http://synergy.askbot.com/question/838/windows-81-window-focus-problem/.