Topic: Always on top (not wanted) (Read 4604 times)

negopus · « **on:** November 29, 2003, 03:57:54 pm »

I have found a stange behavior in Media Center 9.1.308. Media Center always stays on top of other Windows programs, as if it had an "always on top" oprion set. When I want to switch to another application, I have to minimize Media Center. This is really not the way I am used to work with Windows, where I keep all my windows maximized and switch between them with Alt-Tab.
Negopus.

KingSparta · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2003, 04:12:33 pm »

not mine

make sure the window is not near the windows (tm) edges somtimes they mess with programs.

also some skins have\had an option to turn on and off where MC was always on top.

or at least there was an option for this in the Mini-Me skins

JimH · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2003, 04:17:09 pm »

The full screen display also has this option, but it is off by default. Right click on it to change the setting.

negopus · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2003, 04:25:09 pm »

Right click where?

JimH · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2003, 04:26:24 pm »

On the display screen.

negopus · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2003, 04:38:15 pm »

In the display windows the right click | Configure Display | General | Windowed mode 'Always On Top' check box is disabled, but the entire Media Center (not just the display) stays always on top.

BullishDad · « **Reply #6 on:** November 29, 2003, 07:38:07 pm »

I noticed a similiar behavior today, but I've since shut down and restarted and the behavior is normal again. When I tried to move between programs on the taskbar it wouldn't let me switch unless I minimized MC first.

I downloaded a Playing Now plug in and was viewing help, but I don't know what caused the problem or how to duplicate it. Actually, I hope I don't duplicate it, but since negopus reported it, I figured I should mention it. MC9.1.313.

JimH · « **Reply #7 on:** November 29, 2003, 08:13:35 pm »

What third party plug-ins are you using?

BullishDad · « **Reply #8 on:** November 29, 2003, 08:34:44 pm »

Jim, I installed Rhino Banga's Playing Now v.1.2.0.0 plug in from the list of interface plug-ins.

negopus · « **Reply #9 on:** November 30, 2003, 03:07:21 am »

Today I rebooted my PC, reloaded Media Center and the "always on top" is gone.

System Info:
Media Center Registered 9.1.308 -- C:\Programmi\J River\Media Center\

Microsoft Windows XP Workstation 5.1 Service Pack 1 (Build 2600)
Intel Pentium 4 2404 MHz MMX / Memory: Total - 1048 MB, Free - 555 MB

Internet Explorer: 6.0.2800.1106 / ComCtl32.dll: 5.82 (xpsp1.020828-1920) / Shlwapi.dll: 6.00.2800.1276 / Shell32.dll: 6.00.2800.1233 (xpsp2.030604-1804) / wnaspi32.dll: N/A
Ripping / Drive X: Copy mode:Normal CD Type:Auto Read speed:Max
Drive Y: Copy mode:Normal CD Type:Auto Read speed:Max
Digital playback: Yes / Use YADB: Yes / Get cover art: No / Calc replay gain: Yes / Copy volume: 32767
Eject after ripping: No / Play sound after ripping: No

Burning / Drive Y: CD-RW CDR-5W48 Addr: 1:1:0 Speed:48 MaxSpeed:48 BurnProof:Yes
Test mode: No / Eject after writing: Yes / Direct decoding: Yes / Write CD-Text: No
Use playback settings: No / Normalization: None

JimH · « **Reply #10 on:** November 30, 2003, 07:46:35 am »

negopus,
What third party plug-ins are you using?

negopus · « **Reply #11 on:** December 01, 2003, 01:34:52 pm »

I am using no third party plugin, just plain Media Center 9.1.308.
I have noticed that whan MC has just started, its behavior is Ok, but whenever I recall a dialog box (about, options, plug-in options) the incorrect "always on top" behavor starts.
Negopus.

JimH · « **Reply #12 on:** December 01, 2003, 01:47:34 pm »

Quote from: negopus on December 01, 2003, 01:34:52 pm

I am using no third party plugin, just plain Media Center 9.1.308.
I have noticed that whan MC has just started, its behavior is Ok, but whenever I recall a dialog box (about, options, plug-in options) the incorrect "always on top" behavor starts.

That's not normal and I don't know what to tell you, but I believe it is related to your PC. Are you running any skinning programs? Anything else that changes the screen display? Anything special at all?

negopus · « **Reply #13 on:** December 01, 2003, 01:56:10 pm »

I recentrly reinstalled WinXP. I have installed few applications. Media Center was one of the first ones.
I have no skinning program, Plus! or whatsoever. Just a plain ATI Radeon 9000 video card (with DVI output) and its default driver.
Negopus.

JimH · « **Reply #14 on:** December 01, 2003, 02:12:26 pm »

Virus?

negopus · « **Reply #15 on:** December 01, 2003, 02:24:56 pm »

I don't think. I have antivirus, software firewall and hardware firewall on ADSL.

JimH · « **Reply #16 on:** December 01, 2003, 02:30:34 pm »

Something is different though.

Try updating your video driver.

negopus · « **Reply #17 on:** December 01, 2003, 02:35:22 pm »

I have noticed that when another program has the "Always On Top" flag set, it correctly alternates with Media Center using Alt-Tab.

JimH · « **Reply #18 on:** December 01, 2003, 02:38:52 pm »

Does anyone else have this problem?

negopus · « **Reply #19 on:** December 01, 2003, 03:53:05 pm »

Interestingly enough, I have switched MC Display to an external windows and it does NOT stay always on top, as it should.

JimH · « **Reply #20 on:** December 01, 2003, 04:35:37 pm »

Is your monitor installed backward?

dragyn · « **Reply #21 on:** December 01, 2003, 04:47:13 pm »

Just for the record, I've seen this problem too more than once.

KingSparta · « **Reply #22 on:** December 01, 2003, 05:28:04 pm »

Just for the record, I've never seen this problem

dragyn · « **Reply #23 on:** December 01, 2003, 07:16:37 pm »

And just for the record, KingSparta likes to play with toys in the bathtub.

negopus · « **Reply #24 on:** December 02, 2003, 02:26:38 pm »

To recall what the problem is:

- Media Center starts with normal behavior, but after that a dialog box is displayed, it starts to behave as an "always on top" program, and other programs are not displayed when switching to them with Alt-Tab
- While in "wrong always on top" mode, MC correctly alternates with other "always on top" program using Alt-Tab
- While in "wrong always on top" mode, the Media Center Display does not stay on top as it should

It seems that an "always on top" bit gets flipped somehow.

Negopus.

phelt · « **Reply #25 on:** December 02, 2003, 03:47:09 pm »

I've seen this with MC and some other apps. The problem for me seemed to relate to primacy - if you have 2 or more apps set to 'always on top', which one takes precedence over the others? Windows does not seem to handle this gracefully or provide an always-on-top hierarchy editor

I don't know that this is your problem, negopus, just that this has been a problem for me in the past. Do you have another app that's trying to stay on top of other windows?

EDIT: read thread more carefully, noticed that other AOT apps were mentioned, going back to my cave now....

JimH · « **Reply #26 on:** December 02, 2003, 03:58:09 pm »

Did you try updating your video driver?

negopus · « **Reply #27 on:** December 05, 2003, 04:45:03 pm »

I have updated my video drivers. Now the "always on top" behavior seems correct.

JimH · « **Reply #28 on:** December 05, 2003, 05:14:46 pm »

Thanks for reporting the solution.

Madcow · « **Reply #29 on:** December 06, 2003, 01:59:48 pm »

I've just started seeing this (in 9.1.316) and my video drivers are bang up to date. Never seen it until today. Very irritating!

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Author Topic: Always on top (not wanted) (Read 4604 times)

dragyn

dragyn

phelt