Copy Paste dialog not displayed in the foreground or as the focus window

Hey, is your Windows Explorer set to Launch folder windows in a separate process?

Screenshot

I had that annoying focus losing problem for ages until I read someone's recommendation to turn offthe above option in Windows Explorer Folder Options dialog under the View tab.

My standard practice after freshly installing Windows was to always enable this option so as to prevent any unruly Explorer processes bringing down the system, so I had forgotten that it is not set that way by default.

Since turning it off, I haven't had a single instance of the Copy/Overwrite dialogs losing focus for weeks now.

Also worth mentioning that I have an AMD CPU and graphics card and have also experienced the same problem as you, so I really don't think NVIDIA drivers are to blame for that bug.

Hey, is your Windows Explorer set to Launch folder windows in a separate process?

Screenshot

I had that annoying focus losing problem for ages until I read someone's recommendation to turn offthe above option in Windows Explorer Folder Options dialog under the View tab.

My standard practice after freshly installing Windows was to always enable this option so as to prevent any unruly Explorer processes bringing down the system, so I had forgotten that it is not set that way by default.

Since turning it off, I haven't had a single instance of the Copy/Overwrite dialogs losing focus for weeks now.

Also worth mentioning that I have an AMD CPU and graphics card and have also experienced the same problem as you, so I really don't think NVIDIA drivers are to blame for that bug.

Can confirm that turning this option off fixed it for me. I don't use Chrome or have an NVIDIA graphics card either. This is an issue with Microsoft's OS, not some 3rd party bug. We ought to be able to enable that option without seeing this bug so hopefully they will track it down and squash it soon.

Hello

I have also been facing this issue for some time now.

I understand that it is by design that windows that ask for attention, but are not in focus, are blinking in the taskbar.

But I do not understand why this particular dialog appear in the back in the first place.

Note that this is an issue I see in "desktop" mode. I am a programmer and my Visual Studio, SQL Server Management Studio, my mail and more is located there. I rarely use "start screen" mode in my every-day work day.

Let's say I have a number of applications up and running.

Let's also say I have two explorer windows open. One on my local drive and one on some server.

Let's sat I would like to copy some files and folders from my local drive to my server.

Let's also say that the server holds some files that will be replaced.

I know there are multiple ways of doing this, but let's focus on this way :-)

I mark my files and folders and press Ctrl+C for copy.

Then I switch to the server explorer window and press Ctrl+V...pretty normal way of copying and pasting files.

My current action now is to copy files. Nothing else. I expect one of the following:

1. My files are copied, everything is OK
2. If not, I expect to see a dialog asking what to do, like if I would like to replace etc.

What I sometimes get is...nothing. And that usually means that everything is OK.

Until I see the blinking icon in the taskbar. And then I notice that the "replace files" dialog is behind everything else.

My current action, as I said, is copying the files.

Why is not the "replace files" dialog on top in the first place?

Why is it hidden behind all my windows?

Answers:

1.  I really don't think I can explain it another way but here goes:

When you right click on a file and choose copy then navigate to another folder (same drive or different, doesn't matter, local or different, doesn't matter) and paste the file....if that file already exists, Windows will (or at least it should) prompt you to overwrite the existing file or give you the option to cancel or copy and rename the new file.  (see screen shot).

When this happens, this wonderful dialog box is sent to the far back of the open windows, hence its FOCUS (Microsoft term) is not ON TOP.  The "Yellow" Windows Explorer icon on my taskbar usually begins blinking to alert me. Here is a screen shot of the area of my taskbar I'm referring to (I didn't take the time to produce an animated .gif or record video my screen but I can if it is needed for this to progress.):

So my BIG question, complaint, support issues...whatever you'd like to call it.....is:  Why does the "Replace or Skip Files" dialog not FOCUS to the top off all windows when it appears?  Is there a Windows Update KB or Hotfix that I have not been able to find to resolve this issue or is it for some ODD reason by design??

2. This new behavior started with 8 and continues in 8.1
3. It's not an error per se.
4. Fresh install or 6 months in service & fully patched...doesn't matter it still happens.

I hope this helps and explains it a little better.

Please advise.

-Scott.