Microsoft KB Archive/942355

= When you press a Windows HotStart button to start a program on a Windows Vista-based computer, the program may not be started as a topmost window =

Article ID: 942355

Article Last Modified on 10/31/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Business
 * Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Enterprise
 * Windows Vista Home Premium
 * Windows Vista Ultimate

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SYMPTOMS
When you press a Windows HotStart button to start a program on a Windows Vista-based computer, the program may not be started as a topmost window. If other windows are open, these windows may remain in the foreground, and the program that is associated with the Windows HotStart button appears in the background.

Note This behavior does not occur if you start the program by using the Start menu or the Start Search box.



CAUSE
Windows HotStart is a scheduled task in Task Scheduler. Task Scheduler does not let a task that has a user interface start as a topmost window.



WORKAROUND
To work around this behavior, click the window of the program in question to bring the program to the foreground.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.



MORE INFORMATION
A topmost window is a window that remains constantly above all other windows, even when it is not active. For example, after you start the Find dialog box in Notepad, the Find dialog box becomes a topmost window.

OEMs can use Windows Hotstart to add a button to their computer or to their infrared (IR) remote that lets users start a media application. The following list contains the known OEM applications that use Windows HotStart. This is a dynamic list. We will update this list when we are requested by an OEM to do so:
 * HP SmartCenter

For more information about Windows HotStart, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/firmware/hotstart.mspx

Keywords: kbtshoot kbprb kbexpertiseadvanced kbexpertisebeginner KB942355

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