Microsoft KB Archive/836532

= Error messages are not displayed in the foreground when you try to connect to a resource by typing its UNC path in the Open box of the Run command in Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 =

Article ID: 836532

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

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SYMPTOMS
When you click Start, click Run, and then try to connect to a resource by typing a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path (for example, \\ \ ) in the Open box, error messages may not appear in the foreground if you immediately switch to another program.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs because the error message dialog box is hidden behind the maximized window that has the focus.



WORKAROUND
To work around this behavior, minimize all windows while you wait for Microsoft Windows to make a connection so that the error message dialog box can appear.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.



MORE INFORMATION
The focus behavior of the foreground and background programs has been modified in the versions of Windows that are shown in the &quot;Applies To&quot; section. The new focus behavior prevents the non-active program from sending dialog boxes to the foreground. In this way, the active program does not lose the focus. When you try to connect to a resource by using the method that is described in the &quot;Symptoms&quot; section, Windows Explorer is started, but it does not appear until the connection is either successful or unsuccessful. If you switch to another program before Windows Explorer presents the results, Windows Explorer or an error message dialog box will appear in the background, behind the program that you switched to.

Keywords: kbprb KB836532

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