This looks as if it's going to be some obscure XP issue, so I'm going to post fairly widely in the hope it rings a bell with someone.

When I drag files from a folder to almost any program, the program opens the file but does not get activated. The focus just remains on the Explorer/My Computer window.

I've rebooted, defragmented, applied CCleaner, etc, with no success. I can't use System Restore because I've made too many changes recently, and the cure might end up worse than the problem!

This inability to take focus applies to the great majority of the programs I've tried, with all sorts of file types, such as plain TXT, JPG and GIF images, AVI and MPG video, WMA and MP3 music, and many others.

Oddly, there are a few exceptions, and I'm hoping that in itself might offer some clue to those with programming or technical skills (which I don't have). For example, Word is OK. But not Excel. And my text editor, TextPad, is OK. But not Notepad. IrfanView is OK, but not PaintShop Pro 8, or MS Paint, etc.

Anyone have any ideas or lines of pursuit I could try please?

Happy to provide any detailed information if it helps isolate problem.

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Terry, West Sussex, UK