Weird Ableton issue (Windows): Losing focus

[501dubz]

I've got a weird problem of Ableton not showing up in the task bar anymore ie when the program is running the Abe logo is not shown in the taskbar.

In practice it means that if I open another program in the middle of an Ableton session, lets say Internet Explorer, and then want to come back to making music, I need to find Ableton window on my screen because I cant access it via taskbar as I normally would change a program focus. Moreover, after clicking my way back to Ableton the keyboard commands will only apply to the program last visited (ie in this case Internet Explorer). I cant even access any of Ableton's title bar menus like File, Edit, View etc etc because my mouse/windows seems to think that the focus is still on the last program visited. The only way of reclaiming the focus back to Ableton is to open a third party plugin preference/option window which makes Windows recall Ableton back to its focus. After that everything works again (until I switch over to a different program).

Anybody have any clues what could cause this behavior?

[sebrov]

don't know whats causing the issue there as i've never experienced that with either xp or windows 8 but when trying to get back to Live, your best using Alt+Tab or Windows Key+Tab to flick through your running programs if you can't see the program icon. I always run Live full screen and use the above if i want to use something else.

[501dubz]

Thanks Sebrov you are at the core of the problem. Ableton is not shown in the ALT+TAB list of programs.

[501dubz]

& the same is true for windows key + tab

[sebrov]

i've know idea what causes this problem but try one of these suggestions http://support.microsoft.com/search/def ... CID%3D1033

[3dot...]

when I close 3rd party plugins gui... live looses focus (as if alt-tab is pressed)
this has been going on for quite some time..
at least 6 months..
it has also been reported as a bug ...back when..

[501dubz]

actually creating a new windows profile seems to remove the issue but its a pain to set up because ableton needs to re-register, rescan plugins and basically reset everything from scratch. the same naturally applies to many other customized settings/program behavior in the 'old' profile.

I guess that's just regular housekeeping then