Windows 10: Cannot bring some apps to the front

This started this morning. Running Windows 10 Pro. I can run the browser (Chrome), luckily. Word also. But I cannot most other apps (I think), like WinSCP, but not Calc, not Notepad++, not Notepad. If I try to run Calc, it loads in the task try and if I hover the mouse over it I can see the image of it. Same with Notepad++, But if I click on the icon, nothing happens. Word is fine when loading or clicking on the task try icon. Same with Chrome. Same with Edge, Firefox, Visual Studio. So far, limited to Notepad, Notepad++ and Calc but there could be more.

More: Explorer as well.

WELL, not exactly. I use a program called Agent Ransack to search the desktop. I don't use it much but I know that you can click on an Explorer icon and choose the folders you want to search. I did that and explorer came up OK. BUT not from the Start Menu or task bar.

Unfortunately running Explorer from this program limits me to selecting folders.

:)

 

Win+P will bring Taskbar to front instead of the apps that is on the screen

This issue has yet been fixed since there has been no Windows Update.

 

Win+P will bring Taskbar to front instead of the apps that is on the screen

Upon upgrading to the Fall Creators Update for Windows 10, there is a slight inconveniences when switching screens using "Win+P" whereby upon switching and pressing escape, you will notice that the opened application like a media player like MPC-HC is
pushed to back with no keys responding until you use a mouse to click on it to bring it back to front.

When MPC-HC is in Fullscreen and I switched to the second display using "Win+P" and pressing escape afterwards, the Taskbar appears at the bottom of the video which signifies that the player, even when at fullscreen is sent to back while the Taskbar is now
brought to the front. Any key you press will trigger the Taskbar instead of the player and that is how I know that the Taskbar was brought to the front.

Similarly, when I open Microsoft Word and trigger "Win+P", upon escaping "Win+P", I can not immediately type on Microsoft Word unless I use a mouse to click on Microsoft Word again to bring it to the front.

This was not an issue with the previous Windows 10 version until the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. Is there any way to solve this issue?

 

Switch to and bring to the front in Task Mgr does nothing.

If I run Word and then File->Open-Browse, I can use Explorer no problem. Just not from Start or Task Bar.

 

First question - have you re-booted your system?

Second Question - What anti malware are you running?

Can you use the Alt+Tab or WinKey+Tab shortcuts to cycle through the "open" Applications

If you go to the start menu what do you get if you select the "open location" option (not available on "modern" Apps ), or is it only Modern apps with the issue?

 

Rebooted: Yes
Anti-Malware: Windows Defender
Alt-Tab/win-key tab: While Explorer is on the Task Tray at the bottom of the screen it does not appear in Win-key tab selection.
Those apps which have an Open Location menu choice, I can select it and while that opens explorer, explorer is still just in the task tray.

 

Running MalwareBytes now.

I have another problem which I noted here and thought was solved but isn't: My mouse pointer is "unstable" in that at times it works as usual but frequently it disappears. There is no pointer at all. I can alt-tab around, etc., and eventually it comes back.

 

I have noticed issues with access to apps when using the hide taskbar option where the taskbar stays on top of opened app windows but can't see why only certain apps would fail as you are seeing

With the mouse I would always check the driver first and check if there is a later revision available, It can also be tied in with Keyboard settings to hide the mouse cursor whilst typing

 

I ran MalwareBytes which found on PUP which I quarantined. Rebooted. No change. Explorer still cannot come to the front. In the task bar I can click "restore" or "maximize" but nothing happens. I can live without Calc but not without Explorer.

 

The search helper you mentioned, does that work as an add-on to Explorer?

Also totally strange question - do you have your task bar in the default bottom of screen position? There has been issues with some users who move the taskbar to the side or top

 

Task bar is at the bottom. Not sure about the search helper. My program (I'm a programmer) opens Explorer from a File Open dialog box, probably like most programs do. While Explorer runs there is no window on the desktop that I can access. Same with Calc. So far, only those two.

 

Will have to do some more searching as nothing I've come across so far seems relevant, I'm assuming that the "missing" windows are not off-screen, (right click desktop select cascade option to check)

 

OMG!!! Another person who uses my machine set up an additional display which is turned off. That was Display 1. My "Main" display is 2. I set the Display options to only 2 and now everything works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Appreciate all your attempts and head scratching!!!


RON