Fixing Annoying Word/Excel Windows Problem

In summary, the conversation revolved around a person's frustration with a feature in Microsoft Word and Excel that causes minimized windows to pop back up when another file is opened. They have tried searching for solutions online but have not found any fixes. The person is asking for tips on how to disable this feature and speculates that it may be caused by shared variables in DLLs. They also suggest a workaround, but caution against trying it with important files.
  • #1
berkeman
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This has bugged me for a while, so I finally was trying to figure out how to disable this "feature" today. But Microsoft Help and Google haven't led to any fixes yet.

If I have a Word file open and minimize it, and then open another Word file, the first file window also pops back up and ends up on-screen behind the new Word file window. The same thing happens with Excel files.

Does anybody know how to keep that from happening? It's really annoying; I have the first file window minimized for a reason -- I'm not working on that file currently but will get back to it soon enough that I don't want to close out that window.

Thanks for any tips. :smile:
 
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  • #2
Versions?
 
  • #3
pbuk said:
Versions?
Oh, good point. It's happening to me in Win10, but I don't remember if this happened with any older versions. It seems like it's been an annoyance for several years now...
 
  • #4
Overall, it sounds like they are sharing some variables of DLLs that they shouldn't be. I have a browser that behaves in a somewhat similiar fashion.

Just for proof-of-concept:
DON'T TRY THE FOLLOWING WITH ANYTHING IMPORTANT.
A clumsy work-around would be; with both instances open, see if one can be minimized while working on the other instance; check if it works both ways, and also for Saving and Opening without corruption.

Cheers,
Tom
 

Related to Fixing Annoying Word/Excel Windows Problem

1. Why is my Word/Excel window freezing or crashing frequently?

There could be several reasons for this issue, such as outdated software, corrupted files, conflicting add-ins, or insufficient system resources. Try updating your software, repairing your Office installation, disabling add-ins, and closing unnecessary programs to see if the problem persists.

2. How can I fix the issue of Word/Excel not responding when I try to open a document?

This issue could be due to a corrupted document, a problem with the Office installation, or conflicting software. Try opening the document in Safe Mode, repairing your Office installation, or running the Office Repair Tool to resolve the issue.

3. Why do I keep getting error messages when trying to save a Word/Excel file?

Error messages when saving files could be caused by file corruption, insufficient permissions, or a problem with the file format. Try saving the file in a different format, checking file permissions, or repairing the file using the Open and Repair feature in Word/Excel.

4. How do I resolve issues with Word/Excel formatting not displaying correctly?

Formatting issues in Word/Excel could be due to corrupted templates, conflicting settings, or outdated software. Try resetting your default template, adjusting your display settings, or updating your Office software to see if the formatting issues are resolved.

5. What can I do if Word/Excel is running slowly or taking a long time to open?

Slow performance in Word/Excel could be caused by large file sizes, insufficient system resources, or background processes. Try optimizing your files, closing unnecessary programs, or increasing your system's memory to improve the performance of Word/Excel.

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