Source: Microsoft Support

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RAPID PUBLISHING ARTICLES PROVIDE INFORMATION DIRECTLY FROM WITHIN THE MICROSOFT SUPPORT ORGANIZATION. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO EMERGING OR UNIQUE TOPICS, OR IS INTENDED SUPPLEMENT OTHER KNOWLEDGE BASE INFORMATION.

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When you run a full-screen application, such as a game, the Windows Sidebar may flash or appear on top of the application or game briefly.

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Full screen applications or games which do not create a full-screen window may cause the Windows Sidebar to unexpectedly receive an indication that the mouse is over the Windows Sidebar. When this happens the Windows Sidebar will try an animation to fade in, which is normal behavior. However, an issue will underlying technologies (layered windows) will cause the Sidebar to flash into view despite the application or game being topmost.

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The Windows Sidebar can be closed before you run the application or game, or can be set to be "Sidebar is always on top of other windows ". Or, the code for the application or game can be modified to create a full-screen window, rather than a topmost window the size of the current screen.

To close the Windows Sidebar, right-click Windows Sidebar, and then click Close Windows Sidebar.

To set the "Sidebar is always on top of other windows" option, follow these steps:

1. Right-click Windows Sidebar, and then click Properties.

2. Click to select the "Sidebar is always on top of other windows" check box, and then click OK.

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Repro Steps

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To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

1.       Make sure Windows Sidebar is not set to "Sidebar is always on top of other windows".

2.        Start application which uses Direct 3D.

3.       Move mouse around, typically toward upper-right of the screen. Sidebar should flash and appear for some time.

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