When I first installed the latest update, I could have sworn that the z-order problem was fixed.

Z-order is the order that programs appear in the alt-tab list. The current program is first, the one used most recently before that is second, etc. That is, if you're using MSWord and you alt-tab to MSExcel, then MSExcel is #1, MSWord is #2, and other programs are in order starting with the most recently used.

In earlier versions of Windows, when you minimized a program/window, it went to the bottom of the z-order and appeared last in the Alt-Tab dialog. This is as it should be; if you've minimized something, you most likely don't want it to be the pgm that you Alt-Tab to next.

In the most recent versions of Windows, however, this functionality has been broken. If you minimize a program focus goes to whatever program was #2 in the z-order (correct) but the program you minimized becomes #2 instead of going to the bottom of the z-order.

So, after installing the latest update, I got all excited because it seemed like minimized windows were going to the bottom of the z-order. Now, however, it's back to Microsoft's broken behaviour instead.

Did I just imagine that the z-order was fixed or was that really something that happened? If the latter, is there a way to get it working again? In trying to fix the Alt-Tab display issue, I might have messed with something that turned it off? Or maybe no one knows what I'm talking about and it was my imagination?

I suppose I could but if it comes back, I'd want it to stay fixed. 8^)

But, yes, I'll send along my troubleshooting info so long as you promise that, if you change it, you make it an option to work correctly.

So I installed the new non-beta 10.1.2 and ended up having to reboot because of something else I'd installed. When I rebooted, my monitors were all mucked up (640x480) which persisted until I unplugged their DisplayPort cables and reconnected them. Had another instance of everything going wonky for a moment and then all my windows ending up in the wrong places but it seems to be okay now. I don't know if all that was from the new version of DP or from the other software (a USB toolkit needed for a keyboard programmer). In any case, that's not the issue now....

So, the z-order fix came back. I don't know if it will stick around or not but one can always hope. Per your request, here's my troubleshooting info.