Why does Visual Studio hog my other programs' hot keys?

Question

I have found, consistently, that if I use something like Switcher (highly recommended), or Toastify (both are programs that rely on the use of global hot keys to work) that when Visual Studio 2008 has focus none of the hot keys for the other applications work.

Does anyone know why this might be and how to fix it?

Answer 1

I thought that in windows the currently active window, and then its parents always get first dibs at any UI event - so that it can handle them. VS handles so many key strokes there will likely be something already hooked. See Tools -> Options -> Environment -> Keyboard like @breakthrough says.