WinXP: disable application window poping to top when done loading

[mycomputersucks]

how can i stop that? it's so annoying

for example:

i'm opening a large excel file. while the file opens, i switch to word to do additional work. when the excel file finshes loading, excel forces the window to the top which interrupts the work i was doing in word.

basically, i don't want anything forcing focus off the window/application that i'm currently accessing. i know there are program languages that allow applications to be brought to the top, but does windows have an override option for that?

thanks!