Input update... always run directinput in background input mode, we take care of ignoring input when application isn't focused ourselves

BizHawk.MultiClient/Config.cs

@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@
 		public bool SmsAllowOverlock = false;
 		public bool SmsForceStereoSeparation = false;
 
-		public string SmsReset = "Tab";
+		public string SmsReset = "R";
 		public string SmsPause = "J1 B8, Space";
 		public SMSControllerTemplate[] SMSController = new SMSControllerTemplate[2];
 

BizHawk.MultiClient/Input/Input.cs

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using System;
+using System.Windows.Forms;
 using SlimDX.DirectInput;
 
 namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
@@ -19,6 +20,9 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 
 		public static bool IsPressed(string control)
 		{
+            if (Global.Config.AcceptBackgroundInput == false && Form.ActiveForm == null)
+                return false; // application isn't active and background input is disabled
+
             // Check joystick first, its easier
             if (control.StartsWith("J1 ")) return GetGamePad(0, control.Substring(3));
             if (control.StartsWith("J2 ")) return GetGamePad(1, control.Substring(3));

BizHawk.MultiClient/Input/Keyboard.cs

@@ -14,15 +14,12 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 
 		public static void Initialize()
 		{
-			if (dinput == null)
+			if (dinput == null) 
 				dinput = new DirectInput();
 
 			if (keyboard == null || keyboard.Disposed)
 				keyboard = new Keyboard(dinput);
-			if (Global.Config.AcceptBackgroundInput)
-				keyboard.SetCooperativeLevel(Global.MainForm.Handle, CooperativeLevel.Background | CooperativeLevel.Nonexclusive);
-			else
-				keyboard.SetCooperativeLevel(Global.MainForm.Handle, CooperativeLevel.Foreground | CooperativeLevel.Nonexclusive);
+			keyboard.SetCooperativeLevel(Global.MainForm.Handle, CooperativeLevel.Background | CooperativeLevel.Nonexclusive);
 		}
 
 		public static void Update()

BizHawk.MultiClient/MainForm.MenuItems.cs

@@ -695,7 +695,6 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		private void acceptBackgroundInputToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 		{
 			Global.Config.AcceptBackgroundInput ^= true;
-			MessageBox.Show("Background input settings will take effect the next time Bizhawk loads", "Background input property change", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information);
 		}
 
 		private void displayStatusBarToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

BizHawk.MultiClient/config/InputWidget.cs

@@ -37,16 +37,15 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 
         private void Timer_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
         {
+            Input.Update();
             TempBindingStr = Input.GetPressedKey();
             if (TempBindingStr != null)
             {
-                int x = 0;
-                x++;
-                int y = x;
+                // just for debugging. not really sure how to rebind from inside the timer?
+                MessageBox.Show(TempBindingStr);
             }
         }
         
-
 		void UpdateLabel()
 		{
 			if (Bindings.Count == 0)