After Alt+Tab, can't interact with inventory

[Stickman]

I've read a couple threads after a google search, but either haven't found someone with this problem or didn't recognize it as the same exact problem.

Most of the time, 90% of the time, I have no trouble alt+tab out of Factorio and back in. Every once in a while, when I go back to Factorio after alt+tab, my mouse cursor will not interact with the inventory screen or the Esc menu. I can still left-click on storage items to open the inventory for that storage item, but once it's open I can't manipulate the actual inventory at all. My own player inventory is the same way, can't pick up anything by left or right clicking on the item. I can right-click placed objects to pick them up, though. If I try to place an item from my tool belt by pushing the hotkey then left clicking the ground, that works fine. If I try to left click the same item on that hotkey, it won't pick up onto the mouse cursor to place it.

If I hit escape, I can't click any of the menu buttons, either, so I can't just save my game and restart Factorio to fix it.

SOMETIMES, when I bother trying, I have no idea what exactly I do to fix it, but if I alt+tab enough times or maybe some kind of right/left click combination or smashing my keyboard with a hammer or a combination of all of these things just mindlessly trying things, it magically begins working properly. I don't know if it's something I've done or if it's even some kind of time-out where nothing I do actually fixes it but it fixes itself after a certain amount of time. Really at a loss on how I've fixed it the few times I've managed to fix it.

Win7x64 (fresh install)
Factorio 0.12.35 (but been happening for at least the beginning of .12)

I'm not sure what other information to include or if this has been answered already. Thanks for your time!

[orzelek]

Potential solution:
When problem happens press alt and release it - it should fix the issue.
It's a semi-bug thats present sometimes when game doesn't receive key release notification when going to background.

[Stickman]

I tried mashing the Alt key several times to no avail.

I think I read somewhere that removing the TAB key from key binds might make a difference, but that's the best key for inventory for me.

Do you have other solutions besides tapping alt?