Games "Alt-Tab" for no reason, any idea why?

[xRyokenx]

This has happened with multiple games that I've been playing, I have no clue what could cause it... should I do a clean install of XP or what? Basically what it does is randomly shrink down the game and show the desktop... it's quite annoying especially since Morrowind doesn't like this and it crashes...

Another suggestion, add a forum area just to ask questions for problems people are having... I was kinda confused at where to post this and just decided to post it in the Chatterbox.

[.Maleficus.]

Do you have a mouse with a skin of some sort? Like a Stardock skin on it? I'm having the same problem and I think that's what's causing it. But I could be very wrong.


And, this would probably go in the Video Games section.

[xRyokenx]

Ahh, okay... I have a Windows skin on my mouse that inverts the color of whatever is behind it... I guess I should just revert it to default then. :neutral:

If this solves it, then whoop-dee-doo, if not, I'll let ya know. Thanks .Mal, +rep.

Note: All other suggestions are welcome. :D

[MaxOC]

sometimes its a program, like orthos or F@H have loops so everytime that one of those loops reloads it zooms it down

[AKA_RA]

i have a similar problem, but so far ive only noticed it on BF2142, and it only happens in the menu one time at random every time i load it up, usually in the first few menu clicks.

are you using 2 monitors?

[Luke122]

May sound simple, but is your ALT key sticking? Happens more often than we think...

[CanaBalistic]

My computer has aged gracefully and has problems putting the muscle where its needed when playing games. So, before i load a game, i shut down all non essential programs and BG tasks. This limits the problems that can go wrong and makes it eassier to diagnose any problems that do occur.

Some sugjestions:
Make a hardware profile for when you're playing vids. Disable everything you dont need for vids and restart with your new profile.

Run a registry, virus, adware scan to make sure there are no problems. (the registry is the central nervous system of the operating system and is more often than not the root of all computer problems/malfunctions)

Just a note: I have a cursor skin (StarDock CursorXP) and i've experienced no problems what so ever in the 2 years i've had it.

[Spawn-Inc]

Just a note: I have a cursor skin (StarDock CursorXP) and i've experienced no problems what so ever in the 2 years i've had it.

ya i have cursorxp and i shut it down before i play a game. not because it screws up my games but it will flash the design and its annoying when you aiming.

i have a problem while where at it too. when i play DOD:S it will randomly freeze and its pissing me off. i have the latest driver for my video card, and redownloaded directx 9.0c. it only seems to happen with dod not hl2.

[xRyokenx]

It's just in games, and I think I'ma replace this kybard anyway, the shift key sticks amongst others... I'd like a G15, but it'll be a helluva task to come up with an excuse and the cash... it's just in games though... in WoW it would do it shortly after booting, and is there any way to permanently disable the useless tasks that are displayed in Task Manager? About a tenth to a quarter of my 1gb of RAM is used for pointless crap. Should I just do a clean install of XP and just install the stuff I really need?

[GT40_GearHead]

when i had this happen to me, i found it was caused by an overheated video card !

check the cooling, on everything, dust could clog the heat-sinks or you could have a dead fan, AND install a monitoring software that can track Voltages values, an instable power supply could also be the source of the instability

good luck

[xRyokenx]

I'll have to UC the video card and buy some canned air... I opened up my case a week or so ago and was like "HOLY S*** that's a lot of dust!" I'll get a new keyboard while I'm at it... too much food and crumbs and crap messing up the keys...

Also, is there any way to permanently disable those stupid background tasks that are unnecessary? I can' figure out what's what because of the names, and it seems as though I can't keep it from starting every time I boot the computer...

One other thing, I have to load up the BIOS every time I start up the PC or when I press a key on the kybard, the input devices stop functioning, could that just be a defective kybard or what?

[GT40_GearHead]

for background processes you can find a lot of small utility programs that let you select what goes and what doesn't


the BIOS has to do its thing on every start up, thats why its there, the problem with the key could come from an incorrect BIOS setting, or it could very well be a messed up keyboard or something

run some check, get a key board from a friend or as you said buy a new one,load the default BIOS setting and see if the problem persists


cheers !

[xRyokenx]

Yeah, I'ma try the new kybard I bought, and I got some canned air which was $15!!!!!.

EDIT: W00t! It was just that keyboard, I really like the new Logitech one I just got... soooo much nicer than that Micro Innovations... the keys are even a lot better... after the canned air, the computer got about 50% quieter. That concludes this thread, hopefully.