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Weird Windows-Related Glitch in Most of My Games
#1
ThatNickGuy
ThatNickGuy
So something that's been more of an annoyance than anything. I'm not sure how to describe it exactly, so here goes:
Whenever I'm in the middle of the game, sometimes the game will suddenly minimalize itself, bringing me back to the desktop. It's still running, but paused. Or it'll act LIKE it's minimalized and pause suddenly. Two examples:
During Awesomenauts, the window will suddenly minimalize in the middle of a game, forcing me to scramble to click on the icon to bring me back to the game before someone on the other team kills me.
In The Witcher 3, it'll suddenly go to the pause menu (like I hit Select to bring me to the Save/Load menu). The buttons on my controllers are completely unresponsive unless I click anywhere on the screen with my mouse. This is especially annoying when I'm in the middle of an intense battle.
Has anyone else experienced this or heard of it? I don't know if it's a Window 10 thing or what.
Whenever I'm in the middle of the game, sometimes the game will suddenly minimalize itself, bringing me back to the desktop. It's still running, but paused. Or it'll act LIKE it's minimalized and pause suddenly. Two examples:
During Awesomenauts, the window will suddenly minimalize in the middle of a game, forcing me to scramble to click on the icon to bring me back to the game before someone on the other team kills me.
In The Witcher 3, it'll suddenly go to the pause menu (like I hit Select to bring me to the Save/Load menu). The buttons on my controllers are completely unresponsive unless I click anywhere on the screen with my mouse. This is especially annoying when I'm in the middle of an intense battle.
Has anyone else experienced this or heard of it? I don't know if it's a Window 10 thing or what.
#2
Chad Sexington
Chad Sexington
So this isn't ideal and only works if you're playing on Steam, but solves a lot of this problem as a temporary measure until you can figure more out. If you're not playing on Steam, google the name of the game and "run in windowed mode".
For Steam:
Right-click the game name in the Library, choose Properties at the bottom, and then click Set Launch Options. Type "-windowed" (no quotation marks). If that doesn't work type "-sw". Usually either one works, but, you know. Give it a shot.
This forces most games through Steam to run as a window (i.e. not fullscreen) and stops a lot of the window-switching problems I've had. Your problem can probably be fixed so that you can run games fullscreen - I've usually found a way. There's obviously something larger going on, but I don't have time before bed to do more... Hopefully this works as a fix to make things playable until I have more time/someone else can help.[DOUBLEPOST=1473220560,1473220479][/DOUBLEPOST]To go back to fullscreen gaming, just follow the same steps, but delete "-windowed" or "-sw".[DOUBLEPOST=1473220651][/DOUBLEPOST]If you want to do some of your own troubleshooting, I'd google something like "Windows 10 changing window focus" or "Window switching while gaming Windows 10"[DOUBLEPOST=1473221004][/DOUBLEPOST]Also, I don't have Windows 10, but go to Control Panel and something like Ease of Access->Keyboard and disable/uncheck Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, and Toggle Keys.
For Steam:
Right-click the game name in the Library, choose Properties at the bottom, and then click Set Launch Options. Type "-windowed" (no quotation marks). If that doesn't work type "-sw". Usually either one works, but, you know. Give it a shot.
This forces most games through Steam to run as a window (i.e. not fullscreen) and stops a lot of the window-switching problems I've had. Your problem can probably be fixed so that you can run games fullscreen - I've usually found a way. There's obviously something larger going on, but I don't have time before bed to do more... Hopefully this works as a fix to make things playable until I have more time/someone else can help.[DOUBLEPOST=1473220560,1473220479][/DOUBLEPOST]To go back to fullscreen gaming, just follow the same steps, but delete "-windowed" or "-sw".[DOUBLEPOST=1473220651][/DOUBLEPOST]If you want to do some of your own troubleshooting, I'd google something like "Windows 10 changing window focus" or "Window switching while gaming Windows 10"[DOUBLEPOST=1473221004][/DOUBLEPOST]Also, I don't have Windows 10, but go to Control Panel and something like Ease of Access->Keyboard and disable/uncheck Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, and Toggle Keys.
#3
PatrThom
PatrThom
This sounds almost like you are pressing the Windows key.
Some keyboards have an option to disable it. Alternatively, you could be hitting "show desktop" which is Windows + D.
--Patrick
Some keyboards have an option to disable it. Alternatively, you could be hitting "show desktop" which is Windows + D.
--Patrick
#4
ThatNickGuy
ThatNickGuy
In both instances, I'm not using the keyboard at all. Just the Xbox controller.This sounds almost like you are pressing the Windows key.
Some keyboards have an option to disable it. Alternatively, you could be hitting "show desktop" which is Windows + D.
--Patrick
#5
Vrii
Vrii
Is it cabled? Is there a chance the cord is pressing a key when you move in certain ways?In both instances, I'm not using the keyboard at all. Just the Xbox controller.
#6
Ravenpoe
Ravenpoe
If you were using a keyboard, I would say it sounds like sticky keys, where it tries to open something when you press shift for a certain amount of time.
#7
ThatNickGuy
ThatNickGuy
Nope, it doesn't come into contact with the keyboard at all. It's wired, but the way it's plugged in, it won't hit any keys by accident.[DOUBLEPOST=1473254641,1473254607][/DOUBLEPOST]Is it cabled? Is there a chance the cord is pressing a key when you move in certain ways?
If you were using a keyboard, I would say it sounds like sticky keys, where it tries to open something when you press shift for a certain amount of time.
In both instances, I'm not using the keyboard at all. Just the Xbox controller.
#8
strawman
strawman
There's a possibility that another program is taking control of the screen for an alert or similar. Press hold down the windows key, press and release the tab key, and keep holding the windows key down. This will bring up a screen of all the currently running programs with the one that is currently in focus on top. Do this the next time the computer skips to windows and it should give you an idea of what program windows thinks should have your attention. It might not resolve the problem, but it's one possible step that might give you a clue.
#9
Dave
Dave
When this happens to me it's usually notifications. I'd check them to see if you have any turned on you don't care about.
#10
GasBandit
GasBandit
This is what happened to me when I experienced this same thing. I installed a citrix client that kept an icon in the system tray, and it would at random times, it turns out, grab window focus for no apparent reason, causing whatever I was doing to minimize back to desktop. Very irritating during games. I ended up getting rid of that citrix client.There's a possibility that another program is taking control of the screen for an alert or similar. Press hold down the windows key, press and release the tab key, and keep holding the windows key down. This will bring up a screen of all the currently running programs with the one that is currently in focus on top. Do this the next time the computer skips to windows and it should give you an idea of what program windows thinks should have your attention. It might not resolve the problem, but it's one possible step that might give you a clue.
#11
PatrThom
--Patrick
PatrThom
Presumably this would also happen with LogMeIn, Remote Desktop, or any of the other similar utilities.This is what happened to me when I experienced this same thing. I installed a citrix client that kept an icon in the system tray, and it would at random times, it turns out, grab window focus for no apparent reason, causing whatever I was doing to minimize back to desktop. Very irritating during games. I ended up getting rid of that citrix client.
--Patrick
#12
GasBandit
GasBandit
I've not had the problem with RD or Teamviewer. It was just the citrix client for some bizarre reason.Presumably this would also happen with LogMeIn, Remote Desktop, or any of the other similar utilities.
--Patrick
#13
Jay
Jay
Step 1 : MSCONFIG, Start-up, Disable everything. Reboot. Try to see if this fixes it.
Step 2 : Disable USB configuration. Go to device manager, right click on all USB controller, go to properties, advanced, "dont tell me about USB error" then click "ok"
Step 3 : Disable Ballon Tips. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307729/en-us
Step 4 : Windows mode in games as per Chad, see if this helps.
Step 5 : Open Task Manager, keep eyes on it like a hawk. Find the process that is doing this.
Step 6 : Format
Step 2 : Disable USB configuration. Go to device manager, right click on all USB controller, go to properties, advanced, "dont tell me about USB error" then click "ok"
Step 3 : Disable Ballon Tips. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307729/en-us
Step 4 : Windows mode in games as per Chad, see if this helps.
Step 5 : Open Task Manager, keep eyes on it like a hawk. Find the process that is doing this.
Step 6 : Format