Game Keeps Auto Minimizing.

[JesseClark9]

Alright, I tried everything I've seen on this site and then some. Updated my bios, did reinstalls, uninstalled recent downloads, defragmentation, Game Booster, Window Mode, you name it. Yet my games STILL keep auto minimizing. It never used to do this, just started this year. Any info please would be very appreciated, just list some things you didn't see on my list and I'll tell you if I've done it and if it didn't work.

My computer runs on this:
Windows 7 64bit
AMD Athlon II X4 630 Processor, ATI Radeon HD 5670

 

[alexoiu]

Check the applications running in background (antivirus, firewall a.s.o) - disable/uninstall them and test.
If still no go, reinstall Windows, drivers, no other software and test a game.
If OK, reinstall the other applications one by one, testing after each installation.

 

[fixxxer113]

I get that sometimes too but on a totally different system. Windows 7 64bit with Intel i7 940 and Nvidia GTX660.

One game I remember that does this, is Alan Wake. It would happen once or twice during gameplay. I use a Logitech controller with no Xinput support, so I had to use the x360ce emulator to make it work. I always thought it had something to do with that (randomly sending a "ctrl+esc" or "Windows" button signal by mistake).

What game are you playing when it happens?
What controller are you using?

 

[JesseClark9]

Check the applications running in background (antivirus, firewall a.s.o) - disable/uninstall them and test.
If still no go, reinstall Windows, drivers, no other software and test a game.
If OK, reinstall the other applications one by one, testing after each installation.

I'm not sure if I need something when reinstalling Windows, do I need a CD or something?

 

[JesseClark9]

I get that sometimes too but on a totally different system. Windows 7 64bit with Intel i7 940 and Nvidia GTX660.

One game I remember that does this, is Alan Wake. It would happen once or twice during gameplay. I use a Logitech controller with no Xinput support, so I had to use the x360ce emulator to make it work. I always thought it had something to do with that (randomly sending a "ctrl+esc" or "Windows" button signal by mistake).

What game are you playing when it happens?
What controller are you using?

It's any game, N64 emulator, Counter Strike Global Offense, Skyrim, Borderlands 2, Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead 2, and many more. And I use a corded Xbox 360 controller.

 

[alexoiu]

It might be the XBox: http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f59/solved-xbox-360-controller-issues-623198.html

 

[JesseClark9]

It might be the XBox: http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f59/solved-xbox-360-controller-issues-623198.html

I don't see a XBoxStat.exe in my processes.

 

[fixxxer113]

It might be the XBox: http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f59/solved-xbox-360-controller-issues-623198.html

Lol, I'll try that. If that's the cause, it means the x360ce emulator does such a good job, it even emulates xbox controller bugs! 😛

 

[alexoiu]

It might be the XBox: http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f59/solved-xbox-360-controller-issues-623198.html

I don't see a XBoxStat.exe in my processes.

Probably the process starts randomly, minimizing the game. Run a game, and if minimized, check for XBoxStat.exe.

Try playing using a keyboard and mouse just to make sure it's the xbox issue.

 

[JesseClark9]

It might be the XBox: http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f59/solved-xbox-360-controller-issues-623198.html

I don't see a XBoxStat.exe in my processes.

Probably the process starts randomly, minimizing the game. Run a game, and if minimized, check for XBoxStat.exe.

Try playing using a keyboard and mouse just to make sure it's the xbox issue.

After getting into a vs. bot match in counterstrike, it immediately minimized, I checked and no XboxStat.exe. Oddly enough, Tomb Raider had no problems till yesterday with this.

 

[alexoiu]

Use a keyboard and mouse. If still the same, then it might be an application.

 

[JesseClark9]

Use a keyboard and mouse. If still the same, then it might be an application.

Okay, I'll unplug the controller and use the keys and mouse, I'll be back when I get a result.

 

[JesseClark9]

Well I got to play just a bit longer than usual, but sure enough it minimized.

 

[alexoiu]

Check in msconfig -startup and services (click Hide Microsoft services) and disable all unnecessary processes. Unisntall the xbox driver/application while testing with keyboard and mouse. See if still the same.

 

[JesseClark9]

Check in msconfig -startup and services (click Hide Microsoft services) and disable all unnecessary processes. Unisntall the xbox driver/application while testing with keyboard and mouse. See if still the same.

Alright, uninstalled the device and its driver, I'll test it out and come back with results, hopefully I can play a full hour without trouble, its usual time is 35 minutes or less.

 

[JesseClark9]

So far so good, I will game the rest of the day and see if that was the problem.

 

[alexoiu]

What drivers using for xbox? Have you tried downloading the latest ones from xbox?

 

[JesseClark9]

What drivers using for xbox? Have you tried downloading the latest ones from xbox?

I never downloaded anything from xbox, the controller installed itself and it worked for a long time till this minimize issue, still no issues now though, I didn't know there was more software available for my controller.

 

[JesseClark9]

I never installed an xbox software, that was the problem. Thanks alexoiu for informing me that such a thing exists.

 

[alexoiu]

You're welcome. Good luck!

 

[dldishner]

I was having the same issue. I recently solved it for my personal situation. The problem was that Windows Error Reporting was getting errors from Intel Smart Connect and possibly other applications running in the background. I disabled the Windows Error Reporting service and have not seen the problem for over 2 hours of play time. Previously it had been about every 5 minutes.

 

[MBT]

When this happens again just simply close your game and go to personalize and change the theme to windows 7 basic. Run the game and it will not minimize. Then close the game and set a wallpaper and theme. Then the game will not minimize and you will not need to keep windows basic theme. I had the same problem and this is how I solved it.