XP and game minimizing constantly

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 11:42 am

Okay - my turn to have a problem which I can't solve.

I've just bought and installed windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 1 (according to the CD), but have a big big problem....

Each game I try to play minimize itself constantly (and if anybody suggests I'm pressing "win"-key or something, I'll smack them

)

On the same note, the Direct3D 7, 8 and 9 test in DirectX (dxdiag) fails, saying that the test was interupted by me pressing a key

I found out, that if I didn't instally some updates to Windows (4 different hotfixes and 1 patch to Internet explorer) this problem is not there - which strikes me as way odd.

Is there anybody that have had any experience with this problem? - because it is quite frankly getting on my nerves that I spend so much money buying original software, and then I can't keep it up to date

EDIT:
Forgot to mention:
I'm currently running Nvidia drivers for my ASUS Geforce 4 TI 4400, version about 45.XX, but have tried the latest also (52.XX I belive).

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 12:10 pm

I've had that happen on a few isolated occasions. Have you tried right-clicking the shortcut to bring up the properties, and set the thing for run in "Maximized?"

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 1:06 pm

They just minimize straight afterwards.

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 4:13 pm

You pressing the Win key? (sorry, couldn't resist)

I got the same probelme at time with XP Pro. Seems to me like the auto-update feature after it's been initialized once just keeps popping itself up every so often wanting to check for updates. It doesn't pop up a screen, but everytime something gets minimized, the update icon is flashing in the taskbar. You can try turning off the auto feature and just doing it manually. That cleared my problem up anyway.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 4:19 pm

It is not really sporadic or once in a while, it is constantly and all the time.

Also the Windows update is already non-automatic on my computer. The only automatic update I got active is my Norton - which only runs like once or twice a week.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 6:49 pm

Off the top of my head I'd say you'd be best reinstalling DirectX from a different CD, like a modern game or something.

Mr Flibble · Post by **Mr Flibble** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 10:45 pm

Originally posted by Bloodstalker
You pressing the Win key? (sorry, couldn't resist)

You never know, that may be it!

I've seen a few keyboards that had the windows key stuck due to that black goopy stuff that tends to collect on keyboards and mouse balls, and the users were complaining about odd things happening when they press some of the keys (like E or L). Hitting the windows key really hard solves that one. @Xan, you might want to give it a try, it may be that simple.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 2:22 am

If the keyboard is sending the "win-key pressed" information in games and the direct3D test, it would send it in onther applications also, and the computer would be impossible to use (for instance the start menu would pop up constantly).

My keyboard seems to work completely fine .......

I think I might have narrowed it down to Norton for some reasons though.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:53 am

Problem identified to involved Nortons Auto Protect feature (the feature that continues controls nothing suspecios hits your harddrive).

When I disable that feature, I can run with the hotfixes I couldn't before.....

Now to find a permanent solution to the problem - cause I really like Norton Internet Security

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Feb 09, 2004 9:52 pm

Have you checked up on the Norton website to see if they have a paper devoted to the issue?

pogi · Post by **pogi** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 12:34 am

i've been having this exact same problem for the last month now and it's making gaming for me torturous! i've been doing heaps of surfing and i've found a few soloutions but none of them are working me.. i'm wondering Xandax, since u havn't posted in this thread for a while haev u solved the problem?? please help me

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 12:57 am

[QUOTE=pogi]i've been having this exact same problem for the last month now and it's making gaming for me torturous! i've been doing heaps of surfing and i've found a few soloutions but none of them are working me.. i'm wondering Xandax, since u havn't posted in this thread for a while haev u solved the problem?? please help me

[/QUOTE]

Yeah - two posts up I wrote:
[QUOTE=Xandax]Problem identified to involved Nortons Auto Protect feature (the feature that continues controls nothing suspecios hits your harddrive).

When I disable that feature, I can run with the hotfixes I couldn't before.....

Now to find a permanent solution to the problem - cause I really like Norton Internet Security

[/QUOTE]

So basically - that is what I did, and haven't had any problems since.
I've disabled Nortons Auto Protect feature in my Norton Internet Security 2003.

After what I know of this feature - is that it continuesly scans your harddrive for suspicious files and activity. Something I actually would have turned off already, if I had known what it did withouth having this problem

.
It seems like a redundant feature, when you have both firewall and anti-virus scanning. But I guess it is to protect against vira from removable medias such as floppy-disks and CD/DVD-disks

I hope this information can help you, because it is a rather annoying problem, and it was hard to "debug"

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 7:46 am

[QUOTE=Xandax]Problem identified to involved Nortons Auto Protect feature (the feature that continues controls nothing suspecios hits your harddrive).

When I disable that feature, I can run with the hotfixes I couldn't before.....

Now to find a permanent solution to the problem - cause I really like Norton Internet Security

[/QUOTE]

I've known people who use Norton (including myself, who specifically use the anti-virus software), and they found it a pain. If you're ever looking for software other than Norton, I'd suggest an anti-virus/firewall program called "McAfee Security Center." Trust me, it works like a charm.

Note: This is only a suggestion if you still experience problems due to Norton.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 7:52 am

Well - besides the Auto Protect Feature which seems to interfere with Direct3D(or Games, or both or something third

) - I've had no problems at all with Norton.

I know of McAfee, it was my first anti-virus system, and there is also Panda and AVG and ..... well you get the drift

There are many products out there, but currently - I have no plans of moving from Symantec products currently - but if I were, McAfee would likely be the first substitute I'd look at.

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 8:37 am

[QUOTE=Xandax]Well - besides the Auto Protect Feature which seems to interfere with Direct3D(or Games, or both or something third

) - I've had no problems at all with Norton.

I know of McAfee, it was my first anti-virus system, and there is also Panda and AVG and ..... well you get the drift

There are many products out there, but currently - I have no plans of moving from Symantec products currently - but if I were, McAfee would likely be the first substitute I'd look at.[/QUOTE]

Ahhh, I see.

MaNiAc · Post by **MaNiAc** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 7:09 pm

i've been having the same problem. whenever i try to run diablo 2 it goes to the blizzard logo them minimizes and partially maximizes (you can see the start menu on the bottom) and if u click anywhere it minimizes and refuses to maximize again

. the only anti virus program i have is AVG Anti-Virus System and i dont have it open while i play a game so if anyone can help it would b greatly appreciated

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 12:25 am

Well - the only help that is possible to give (I don't know AVG so can't say if that is what is the problem), is to start shutting down services that is running on your computer and seeing if one of them is causing the problem.
Use the taskmanager to start closing non-essential processes and run your game.

I would seriously think it is a running process/service/program that is causing the problems.

Also - if it is only one game that is the problem, then it is likely the game or the game vs. Windows that is the problem, and not something general.

FireLighter · Post by **FireLighter** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 1:09 am

This isnt really a problem, when it shows the game/taskbar, hit the windows key, and wait for it to go to your desktop, then click to maximize it.

MaNiAc · Post by **MaNiAc** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 3:38 pm

lol i fixed it...well not really all i need to do hold down the alt+tab for like 10 seconds lmao and it works

MaNiAc · Post by **MaNiAc** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:52 am

ok i really fixed the problem now. when i go to task manager i click on applications. then i click image name to list the programs in alphabetical order. u click on the program that is most likely to be ur anti virus program and thn u hit end process. took me a ehile to figure this out lol