Game won't let me alt-tab
By
American_Angel,
Posted on: 2010-04-14 23:40 in ALL ACCESS Gameplay Technical Issues Bugs
you can use your windows key, located directly to the left of the left alt key, to bring up your tool bar so you can get to your other programs.
Quote:
The OP seems to be unable to do that. "I couldn't make the game window 'go away' with alt-tab or opening the start menu with the windows key."
|
Originally Posted by Sharker_Quint
you can use your windows key, located directly to the left of the left alt key, to bring up your tool bar so you can get to your other programs.
|
Goodbye may seem forever
Farewell is like the end
But in my heart's the memory
And there you'll always be
-- The Fox and the Hound
which graphics card are you using and which driver set?
Recent ATi driver releases have somehow screwed up alt-tabbing for some games, although some users are now reporting that recent Nvidia drivers are also screwing up alt-tabbing.
Oh I'm using the crappy intel gma 950 card, with the latest drivers (I rechecked).
Actually when I press the 'windows' key the start menu flashes, meaning it does switch programs (same with alt-tab) but the CoX window still remains in 'front' so that I can't mess with other programs. The start menu just 'flashes' for a second when I try to access it with the win key. And no task bar.
But well... I ran CoX 5 times tonight and quit because of this issue. The 5th time I was able to get it running properly, with alt-tabbing and windows key working and everything was fine.
Windows is weird. I use my windows XP partition just to play the game (I also have other stuff like Mids, Firefox and antivirus), because my main stuff is on my Mac OS X partition. I can't run the Mac client because the game becomes a slideshow (since the game emulated in the Mac version, not a proper port like WoW which runs smoothly on my Mac - the winxp client runs very well but the CoX mac client requires a higher end Mac to run decently).
Thanks for the replies! I hope CoX stops this weird behavior like it did after I ran it after 5 times lol. After I crashed at WW (common occurrence here) I ran it again and it worked fine too.
Quote:
You have to actually have another program running, otherwise you have to hit the Windows key (or Control+Escape, which does the same thing).
|
Originally Posted by Kioshi
Before my 1.5 year break, CoX sometimes ran in a way that it didn't let me alt-tab to other programs like Firefox, Mids, etc. I couldn't make the game window 'go away' with alt-tab or opening the start menu with the windows key. When it happened, I just exited and relaunched the game and it was okay again, normal alt-tabbing so I could go to Firefox or other program when I was loading in a zone, check Mid's so I could see what power I planeed to pick and stuff.
I played about 5 times since I returned and it was okay. I haven't played in a bit, like 1 week, and there were some Windows XP updates. Now everytime I run the game, the thing I related happens. The 'game loading' screen appears in front of all others, alt-tab doesn't help, and the only way I can return to my other programs is by exiting the game. I verified files and nothing. Is there a solution to this? I'm running Windows XP SP3 on a core duo 1.66 computer that always ran CoX smoothly. Thanks in advance! |
Quote:
This makes me wonder if somehow your CoX is set to always run on top.
|
Originally Posted by Kioshi
Oh I'm using the crappy intel gma 950 card, with the latest drivers (I rechecked).
Actually when I press the 'windows' key the start menu flashes, meaning it does switch programs (same with alt-tab) but the CoX window still remains in 'front' so that I can't mess with other programs. The start menu just 'flashes' for a second when I try to access it with the win key. And no task bar. But well... I ran CoX 5 times tonight and quit because of this issue. The 5th time I was able to get it running properly, with alt-tabbing and windows key working and everything was fine. Windows is weird. I use my windows XP partition just to play the game (I also have other stuff like Mids, Firefox and antivirus), because my main stuff is on my Mac OS X partition. I can't run the Mac client because the game becomes a slideshow (since the game emulated in the Mac version, not a proper port like WoW which runs smoothly on my Mac - the winxp client runs very well but the CoX mac client requires a higher end Mac to run decently). Thanks for the replies! I hope CoX stops this weird behavior like it did after I ran it after 5 times lol. After I crashed at WW (common occurrence here) I ran it again and it worked fine too. |
Quote:
I'd wager it's an artifact of your "crappy" video card not being able to run a fullscreen application in the background (especially if the fullscreen application is a different resolution as your desktop). Try running the game in windowed mode instead and it should work better for you.|
Originally Posted by Kioshi
Oh I'm using the crappy intel gma 950 card, with the latest drivers (I rechecked).
Actually when I press the 'windows' key the start menu flashes, meaning it does switch programs (same with alt-tab) but the CoX window still remains in 'front' so that I can't mess with other programs. The start menu just 'flashes' for a second when I try to access it with the win key. And no task bar. |
I'm not sure how you have your installation set up, but this is the general shortcut you can use to make CoH open in windowed mode:
"C:\Program Files\City of Heroes\cohupdater.exe" -fullscreen 0
Then you can simply maximize the window if you want to make it full size again. It wont get rid of the toolbar or window header, but it makes the situation more stable for multiple applications. Some say that windowed mode may even increase performance for some people. It's worth a shot.
I wonder if this is a similar issue that Win7 is having with Alt+Tab? With Win7 the problem is Aero, but it makes me wonder if an XP or Vista update is the culprit.
Quote:
I don't think so, because my later attempts went fine. But if it is... How do I see it? Not really a Windows expert here |
Originally Posted by American_Angel
This makes me wonder if somehow your CoX is set to always run on top.
|
Quote:
|
I'd wager it's an artifact of your "crappy" video card not being able to run a fullscreen application in the background (especially if the fullscreen application is a different resolution as your desktop). Try running the game in windowed mode instead and it should work better for you. I'm not sure how you have your installation set up, but this is the general shortcut you can use to make CoH open in windowed mode: "C:\Program Files\City of Heroes\cohupdater.exe" -fullscreen 0 |
Yeah this is getting annoying... I am playing now but had to run the game 5 times and quit all 5 at the login screen. The 6th time it ran fine fullscreen.
Windowed mode worked fine btw (ran at 1600x990 or something like that), I just don't like the task bar and the top bar when I maximize the window, but oh well, gues I'll have to use that because running the game 5, 6 times to get it to work properly is not very cool.
Thanks a lot for the help guys 
Quote:
Well I'm glad windowed mode works for you at least. |
Originally Posted by Kioshi
Windowed mode worked fine btw (ran at 1600x990 or something like that), I just don't like the task bar and the top bar when I maximize the window, but oh well, gues I'll have to use that because running the game 5, 6 times to get it to work properly is not very cool.
Thanks a lot for the help guys |
Too bad the other setting you are trying isn't working out though
Before my 1.5 year break, CoX sometimes ran in a way that it didn't let me alt-tab to other programs like Firefox, Mids, etc. I couldn't make the game window 'go away' with alt-tab or opening the start menu with the windows key. When it happened, I just exited and relaunched the game and it was okay again, normal alt-tabbing so I could go to Firefox or other program when I was loading in a zone, check Mid's so I could see what power I planeed to pick and stuff.
I played about 5 times since I returned and it was okay.
I haven't played in a bit, like 1 week, and there were some Windows XP updates. Now everytime I run the game, the thing I related happens. The 'game loading' screen appears in front of all others, alt-tab doesn't help, and the only way I can return to my other programs is by exiting the game.
I verified files and nothing. Is there a solution to this?
I'm running Windows XP SP3 on a core duo 1.66 computer that always ran CoX smoothly.
Thanks in advance!