Very bizarre problem, need help

**WaterDumple** · 11-21-09, 11:32 PM

My weird computer's latest multiplayer-destroying gimmick showed up about two days ago. It's very bizarre; every 15-30 minutes, while playing any video game, the game will randomly minimize. Nothing comes up or happens...it just minimizes right then and there with no warning of any sort. With games that return faster like Dawn of War, it's not too big of a deal, but with things that process a lot of data like Modern Warfare 2, it can take thirty seconds or longer to come back. In multiplayer, that completely screws everything up--Pretty much a death sentence, at least for that life.

Has anybody encountered/heard of this or knows a possibility of the problem?

**BigHub** · 11-21-09, 11:38 PM

My computer does that every once in a while, but not all the time.

What OS and SP are you running?

**Kanati** · 11-22-09, 12:18 AM

I have had l4d2 do that a lot with the demo and once tonight with the real deal. Turns out I had an IM client that liked to put up a notification when someone logged in, out, messaged me, etc... When that happened the game would minimize.

Check for things you have running that might be popping up windows in the background. IM clients, AV software, etc.

**WaterDumple** · 11-22-09, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by BigHub

My computer does that every once in a while, but not all the time.

What OS and SP are you running?

Windows XP with service pack 3. I have checked, and to my knowledge there should not be any AV software or the likes messing anything up.

Edit: Turns out this actually DISCONNECTS me from online when it happens, too.

**Phyrelight** · 11-22-09, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by WaterDumple

Originally Posted by BigHub

My computer does that every once in a while, but not all the time.

What OS and SP are you running?

Windows XP with service pack 3. I have checked, and to my knowledge there should not be any AV software or the likes messing anything up.

Edit: Turns out this actually DISCONNECTS me from online when it happens, too.

could be a lot of things. Something as malicious as a virus. Something simple as windows updates checking in. Antivirus scanning the ports etc. Check to see what services you have running. You may need to install a network monitoring software and monitors your services and bandwidth to catch it. Easy way to see if it's something you have running in your profile is to create a new user name on your PC. You can still run all your games as the other PC profile. If it still happens it's system level based, if it doesn't happen anymore it's profile based (ie something you have installed to run in the background on your profile). You can also try disabling everything, windows updates, firewall, AV etc and see if it happens. This is clearly not the ideal way to play but it should help you troubleshoot the problem. There is also the option of a fresh install.

**WaterDumple** · 11-23-09, 01:27 AM

Well...it didn't happen today.

Maybe it has just randomly passed.

**Cybs** · 11-23-09, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by WaterDumple

Well...it didn't happen today.

Maybe it has just randomly passed.

I doubt it. The issue will rear it's ugly head again.

**WaterDumple** · 11-23-09, 03:14 PM

No doubt. But until I can find what's causing it, I may as well get some kicks out of a functional computer while it lasts.

EDIT: Aaaaaaaaaaand it's over again. Also, now it's crashing the game too.