Window Randomly Minimizes

Help with Setup, Hardware, Performance or other Issues...Or just pimp your rig.
Post Reply
Katarn
Private
Private
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:40 am

Window Randomly Minimizes

Post by Katarn »

The BZFlag window randomly minimizes while I'm playing. I'm playing in full screen mode, so it shouldn't be a case of my clicking outside the window and shifting focus. I've tried disabling my virus scanner, but the problem persists. I imagine it is as likely to be a problem with something trying to steal the focus as it would be with BZFlag its self, but when ever it happens theres never another program or dialog box demanding attention. Any one have any ideas on what it could be, or on some possible steps or tools I could pursue to track down the issue? It's extremely frustrating to be seconds from returning to base with the enemy flag, and have your window minimize!

Thanks in advance for anyone's insight.
User avatar
Triumph of the Soul
Corporal
Corporal
Posts: 294
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 4:32 pm
Location: Minnesota

Post by Triumph of the Soul »

I was about to say it could be your antivirus software updating itself, but you said you disabled it. Do you use AVG? I know AVG minimizes BZFlag when it starts it's auto-update. Sometimes it finishes before BZFlag minimizes completely.I used to have this problem too, but I haven't had it ever since I stopped using AVG. Then again, it could be something completely different than AVG that is causing the problem. Does anyone else have ideas?
Image
Creator @: Duck or Die, Duck or Die CTF, Fuel Stack, Guernica, Normal, Frayed
dango
Private First Class
Private First Class
Posts: 1400
Joined: Sun Feb 06, 2005 5:40 pm
Location: Somewhere over there.

Post by dango »

if you use aim or something, it might be that
Image
User avatar
Triumph of the Soul
Corporal
Corporal
Posts: 294
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 4:32 pm
Location: Minnesota

Post by Triumph of the Soul »

That's right. It could be AIM, since I switched to Trillian at about the same time as I stopped using AVG and the problem has ceased to trouble me. But if it is AIM, I don't know exactly what part of it could be causing this problem.
Image
Creator @: Duck or Die, Duck or Die CTF, Fuel Stack, Guernica, Normal, Frayed
User avatar
H0ley
Private First Class
Private First Class
Posts: 266
Joined: Sun May 01, 2005 7:29 pm
Location: Planet MoFo
Contact:

Post by H0ley »

PSA: Sometimes when you press the "windows" key, it will minimize full screen apps.

/yes i am a richard.

On a more serious note, what kind of graphic card do you have? I used to have a problem going fullscreen with directx games on a integrated laptop graphic card.
Image
/loves meteorite's mom
User avatar
QuantumBeep
Private First Class
Private First Class
Posts: 117
Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:03 am
Location: Planet Mofo
Contact:

Post by QuantumBeep »

Random minimizes are very often caused by either Windows Update or some sort of spyware. Basically, if anything tries to steal input focus, BZflag will minimize. Run a good spyware scan and (TEMPORARILY) disable Automatic Windows Updates and see if that fixes it.
Save the trees, wipe your butt with an owl.
If catapults are outlawed, only outlaws will have catapults.



Proud member of the Mofo Cabal<br>
<br>
OK thats ENUTH OUTA YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - smartkid
User avatar
GMMan
Private First Class
Private First Class
Posts: 186
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 9:32 pm
Location: On the time-space continuum

Post by GMMan »

It's usually a background program starting. Every day Apple Updater starts (sidenote.. I'm using a PC!), and when I play the game when it starts, the game minimizes. If you have iTunes with a default installation, you have Apple Updater. Try using Microsoft/Sysinternal's Process Explorer and start it in tray form (using the \t switch, I think). Once the game minimizes, immediately click on PE's icon and you might catch a glimpse of the program starting. If not, note what programs are normally there and then sort out the offender.
I haven't touched BZFlag for years, but maybe sometime I'll make a comeback.

I'm on Twitter. And I mess with webOS. This signature is not a blog.
Katarn
Private
Private
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:40 am

More details on problem

Post by Katarn »

Thanks all for your hints; I'm not using AVG anti virus, I'm using AntiVir. I've scanned the system with both Spybot Search & Destroy and AddAware. I'm do not have AIM, Yahoo, or MicrosoftMessenger active. I'm definately not pressing any odd keys by accident; I've paid particular attention to make sure. I did just recently install itunes, so that is a possibility. But BZflag will sometimes minimize several times within a minute or so (and other times will not minimize for 1/2 an hour), so it doesn't sound like a once a day check from apple updater. Of course it could be several things causing it. I've installed Process explorer, and see if I can spot whatever it is.
User avatar
Davy Jones
Private First Class
Private First Class
Posts: 297
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:39 am
Location: Davy Jone's Locker

Post by Davy Jones »

did u try disabling your AVG, that's what we are all saying, make sure no background programs are running, and you should be fine,
Owner @ The Twin Towers
Admin @ The Two Boxes
Cop @ Army Of One
Image
Image
User avatar
blast
General
General
Posts: 4931
Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2003 3:49 pm
Location: playing.cxx
Contact:

Post by blast »

Davy Jones wrote:did u try disabling your AVG, that's what we are all saying, make sure no background programs are running, and you should be fine,
He said he wasn't using AVG. Please try reading before you post.
"In addition to knowing the secrets of the Universe, I can assure you that I am also quite potty trained." -Koenma (Yu Yu Hakusho)

Image
User avatar
Davy Jones
Private First Class
Private First Class
Posts: 297
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:39 am
Location: Davy Jone's Locker

Post by Davy Jones »

I was reading...just not very clearly...i meant antvir...i was thinking about AVG when i wrote it.
Owner @ The Twin Towers
Admin @ The Two Boxes
Cop @ Army Of One
Image
Image
CUPCAKE
Private First Class
Private First Class
Posts: 303
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:31 pm

Post by CUPCAKE »

I've had this happen to me before. Usually the problem is AVG popping up and updating or something else popping up. I just turn everything off that would do that before I play.
Katarn
Private
Private
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:40 am

Post by Katarn »

Yes; when AntiVir does its update it does minimize BZ, but that is readily apparent, and easy to fix. My problem is BZ flag minimizes with no apparent application stealing the focus or poping up a window. I've completely killed all AntiVir processes, teatimer (from SpyBotSearch & Destroy), the NVidia desktop manager, and a number of other things. But it still does it. Sometimes several times within 30 seconds. Using System Internal's process explorer I sometimes see that "rundll32.exe" is exiting as BZ minimizes (but not always). Unfortunately it seems there are many things which run themselves through rundll32, so if that's it I don't know what program(s) are using it. Once I saw that "rundll32.exe NvCpl.dll,NvCplApplyColorProfile" was running through rundll32 when BZ minimized (which is part of the NVidia driver), but I don't know if that is part of the problem or not. And it may not be related to rundll32 at all. This problem is extremely annoying :( I'm sure a good programmer could write an app which would log every program/event which grabs the focus, but I wouldn't know how to do something like that.
User avatar
Davy Jones
Private First Class
Private First Class
Posts: 297
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:39 am
Location: Davy Jone's Locker

Post by Davy Jones »

look at your taskmanager, and see if anything OPENS while in BZflag, Of course, when something closes, that might also be an issue, as it can steal the focus as well. You could eliminate the source code that has the windowed version, but that is a i littler more difficult
Owner @ The Twin Towers
Admin @ The Two Boxes
Cop @ Army Of One
Image
Image
Katarn
Private
Private
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:40 am

Solution Found!!!

Post by Katarn »

Yea! I Finally found the solution!!
Being an ex-IRIX person, I had used Tweak UI to change the mouse behavior to "X-Mouse", so that the focus followed the mouse for Unix-like behavior. Turning off X-Mouse has solved the problem. Of course now I don't have anything to blame my horrible score on :wink: I used to be much better back when I was playing BZ flag at SGI, on the manufacturing floor test workstations - honest! I guess I need to practice.
Post Reply