Game dropping to 'tray'

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:03 pm

Anyone know why my game (Oblivion) should have suddenly decided it was going to drop to tray several times during the course of normal play? I only have one very small Mod to slightly improve the appearance of characters, and this has never happened before. It doesn't do any harm, because I just have to click on the tray icon to call it back onscreen again, but it IS annoying, and if it should happen during a fight it could possibly be a problem for my char. I'm saving frequently in case that happens, but I'd much rather stop it happening! I'm totally non-techi, so help in the form of VERY simple responses would be appreciated. Thanks.

DesR85 · Post by **DesR85** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:35 pm

Did you have any programs running in the background? Or did you hit the 'Windows' key on the keyboard by accident? Either of them will cause it to minimise to the tray.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:32 am

I considered both those things, DesR85, but neither applied. If I have a programme running I know nothing about it - in which case it must be something pretty new that I didn't install myself! I have only had the problem for a few days, and it typically happens about 3 or 4 times during a game session of around 2 hours

As for the Windows keys (I have 2 of 'em), because I wondered myself if I had accidentally suddenly started hitting wrong keys while the game was in progress, I have experimented with a variety of keys, but nothing has happened. However, I haven't tried hitting the Windows keys, because that is one of the first things I do when the game freezes (after trying Cont/ Alt/Escape), and it does bugger-all. I'll try hitting the Windows key with the game in progress normally, though, to see if it is as simple as that! Thanks for the suggestion.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:15 am

Nope. Tried it. The Windows buttons do zip, zilch, nada. Actually, it would be very handy if they did work. And still no idea why the darn game collapses to tray...

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:27 am

Typically on my machine, when a game minimizes its due to a poorly behaved program taking control to execute a command from the main screen. Often, it's a Windows update (I've made those manual) or a Firefox update, or Kaspersky nagging me about potential keyloggers (which is how it sees many games). Before playing these days, I close Firefox and temporarily turn off Kaspersky. You might want to take a look at the settings on your viruschecker.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:35 pm

Hm... that's a thought. Thanks, Fable.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 6:37 am

Nah. Din't work. No difference whatever. Put my automatic updates on Stop or 8hr interval - MUCH longer than I ever play! - and the game is still dropping to tray several times during course of play. I have never had this problem previously, and I don't understand it and it annoys me considerably - not to say it worries me as well, in case I have virus my antivirus system hasn't spotted, or a programme I didn't install has sneakily started using my comp...

DesR85 · Post by **DesR85** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 7:21 am

Then I have to assume that it must be the mod that is causing the problem. Re-install it to see if it helps or not (or if you suspect that the mod is corrupt, try redownloading it and install to see if it helps).

To be honest, if this is the case, it is the first time I've heard of a mod forcing a game to minimise frequently. Based on my experiences of using mods in games, the most common problem I encountered is a complete game crash and that is due to a corrupt mod or one that conflicts with another mod or the game itself.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 7:48 am

Well - if you run Windows, there's an administration tool called the "Event Viewer". (The actual location differs slightly given the version of Windows).
Looking into that might reveal if another application is crashing/causing errors and trying to take focus.

Another thing you can try is to enter your "Services" administration, and try stopping some of the services running if you do not need them, in case some sort of conflict has occured between them. Also check your running processes and try to run with as few possible and see if that helps.

I'd say fable is correct. The program minimizing to tray means another program is taking focus, but the actual reason for this might be very difficult to deduct. Hence try to close down as much as possible and see if it makes a different, and if it does - then work your way back to square one.

Which anti-virus software are you running? I had problems myself with an (now) older version of Noton's autoprotect feature causing a similar problem. You could try to stop your Anti Virus program entirely.
I've also had a similar behaviour on another old computer because the sound was set to 3D sounds and my sound card didn't like the combination of sound and graphics in that game, so had to change the sound settings.
Unfortunately - it can be very difficult to find the culprit.

A re-installation of Oblivion might also be worth a try.

Outside this - I don't have many ideas right now.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:46 am

Thanks for all the advice, everyone.

I really appreciate your suggestions and kindness.

DesR85, I don't think it's the Mod; I've been running it for a litle while now with no ill-effects, and it's a very small mod, but I will try unchecking it and see if that works.

Xandax: I dumped Norton ages ago. It's rubbish, imo. I'm currently running AVG (I've had it for over 2 yrs) which seems very good.
Thanks for the suggestions - I'll try to locate them and see if I can do anything there. I'm pretty sure, now, that it IS a programme trying to access the internet, because today I played with my Modem on (I usually turn it off), and the game didn't go to tray even once. I dislike playing with the modem active, though (dunno why, probably just paranoia!) so I will definitely try your suggestions. Thanks!

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:08 am

Well - from my own perspective - AVG is rubbish as well (We're using AVG at work and it is driving me mad, I currently prefer Avast most myself)

Try killing AVG entirely before playing and see if that helps.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:37 pm

Ok. Thanks.

Must make sure not on-line first, though! And I spoke too soon about it not happening when on-line. Did it just ten mins ago. Sigh.

endboss · Post by **endboss** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:47 am

NOD32 is where it's at!

But your problem is not due to any anti-virus. At least, when I experienced something similar a few years ago it wasn't. I had an HP laptop and games every once in a while would get into this incredibly annoying habit of minimizing themselves to the tray. It would get so bad that sometimes I wouldn't even be able to play because when I tried to restore it, it would just minimize again immediately. Reinstalling Windows helped for a few days and then the problem would start up. I tried everything. I killed almost every program but it still happened. I just figured it was a problem with the laptop itself because I have never experienced this on any other computer (well, unless it was immediately obvious that another application took over and caused the screen to minimize).

Since the only oddity in my laptop configuration was that it was an HP, and since you're having the problem mainly when not online, I suspect it could be the computer itself trying to call home (if you have an HP, Dell, etc whatever).

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:06 pm

Nah, it's an Aries, manufacured by what I was assured was a reputable local company called Watford Electronics, which has since gone bust. The flatscreen monitor I had from them also went bust just outside the guarantee time, which was when I found the company had gone bust. I'm now using a pretty old 16 inch BENQ monitor which is big and clumsy, but at least it works, lol!

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:13 am

Um... not too sure about the new layout to this site, but I expect I will get used to it...

Anyway, nothing at all that I have tried has stopped the game minimising to tray and I've tried all the suggestions. Sigh. I guess I'll just have to live with it until I can afford to get the guy I use to come out and take a look at the comp. I'm just totally non-techi. Not a single technical brain cell in my skull.

I'm wondering if allowing my 6yr old grandson to play Oblivion (on very easy setting, no blood decals or anything, and I'm careful what he does in-game), might have done something? It's easy to hit a wrong button when he gets excited!

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:23 pm

No: nothing in Oblivion is active once the game stops running. But if you want to be absolutely sure, just do a CTRL+ALT+DEL, bring up your Task Manager, and under the Processes tab, look for Oblivion.exe. If it's not there, Oblivion is gone.

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:39 pm

Do you by chance have a new keyboard that has the Windows key close to the ctrl key? I happened to me..

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:54 pm

Tricky wrote:Do you by chance have a new keyboard that has the Windows key close to the ctrl key? I happened to me..

Yes, I do, but the Windows key doesn't do a damn thing. In fact, I have two of 'em, 1 between Ctrl and Alt and another on the other side of the space bar between Alt Gr (whatever that means) and a Print button.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:59 pm

fable wrote:No: nothing in Oblivion is active once the game stops running. But if you want to be absolutely sure, just do a CTRL+ALT+DEL, bring up your Task Manager, and under the Processes tab, look for Oblivion.exe. If it's not there, Oblivion is gone.

The game works, fable, it just minimises to tray and I have to click on the tray icon to bring it up to full-screen again. The game might be continuing to run during the few seconds it takes to bring it back, but I'm not totally sure it does, because I've never let it stay minimised long enough to find out!

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 3:39 pm

Fljotsdale wrote:The game works, fable, it just minimises to tray and I have to click on the tray icon to bring it up to full-screen again. The game might be continuing to run during the few seconds it takes to bring it back, but I'm not totally sure it does, because I've never let it stay minimised long enough to find out!

I know it does: remember, I replied to you above with a suggestion. I'm just offering you a way to prove to yourself that Oblivion is not running in the background once your grandson stops playing it. That's all.