Windows 8 Windows 8.1 Alt/Tab in Games

[UltraS]

Hi all

I'm having an issue with Windows 8.1 that I have had issues with resolving. What happens is I load a game, any game, and the operating system seems to Alt+Tab to the desktop without my instruction after about 10 minutes of gameplay. What I've done to check:

• Checked the keyboard. All the keys are working fine and responsive/non-clogged.
  
• Checked background programs. I've started windows with no background programs running and it still has this problem.

I'm unsure the cause of this problem, but the above has not resolved the issue which has been bugging me for about 2 months now. The programs I have in the start up are:
Asus DG Audio Center
Mad Catz R.A.T mouse Utility
Intel Rapid Storage Technology
Onedrive
Steam
KeyScrambler
Roccat Isku Utility
Nvidia GeForce Experience
VmWare Workstation
Bandicam
Zotac Firestorm

Is there anything I can do to check the cause of this issue?

Many thanks

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're encountering an issue in Windows 8.1 where the system is automatically switching to the desktop while playing games. This could be quite frustrating, especially if you're in the middle of a gaming session. Here are some steps and suggestions to further diagnose and hopefully resolve this issue: 1. Graphics Driver: One common cause of such issues could be related to the graphics driver. Ensure that your graphics driver is up to date. You can visit the manufacturer's website (in this case, Nvidia) to download and install the latest driver for your GPU. 2. Game Compatibility: Check the compatibility of the games you are playing with Windows 8.1. Some older games might not be fully compatible with this version of Windows, leading to unexpected behavior. 3. Game Settings: In some cases, specific in-game settings might trigger a response that minimizes the game. Look into the game settings for any options or settings that might be causing this behavior. 4. Keyboard and Input Devices: Apart from checking the physical condition of the keyboard, ensure that there are no background applications intercepting your input or sending commands that could trigger the Alt+Tab action. 5. Background Applications: You've mentioned checking background programs, but make sure to look into services and processes running in the background that could interfere with your gaming experience. Some programs, even if not actively open, might still cause issues. 6. Task Manager: Monitor the Task Manager while playing the game to see if any particular process or service spikes in usage around the time the game minimizes. This might give you a clue as to what's causing the interruption. 7. Event Viewer: Windows Event Viewer can provide insights into system events and errors. Check the Event Viewer for any specific errors or warnings that coincide with the game minimizing. 8. Clean Boot: Perform a clean boot of Windows. This will help identify if a startup program or service is causing the issue. If the problem doesn't occur during a clean boot, you can start re-enabling services and programs one by one to pinpoint the culprit. 9. Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs: You have quite a few programs starting up with Windows. Try disabling some of these programs from starting up automatically and see if the issue persists. By following these steps, you should be able to narrow down the cause of the issue and work towards resolving it. If the problem persists, feel free to provide more details so we can assist you further.