Windows 7: fallout 3 windowed

hey yet another fallout 3 question... when i want to do something while i am playing it like listen to music or browse the net i usually use the task manager but when i do that it stays minimizing it but cant un-minimize it so usually have to quit out.. So i thought i would just try in windowed mode but when i do that the mouse cursor is stuck in the game screen...
So is there a way to possibly have it in windowed mode and be able to move the mouse cursor out of the game window? if not is there a way to actually maximize it again after it minimizes from task manager?
thanks again in advance

anyone got a solution or fix?

Alt+tab should do this just fine (I do it daily), but if you just hit the start key, it will keep the mouse locked.

~Lordbob

is this in windowed mode or fullscreen mode that u press alt tab?

Well, both. But in fullscreen it will take a minute to minimize it, and then a minute to restore it. If you do it in windowed mode, it will unlock the mouse and move the game to the background.

I play L4D2 in windowed mode for that reason (I can watch the game on main monitor while browsing here in my second)

~Lordbob

ok this is working to an extent somewhat i can change applications and all but after like the 2nd time pressing alt+tab the mouse cursor disappears so i cant click anything just change programs/applications with tab.... so working to some extent but not perfectly so anyway to fix that problem or is this a common issue and there is no fix
thanks for help

Make sure you alt+tab out of Fallout FIRST, otherwise your mouse will not appear.

~Lordbob

how do you mean?... like press alt+tab and select another application or just press it

Just hit alt+tab like normal.

~Lordbob

sorry to bring this up again but its still being weird can sometimes alt+tab out and have the mouse cursor in all the applications and other times when i alt+tab out the cursor disappears... what am i doing wrong that makes the cursor vanish ? thanks