Can't get back to Desktop using Windows Key on Newer games?

[EvilOzzmess]

Hey, so I've noticed on newer games that when I tap the "Windows" key on my keyboard, I can't get back to my Desktop. This is a bit of an irksome problem for me... I'd like to monitor some things in my Task Manager from time to time and can't do this without being able to get that Windows key to function properly (don't want to buy FRAPS etc because I don't mind exiting the game keeping it running to do it the good old fashioned way for free, when I can get it to work like that).

Anyone else come across this? And yeah, I've tried Ctrl+Alt+Del, pulled up Task Manager, but when I'm done and it does launch that in my Desktop, I then am unable to get these games to launch back up when I'm done checking CPU/RAM and temperatures (so far this is going on with Fallout 3 and Skyrim; Sims 3 and Oblivion etc. are unaffected).



BTW, I'd also really appreciate it if someone could tell me how I can use my Notebook's screen to look at other things online and etc. while gaming on my external 23" Monitor. I haven't quite worked that out yet and I'd really like to stop using my old Desktop to do that (it's slow, dying and redundant in addition to a waste of electricity to be doing that).

Reps forthcoming for anyone who can help me with one or both of these things. Thanks!

 

[panais]

Some Newer games dont have or allow this function.

In some games though you can enable this from the game options.


You can watch\monitoring temperatures,cpu usage,ram usage.... with desktop record programs like,

TechSmith | Camtasia Screen Recorder Software, Home

Search google for "record my desktop"

 

[EvilOzzmess]

I see. Guess I'll have to try playing in windowed mode then, and if that works (I know for most it won't for whatever reason) then I can also use my Notebook's screen while gaming for everything else (I sometimes look up walkthroughs on the other PC but want to stop having to use it altogether if I can, too much hassle without KVM on the keyboard and mouse lol).

 

[badger906]

you should still be able to Alt tab out of the game though.

My cyborg keyboard when in "cyborg mode" deactivates the windows key to stop you accidentally pressing it lol

 

[EvilOzzmess]

I'll have to see if that works as well. Thanks! I just don't get why the game won't launch back up while its still running in a minimized state (not in windowed mode) after I've brought up the task manager to get to the desktop. Very weird, IMO. I have to close the thread and relaunch etc.

And I suppose using my Notebook's display while having a game fully launched on the external 23" isn't going to work unless I play in windowed mode? Trying to find something about it online, but can't seem to pull anything up about that. Would just be really nice.

 

[EvilOzzmess]

Just tried windowed mode... might as well stick with the full launch as for some reason it still won't let me adjust the game's window or use the Notebook display while this game is running on the main 23" external monitor for other things at the same time. Pretty weird but there it is. Hopefully someone will figure it out and share how.

 

[Squid]

you should still be able to Alt tab out of the game though.

My cyborg keyboard when in "cyborg mode" deactivates the windows key to stop you accidentally pressing it lol

This!! I can't think of a game I have that alt + tab doesn't work on (except for COD 1 way back when ).

 

[writhziden]

you should still be able to Alt tab out of the game though.

My cyborg keyboard when in "cyborg mode" deactivates the windows key to stop you accidentally pressing it lol

This!! I can't think of a game I have that alt + tab doesn't work on (except for COD 1 way back when ).

In some games, you need to have a second application window running for alt + tab to work.

 

[EvilOzzmess]

you should still be able to Alt tab out of the game though.

My cyborg keyboard when in "cyborg mode" deactivates the windows key to stop you accidentally pressing it lol

This!! I can't think of a game I have that alt + tab doesn't work on (except for COD 1 way back when ).

In some games, you need to have a second application window running for alt + tab to work.

Alt+Tab didn't do the trick. I thought once I'd set up the Notebook to display a different content other than what was going off of the main 23" external, I'd be able to do other things on that screen in gaming too but that's also a no-go and I still have not been able to crack that problem yet either...