Games Randomly Minimize W7

[ZombieKiller]

Hi! So a few months ago (like 6+) my games started minimizing randomly, sometimes it can minimize every 5-10 minutes and sometimes once every 5-10 days. So you never know when it will happen. I've tried multiple Anti-Virus programs, read through a bunch of forums on this issue, and no luck... So yes I could really use some help, I would just re-install windows but I'm waiting till I have enough cash for a new HDD. Any suggestions or help would be apprciated! Thanks!

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Desktop PC (Built it myself )

i7 3930K 3.2GHZ

1X EVGA GTX 580 3GB (3072MB), 2X ZOTAC GTX 580 3GB (3072MB), Tri SLI

ASUS Rampage IV Extreme

24GB DDR3 Quad Channel

1200W Raidmax PSU 80 Plus Gold

1TB Western Digital Caviar

120GB OCZ Vertex IV Boot Drive

CM Storm ATX Full Tower Case

Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit (with ROG theme)
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Laptop / M11x R3

M11x R3 (11")

i5 2537M 1.4GHZ Dual core

1GB (1024MB) GT 540M

500GB 7200RPM HDD

4GB DDR3

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit

 

[AstaLaVista]

I gather this happens on both the PC and the Laptop?

What games specifically?

Is your monitor and games on the Native resolution?

Perhaps something is running in the background w/o you knowing? AV, Microsoft search index, etc?

Nothing conclusive, just throwing ideas up in the air.

 

[ZombieKiller]

Didn't I respond a while ago? I remember posting a response, maybe it didn't go through... well sorry for the late response.

No, just the desktop, I posted the specs because I didn't remember there's a tab on each post for the persons system specs. Sorry for the confusion.

Well, no specific games, but it has never crashed in Crysis, any of them, Crysis, Crysis Wahead/Wars, Crysis 2 or Crysis 3. I play all of them on Maximum Settings, 1080P, constant 60FPS, maxed AA and AF and even did a Crysis Gaming Party for an entire week and it has never minimized. So I seriously doubt its heat/thermal related.

I run ALL my games at the native resolution, 1920x1080, only games I don't would be old games like Morrowind and maybe Far Cry.

Yes I think it's most likely a background program, I heard somewhere that Razer Game Booster will tell you if a program closes your full screen game or application. But after I installed it... ugh! It caused so many issues! I couldn't uninstall it fast enough! I'm never touching that software again!

Hey, all ideas help!

Thanks!

 

[Contrabardus]

Check your automatic updates. If you've got any, turn them off and update manually.

My PC used to do this too and I discovered that it was programs that were updating in the background tossing me back to my desktop at random whenever they decided to do their thing. Often with no onscreen indication as to why I'd been kicked out of my game. Sometimes it still happens if one of them gets reset back to defaults or I get new software [usually for a Hardware device] that does it and forget to turn it off.

All my automatic updates are off, and it doesn't happen anymore unless one of them gets reset. [They rarely but occasionally do this on their own.]

 

[ZombieKiller]

OK! I'll check it out! But I'm thinking that's not it, I open task manager sometimes right after it minimizes and nothing shows up on there. But, could it be windows Areo wanting to switch to basic? A rare few times when it has minimized it showed a message asking me if I want to switch to basic. But it's been a long time since it's done that. But I will still check out what you suggested.

Also as a added note, it has sometimes minimized several times with in a few minutes.

Thanks for the help it's highly appreciated!

 

[Cool Sir]

Those are old games
run them in compatibility mode for windows xp
run as administrator also !