Curse

TwinRaven · Feb 21, 2006, 06:43 AM // 06:43

I thought at first that GW was spontaneously minimizing because I was sitting idle for too long...Made no real sense, as it never seemed a problem before. Then I noticed it happen a couple times during gameplay...It just minimizes to the taskbar...I click on it to maximize and it works just fine...anyone else experience this or have a fix? It doesn't seem to be hurting anything and doesn't happen much...but it is annoying never-the-less.

AMD Athlon XP 3200+ proc
MSI 6600GT Vidcard
1 Gig RAM
500W power sup
running Win XP Home Ed SP2
twin Seagate 80GB set in RAID (mirrored array)

Lerxst_of_Syrinx · Feb 21, 2006, 07:08 AM // 07:08

Is it possible you are running a screensaver? This could be trying to kick in, but as soon as you move the mouse it, of course, quits.

You could try running GW in windowed-mode for a while. This should give you the opportunity to see what is taking focus from GW.

You may also try to run msconfig and go to the startup tab and prevent everything listed from starting up. Reboot then run GW and see if it still happens. If it keeps happening, I'd start looking for spyware/viruses. If it doesn't, turn on a program in msconfig, reboot, and try again. Keep doing this until you find the culprit.

This'll take some time but hopefully you'll find the problem.

SaucE · Feb 21, 2006, 12:15 PM // 12:15

If you are like me you keep hitting the right combo of keys windows has designed to minimize windows. I forget the combo right off though.

obastable · Feb 22, 2006, 02:39 PM // 14:39

'nother suggestion is to make sure you haven't accidentally turned Caps Lock on. There are many keys that, when Caps Lock is turned on, will minimize Guild Wars.. the most notorious key to perform this function is, sadly, the "Enter" key.

Happens to me all the time.. I accidentally drive myself nuts when I slip and hit the Caps Lock key without noticing.

aeroclown · Feb 23, 2006, 05:30 AM // 05:30

Virus Scanner ? FireWall ? Any application that might pop up a window or try to ? Spyware Scan ?

TwinRaven · Feb 24, 2006, 07:00 AM // 07:00

Spybot, Adaware and Norton reveal nothing...It isn't a key combo. I was watching the screen and saw something flash on the taskbar at the bottom ot the screen...it disappears pretty fast (wasn't touching anything at the time). I tried clicking on it and right clicking on it when it appears (no luck there). I tried watching the task manager processes and saw something interesting...It doesn't show up in the list until just before and then during the time it shows up on the taskbar...unfortunately, it happens pretty fast...too fast for me to see anything more than a jump in the list as something is added and makes the list longer, then vanishes before I can see anything...very frustrating given that it happens 10-25 minutes appart...I'm about to do a system restore, though I'm more curious now than before as to what the hell is going on here...I'm guessing it isn't Norton, given that I was running a full scan and it popped up twice...and once during Adaware scan...even once while typing this...grrrr....

Wrath Of Dragons · Feb 24, 2006, 07:39 AM // 07:39

maybe an autoupdate

Across The Battle · Feb 24, 2006, 03:00 PM // 15:00

It definitally sounds to me to be something of Virus/Spyware etc. First make sure you have all the windows updates, assuming you didn't get an illegal copy of windows. Then make sure you update all your virus and spyware scan software.

Another possible culprit could be the software from say Raid drives. Perhaps they could be trying to do something that causing it to minimize.

I do not think the combination of keys, although Ive never experianced that myself, could be the problem simiply because it would not be consistant every time, but on some off chance it was, you can change sticky key settings by hitting shift a bunch o times and changing in game settings.

TwinRaven · Feb 24, 2006, 09:49 PM // 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrath Of Dragons

maybe an autoupdate

Thought that might be a problem at first...I know MSI auto-update has interrupted gameplay before, but I shut it off and it happens so frequently (10-20 minutes apart) that I can't imagine anything updating that often...If all else fails, tonight I'll use system restore ...I just hate using it because I make changes often enough that I'm bound to bugger-up something else if I do.

Everything has been running smoothly, and with no problems for months...I did just buy and install a new HP printer lately...maybe there are some residual drivers from the old one...or updates trying to find the old machine...?
I can't think of anything else...

obastable · Feb 25, 2006, 07:29 AM // 07:29

Trend Micro runs a free online virus scan called Housecall. It's rarely failed me, but the one time it did HIJACK THIS! saved me.

Anyway.. if Housecall doesn't find the problem, there's a virus scanner out there called HIJACK THIS! which I'd strongly recommend downloading and running. The program will generate a log file, which looks like a lot of gibberish to most people. However, there's some very handy dandy forums out there with some knowledgeable people on them that'll help you decipher the contents of the log, and tell you exactly what files/processes (if any) should be removed.. as well as how to remove them. Sorry I can't be more helpful on the matter, most of it doesn't make sense to me either.

Juno Onuj · Feb 25, 2006, 08:31 AM // 08:31

I've been having this same exact problem. So far I havent been able to figure out what's causing it...

TwinRaven · Feb 25, 2006, 08:54 AM // 08:54

Found the bantling (means "little bastard")!!! Turns out it came with the new printer after all. I used Paint Shop Pro to do a screen capture of the Task Manager when it happened...
--->hptskmgr.exe<--- is the process causing the trouble. Seems alot of energy has gone into selling products that list it as a potential problem and want to sell a fix for it (so sayeth all the searching in google). Symantec Corporation gives it an extremely low threat rating and reccomends against removing, preventing, blah, blah, blah...in the mean time, I've sent a tech help message to HP...if their response is less than satisfactory, the printer goes back and I get something else (only bought this model cause I have ink for it already...) New printer Juno?

Juno Onuj · Feb 25, 2006, 09:01 AM // 09:01

actually, around the time the minimization started, was after I got my printer which is also an HP...

So does that mean we just have to live with it?

Lord Sojar · Feb 25, 2006, 10:40 AM // 10:40

No , you can get CCleaner and disable it from starting. I had the EXACT same issue with my HP printer. Just DISABLE the little bastard and then uproot it from the registry.

Faer · Feb 25, 2006, 10:50 AM // 10:50

I, too, have been having this problem ever since the updates that fixed the Post items in Pre exploit...

Guild Wars will minimize itself. I will restore it. Few minutes later, same thing. Usually happens two or three times before I have another long stretch of uninterrupted play.

I've just learned to deal with it.

TwinRaven · Feb 25, 2006, 11:18 PM // 23:18

Here's a copy of what HP sent me:

Dear Zane[<---my name irl

],

Thank you for contacting HP Total Care.

I understand that the hptskmgr.exe is interfering and causes monitor to
switch on every 10-20 min from sleep mode and causes the game Guild Wars
to minimize at random during play or when idle when this process occurs.
I am sorry for the inconvenience. The issue could be due to various
reasons.

Please follow the steps below to isolate and resolve the issue:

1..Power Cycle

Please, follow the steps below to power cycle your all-in-one:

1. Verify that the unit is switched on. Unplug the all-in-one from
power and disconnect the connection port.
2. Wait 30 seconds.
3. Plug in the power only.
4. Repeat steps 2-4 two more times.
5. On the third time after plugging the unit into power, reconnect the
connection port from the all-in-one to your computer.

2..Please follow the below steps to disable all HP related programs from
the startup :

1. Click Start and select Run.
2. Type MSCONFIG and press Enter.
3. System Configuration Utility window is displayed.
3. Click the Startup tab.
4. Uncheck any programs that are related to HP all-in-one or creative
projects.
5. Click OK.
6. Restart the system.

Now check the functionality and let us know the results. Please do reply
back with observations and results because it is important that I
resolve your issue in a timely manner. I want to be sure the
troubleshooting steps I provided resolve the issue. If the issue
continues, please reply to this message with the results. We will be
glad to assist you further.

Sincerely,

Aidan
HP Total Care

Our advice is strictly limited to the question(s) asked and is based on
the information provided to us. HP does not assume any responsibility
or liability for the advice given and shall not be liable for any
direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages in
connection with the use of this information. Always back up your data.
For more information, including technical information updates, please
visit our Web site at http://www.hp.com/support.

This seems to have cut the problem, but i get a message after start-up saying XP is starting in a sort of diagnostic mode...a little check and THAT goes away...I still have to e-mail HP...In the mean time: no random minimizations