Alt-Tab problem

[Juandachu]

I don't know if anyone's mentioned this problem in another thread. I've looked around but didn't see it. I'm running Windows 7 x64 and the game itself runs fine (I might have had a crash or two) but sometimes, if I Alt-Tab out of the game, the game will stay minimized and won't show again unless I close it and start it up again.

It has kind of made me into a save freak just in case, hahah.

[DZMaven]

It still happens to me occansionally and I've had this game for years. I think it's just a common bug.

[Juandachu]

OK, Thanks for the input, I'll guess just keep on doing a quicksave before I alt-tab :D

[DZMaven]

Yeah, stay on quicksaves and make hardsaves every couple hours. Get good with alt-tab. Crashes with this game sometimes cause your mouse pointer to turn invisible preventing you from closing the game. ;)

[Kurahcaz]

I found with some games if I run it in windowed mode - borderless to keep it neat and tight and in line with the screen, I wouldnt crash when I would alt-tab out. I would give that a try- quicksave first though ;)

[Chas.]

I've run into this problem with various games that use the Gamebryo engine. You actually have to alt+tab twice to get back to fullscreen.

[Haunted Aigis Plushie]

What really annoys me is that I have a fairly..."dated" computer, and if it freezes for whatever reason, I can't alt-tab, so I have to either wait it out, or completely restart my computer...

[Tea-Rex420]

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2722281
This one also fixed my Alt+Tab Problem.

[U2VR]

"On some computers, setting fallout3.exe compatibility mode to xp3 can eliminate these crashes. Unfortunately on some computers doing this stops alt tabbing from working at all. But worth a try."
WORKED.
Win 7 Ult x64. i5 3470.

[Nolie]

I know this is an old post but i have a solution. click properties on FOSE (Fallout script extender) or if you do not have FOSE then just click properties on Fallout 3, navigate to shortcut and where it says run: normal window, change that to maximized and it goes full screen and allows you to alt tab as much as you want and not crash :)

[AimlessArrow]

None of the aforemented advices works for me. But rarely when I hit Esc then ctrl-alt-del I can be able to return the game.

[maninredagain]

I myself simply play in windowed mode if I want to Alt+Tab out of any game. That won't minimize Fallout 3 so no problemo.

[Code Classified]

This game and it's alt tab issue have taught me to use steam web browser :p

[CryForce]

here are some solutions i found that worked for 3 people so far http://steamcommunity.com/app/377160/discussions/0/496881136903302484/

[steveh095]

If you have a game pad controller plugin (example: I have USB 360 game pad controller) then the game wants to use the game pad. If you want to use keyboard and mouse exit the game unplug the game pad. Restart the game. Some game I like using the game pad controller and some like fallout 3 I rather use keyboard and mouse. This happens to me all the time when I forget to unplug the game pad. Not really a bug issue ... they just don't give you a choice like some games ... its more like dumb idiots who programmed the game missed a step.

[Duc Tan Ngo LegendofHeroDesigner]

Originally posted by iNf.chaz:

I've run into this problem with various games that use the Gamebryo engine. You actually have to alt+tab twice to get back to fullscreen.

I tried pressing the Alt+Tab keys twice, but it did not solve the issue on Windows 7 64-bit.

The solution that solved Alt+Tab making the Fallout 3 window unable to be seen later in Windows 7 64-bit, was to set Fallout3.exe to run in Windows XP (Service Pack 3) compatibility mode. After doing so, Fallout 3 can be Alt+Tab'd successfully.