Windows 7/8 Minimize Fix

[Soto928]

In order to avoid the game minimizing after the initial LucasArts and BioWare videos, follow these steps.

1) Right click the game in your Steam library and click properties.

2) Click the local files tab under your games properties. Now click the "Browse Local Files.." button. It will open up the game directory in Windows Explorer.

3) Find "swkotor.exe" int the game directory, right click it and click properties.

4) Click the Compatibility tab. Under "Compatability mode" make sure Windows XP Service Pack 2 is selected. Click Apply, then OK and you should be able to run the game without it minimizing.

NOTE: You cannot adjust the compatibility settings until the game is fully installed and patched, because Steam has not place the files where they are supposed to be in Windows Explorer yet.

Enjoy the game. Merry Christmas to all and happy New Year.

[BurningTofu]

Thanks for your help. I can vouche that Win8 will work with this game (I'm 2 Hours in the game) after you follow these steps. Many finds that the windowed mode works better but I find it unnecessary on my computer. I've also had to disable my crossfire (multiGPU) and run it under single GPU.

[Balderk]

Totally worked for me, thanks a lot!

Edit: I added your tip to the PC Gaming wiki ( http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Knights_of_the_Old_Republic_II_%E2%80%93_The_Sith_Lords#Minimize_after_movies_.28Win_7.2F8.29 )

[Xevinator]

Just disable steam in game overlay ( right click on the game in your library>properties>In the "General" tab, there is a tick box "Enable steam in game overlay". Untick the box and everything is fixed, minimize problem, mouse stoped working problem etc. I hope this helps

[М'аiq thе Lаzу]

Thank you. In my case (win7 x64) it was incompatibility with Steam Overlay and any compatibility modes didn't fix it.

If anyone wants to make screenshots despite lack of steam overlay, you can make them using any 3rd party app like Fraps or Bandicam and then convert them into steam compatible files using SteaScree.

EDIT:
After installing the restored content mod v1.8.5 I'm now able to launch the game with steam overlay again. Weird.

[temps]

Does this also stop the minimizing during cutscenes for Windows 10 users?

[Crystal Sharrd]

Originally posted by temps:

Does this also stop the minimizing during cutscenes for Windows 10 users?

You'll have to upscale the video files to match your monitor's resolution, or download ones that have already been upscaled (I use these ones: https://www.nexusmods.com/kotor/mods/1306)
You'll also have to hex-edit the game's executable so that it can properly support the upscaled video files.