Xbox Controller (PC) sometimes opens Windows 10 Start Menu in-game when controller Start button is pressed

[dave.iceman42]

Very much enjoying this trip down memory lane; have owned the game since the early 00s on disk. I'm having only one problem. Pressing the Start (Escape) button on my Xbox 1 wireless controller sometimes opens the Windows Start menu in the lower left corner, and it pops up over the game. I have to press the Escape key on my keyboard as no buttons on the controller will get rid of the Start Menu popup.
Fortunately, it doesn't crash the game; just causes it to pause for a bit until I can get rid of the Start Menu. I tried Steam's controller settings, and got rid of the secondary function of F6 (quicksave) because I didn't want it. For the record, I'm playing full screen, not windowed.
I've never before had my controller open the Windows Start Menu in-game. Is anyone else experiencing this? Does anyone have any ideas how to fix it? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[dave.iceman42]

I'm adding a comment simply because some trolling jackhole is polluting the thread with their infantile and imbecilic nonsense, pushing serious posts deeper in the queue, and I'd really like it to be seen and maybe answered.

[dave.iceman42]

And again.

[OneLittlePancake]

Hello, I experienced this, and this happens when I tried to use the Start button when I was crouching. Tried spamming the Start button when not crouching and it worked perfectly, but I understand your frustration, it was bothering me a lot until I figured out how to avoid it. Not great, but there's that at least

[dave.iceman42]

I haven't noticed any difference between crouching and not crouching, as far as this glitch goes. It seems to happen regardless, and it's intermittent. Sometimes it happens. Sometimes it doesn't. And I can't see any pattern or reason to it.

[OneLittlePancake]

Ah, sorry to hear that. Sucks. I hate it when it happens to me.

[Virtuoso_Pyrotechnics]

Happened to me too in my recent playthrough, mildly infuriating indeed . I managed to bypass the need for pause with rebinding quicksave/load buttons to bumpers

[TwoShotHeadShot]

Sorry to resurrect this thread but it happens to me as well on my ROG Ally usually causes games to become unresponsive after the start menu come up I haven't figured a fix and hopefully someone knows something on this.

[Serj Trackian]

Controller

[Vashic]

happens to me with my switch controller

[V I D A L]

Same problem here. Annoying, but then I just alt tab back into the game.

[FireFlame]

Try checking in Steam big picture If any button or button combinations have the windows button being pressed.

Also, press Win + G and look in the settings for game bar for settings about the Xbox Button opening the game bar when pressed during gameplay.

[Hates]

Asus rog ally with half life is intermittently activating the windows start button. When pressing the start button on my series x controller connected through Bluetooth. Tried turning the game bar switch off and it didn't seem to work.