Steam games keep sending me to desktop (I've dont a lot of searching and nothing helps)

[CreepyVanMan]

First off, I am kind of computer illiterate, so I apologize in advance. I will google anything I don't understand before I ask "dumb" questions.

Here are my specs that I know of
3 monitors
GTX970 Nvidia
Windows 7 home premium
Processor: Intel i5-4590 3.30 GHz
I can add more if needed, not sure what everyone looks at/needs.

Basically every time I play a "click type" game my computer sends me back to the desktop every few minutes. I have Kerbal Space Program and Motorsports Manager that I honestly can't play. I haven't even made it past the character setup in MM because of this issue. The games still run but sometimes it's hard to get back into the game to continue. The reason I say "click type" games is because I have few issues with Assetto Corsa and I can race with my wheel and pedals just fine. I also do iRacing perfectly (not through Steam however).

I have tried updating my graphics card drivers (up to date) and disabling my other 2 monitors to play with no success. I have also searched these forums up and down for solutions and have tried almost everything that I understand haha. I'm not the brightest with computer lingo so please dumb it down if you try to help.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Happy new year and have a great day!

[jkl2k2]

Do any error codes pop up?

[Seven7]

errors (without repeats) from %steam root%\logs\ :
bootstrap_log.txt
installscript_log.txt
content_log.txt
cloud_log.txt
service_log.txt
antivirus? network?
for some games after change video \ monitor cofigurations will run with -autoconfog \ -safe
key or reset \ delete \ edit game settings

[CreepyVanMan]

Originally posted by Mr. Cat:

Do any error codes pop up?

No error codes pop up. I just get sent to the menu and have to click back into the game. I have gotten proficient at it now and learned that I have to click on the desktop, then click the game icon and it will bring me back in usually on the first click. I used to just click the game icon after it booted me but it would take ages. So no I click my desktop then the game icon and I get in easily. Just wish I didn't have to do this obviously :(

[CreepyVanMan]

Okay, I have cleared my task scheduler, and ran an extensive Malware scan and fix. It seemed to help a little but but I'm still having the problem.

I can describe it a tad better to possibly help someone understand what's going down in A-town.
It only happen when I left click in the game. Not every click but pretty often regardless 25% of the clicks. The game then minimizes and I'm back at my desktop. I can reenter the game "quickly" by clicking on my desktop, waiting 1 sec, then clicking the game icon at the bottom of the screen. Boom, back in the game. If I repeatedly click on the game icon, it won't let me in the game, it's easier to click the desktop, wait, then click the game icon to reenter. Weird, but I'm hoping this will help someone help me. Jesus, I've tried a lot.

Others are saying that I have a program running in the background. That makes sense, and I would love to disable it, but I don't know what I can and can't disable without messing something up. I have disabled all that I know I can, but the rest are just computer talk to me and I'm lost.

Thanks again, and hopefully this helps.

[CreepyVanMan]

Originally posted by Seven7:

errors (without repeats) from %steam root%\logs\ :
bootstrap_log.txt
installscript_log.txt
content_log.txt
cloud_log.txt
service_log.txt
antivirus? network?
for some games after change video \ monitor cofigurations will run with -autoconfog \ -safe
key or reset \ delete \ edit game settings

I'm sorry but this is alien talk to me :/

[SniperWolfMGS]

Have you tried turning off the other 2 monitors while in game? I know that on my system some games get pretty wonky when i run multiple monitors because when im hyper focusedon a game i dont always notice a second pointer poping up another monitor and when i click it minimizes the game.

[CreepyVanMan]

Originally posted by SniperWolfMGS:

Have you tried turning off the other 2 monitors while in game? I know that on my system some games get pretty wonky when i run multiple monitors because when im hyper focusedon a game i dont always notice a second pointer poping up another monitor and when i click it minimizes the game.

I haven't tried this so maybe I can. Are you suggesting to just turn them off by hitting the monitor button or a fancier way or turning them off haha. I will try this as I am down to try anything to fix this. I couldn't imagine playing a FPS on this or something and losing because of this haha.

Also, even when I'm not in a game, my comp sometimes stutters or flickers my webpage. I am thinking that it's trying to run something and that is what is kicking me to the desktop.

[SonOfaAbyss]

I saved the game and it stopped for me!

[Iceira]

Some think its windows focus issue and other its nvidia driver, most experience this as a task out of fullscreen game issue and it dont crash, you can actual task in again and problem dont repeat itself ( afaik ) playing fallout4 several hours later with no taskout


Until next restart of game or some time in game has past, what cause this i dont know.
problem is how will you faulthy find a issue then game dont crash.

if this seem to fit you, welcome in the club you dont want to be in.
i stick to thats sense this is GPU related task out of a full screen game, i did not say its GPU card problem but best advice atm so they know and might have better insight why it happend and they might adr this to MS for stop doing it. ( gl if you want to contact MS with it ) and that why i see it as a Nvidia fullscreen game issue. )

I have tried explan as best as i could, you need to be good at pc or know what every steam post here is.


Do not be a laptop that crash to windows desktop thats a diffrent matter.


ps.
atm i test windows focus with it and without it, not sure if its better off then on.
according to windows its should be on for better performance.

i only mention this so other can start test windows focus mode themself.
this happend on desktop pc, i even have full performance mode so even that dont help.

gl with it.


Do not ruleout fresh Nvidia GPU install and update windows with all extra updates, this has been ongoing apox 4-5 month with few user, and so few on steam has mentions this.

and all them post with no gpu accelration and onboard IGPU is useless here, odd thing i dont think AMD user has this.

we are not support here and i dont know every AMD user, but i dont think i have seen 1 post from them with it.

so this might well be a Nvidia user only issue atm.
and why again i suspect Nvidia screwup, problem is proof it, take it to Nvidia support, here its a waste of time.

[Iceira]

You might want Nvidia support to read this post, and let them help you from there, do not get angry at them, worst and hardest bug to catch is things that dont crash. ( imo )

you try a car known as monday car. ( there is a reason we have learn such words, gl catch and proof where error is. ) we need them pro tech card support to look at it.

[Ionut Catalin Frasineanu]

Windows 7...what did you expect from that old death SO? Upgrade to Windows 10, problem solved.

[Iceira]

Yeap we other are on pure fresh win10/win11 installation, sense 2017 or 18 dont even remember it anymore.

And technicaly a waste of time to fix past win OS issue , then steam shut it down at next year.

You will not be able to run client if things goes as we think here.