Alt-TAB research thread

[globefish23]

Please tell us if you have the Alt-TAB crash problem and also tell us detailed specs of your computer hardware, operation system and driver versions.
Perhaps this way we can find out why some people are not affected by this bug.

Apparently, Alt-Tab works fine if AA (anti-aliasing) is disabled in the game, so if it actually works for you with AA turned on, you're especially welcome to post your specs and settings in here.

Alt-TAB bug:
Yes.

Key combinations: (If yes, does a certain key combination work for switching back and forth between the game and the desktop?)
None works.
Alt-Tab, Ctrl-Alt-Del, Ctrl-Esc

Hardware Specs:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 @3GHz
RAM: Corsair Dominator 2x 2GB @1066MHz
GPU: nVidia Geforce 9600GT, 512MB
Sound: Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS

Software Specs:
OS: Windows XP SP3
DirectX: 9.0c (March 2009)
Graphics Driver: Forceware 190.62

BF2 settings:
Screen resolution: 1920*1080 @60Hz
Details: everything on high
AA: 8x
Audio: High
EAX: on

Background Tasks:
Avast! Antivirus
Daemon Tools
Window Blinds
Sidebar Tool
Logitech Setpoint

Please keep discussion to a minimum!
There are already enough threads for that.
Let this one be for a comparison list of computer specs.

[RaptorUK]

For a start the majority of people are effected by this bug, those that are not use no AA, or are very lucky in some sense not to have it with AA enabled.

Q6600-3.7GHz
Corsair DDR2 1100Mhz
Nvidia GTX260 latest WHQL drivers
Asus formula 2 mobo
X-FI extreme music
Corsair P128 SSD
Samsung 1TB storage drive
Windows 7 Ultimate 64
1680x1050 rez
All high, no EAX, 8xAA, tried all combinations of AA.

[IG Calibre]

lt-TAB bug:
Yes.

Key combinations: (If yes, does a certain key combination work?)
None works.
Alt-Tab, Ctrl-Alt-Del, Ctrl-Esc

Hardware Specs:



BF2 settings:
Screen resolution: 2048*1152 @ 60Hz
Details: everything on high
AA: 8x
Audio: High
EAX: on

[Krysiss]

God really guys stop lalalalaing whine about it..! it doesn't really help..

there where donzen of threads and [removed] to let it fix it..
Me and many people already complainend about the nice little bugs that where introduced but still..

his standard answear was.. It was never been supported.. but it worked for like 5 years hahah. FAIL..

it's like you will bring your car to the car mechanic because your window was broken and you ask the fix it. he does that. But somehow he can break the tyres

[KBoomDUMAL]

Alt-TAB bug:
Yes.

Key combinations: (If yes, does a certain key combination work?)
None works.
Alt-Tab, Ctrl-Alt-Del, Ctrl-Esc

Hardware Specs:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 @3.2GHz
RAM: G.Skill 2x 2GB @1000MHz
GPU: nVidia Geforce 880GT, 512MB
Sound: Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS

Software Specs:
OS: Windows Vista SP2 x64
DirectX: 9.0c (March 2009)
Graphics Driver: Forceware 185.85

BF2 settings:
Screen resolution: 1440*9000 @60Hz
Details: everything on high
AA: 2x
Audio: High
EAX: on

Background Tasks:
Kasperskt Internet Security 2009
Daemon Tools
Windows Sidebar Tool
DU Meter
TeamSpeak


IMPORTANT: without antialiasing, ALT+TAB is SLOWER than in 1.41 but works.

[FrankCastleITA]

You should have specified it is present just with AA enabled because none has it without.

[orionWP]

Alt-TAB bug:
Yes.

Key combinations: (If yes, does a certain key combination work?)
None works.
Alt-Tab, Ctrl-Alt-Del, Ctrl-Esc

Hardware Specs:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
RAM: OCZ 2x 1GB @800MHz
GPU: nVidia Geforce 9600GT, 512MB
Sound: on-board Realtek

Software Specs:
OS: Windows Vista 32x/Windows 7 64x
DirectX: 9.0c (March 2009)
Graphics Driver: latest

BF2 settings:
Screen resolution: 1280*1024 @60Hz / 1680*1050 @60 Hz
Details: middle/high
AA: 2x
Audio: High
EAX: off

Background Tasks:
X-Fire

[globefish23]

Originally Posted by Krysiss

[...]

This is no whining thread, so you better stop the "meta-whining"!
I want to create a compendium of different systems and whether the Alt-Tab bug occurs on them or not.

If you don't want to contribute by posting your specs, then kindly lalalala and stay the out of this thread!

Originally Posted by FrankCastleITA

You should have specified it is present just with AA enabled because none has it without.

Perhaps there is someone who also gets it without AA enabled.

Anyway, the people (and their systems respectively) who have AA enabled, but do not have the bug are actually the most important come here and post.

[xjiks]

Alt-TAB bug:
Yes.

Key combinations: None works.
Alt-Tab, Ctrl-Alt-Del, Ctrl-Esc
Result is Black screen, the game main menu mouse cursor is displayed (big white cursor), I can alttab again to go back to desktop and kill the process

Hardware Specs:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 @3GHz; OC @3.2Ghz
RAM: Corsair 4x 1GB @800MHz
GPU: nVidia Geforce 8800GTS, 640MB
Sound = Motherboard = Asus P5KE- WifiAP

Software Specs:
OS: Windows XP Pro SP3
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Graphics Driver: 185.85

BF2 settings:
Screen resolution: 1280*1024 @60Hz
Details: everything on high; exept I disabled the shadows so I can see you when you're hidden in the dark :-)
AA: When 2x: ALT-TAB crashes. When DISABLED : ALT-TAB works
Audio: High
EAX: off

Background Tasks:
Avast! Antivirus : disabled when playing
Daemon Tools : shutdown because 1.5 doesn't need the dvd
Teamspeak : that's why I need to ALT-TAB oftently while playing
Saitek profiler for X-52 hotas
Nvidia control panel: everything to the lowest quality and better performance

[hgiuk6]

1.5 with AA Enabled = Crash
With AA Disabled = Working

But then you already know that...Either turn the AA off or don't play. Simple.

This why i left the forums all them years ago. Bloody "lalalalaalal" & "Whine whine".

Bazza delivered a patch that we were never going to see otherwise. Hell, he made it happen, remember Colin Clarke & all that lalalala?!

After many months of NOT playing BF2, i've had quite a few games since 1.5 came out & tried the Beta's prior.

This is BF2 Final. You think we're gonna see another patch after all these years?

Remember this is EA we're dealing with here. We only got 1.5 after how many threads about bugs and the hackers running rife with CTD's.

As good as its gonna get.

Cheers Bazza, all things considered not bad.

/rant off

[Tiuri20000]

Alt-TAB bug:
Yes.

Key combinations:
None works.
Alt-Tab, Ctrl-Alt-Del, Ctrl-Esc

Hardware Specs:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @2.40GHz
RAM: GEIL 4x 1GB
GPU: Asus EAH3870 512MB
Sound: Onboard Realtek HD Audio

Software Specs:
OS: Windows Vista 32-bit Business Edition
DirectX: Up to date
Graphics Driver: Ati Catalyst Latest version

BF2 settings:
Screen resolution: 1280*1024 @75Hz
Details: High
AA: 8x
Audio: Medium
EAX: on

Background Tasks:
Daemon Tools
Logitech SetPoint

[StrathmoreJaMack]

I voted yes.

I really do not understand what the big deal is with this alt-tab thing. It really does not affect gameplay (other than if you use cheats, ie. alt-tabbing back and forth to desktop to start/close the hack program). If you use ventrilo or some other voip software other than the one built into bf2, start it up and join your clans voip server first before starting up BF2. I am glad that this does not work, maybe dice made it this way, as maybe they see this as a way to prevent some of the cheating/crashing.
Ive been playing since the first day it came out and rarely ever did I alt-tab, and If i did it usually took some time to get back into the game itself.

[Tiuri20000]

Reasons for using Alt-Tab don't have to be cheating!

For example: BF2 Server admins need to access to software tools for them to perform proper admin tasks next to being able to be active in-game as well. And not every admin out there has the resources to run 2 machines.

Other reasons could be that people just multitask and not just solely run the game to play it but do something else next to it.
I'm just saying have some imagination instead of dismissing others needs because you don't see them having them.

However there of course is the workaround of disabling the AA altogether. Apparently using the AA is no longer possible for many players and thats unfortunate.

Finding out what causes it would be nice, especially if a 'fix' could be created, and thats what were trying to find out here.

[AdasiPL]

Originally Posted by Albertaboy

I voted yes.

I really do not understand what the big deal is with this alt-tab thing. It really does not affect gameplay (other than if you use cheats, ie. alt-tabbing back and forth to desktop to start/close the hack program). If you use ventrilo or some other voip software other than the one built into bf2, start it up and join your clans voip server first before starting up BF2. I am glad that this does not work, maybe dice made it this way, as maybe they see this as a way to prevent some of the cheating/crashing.
Ive been playing since the first day it came out and rarely ever did I alt-tab, and If i did it usually took some time to get back into the game itself.

That's nonsense. If you really want to cheat you can fire it up before launching bf2. You never used alt+tab because you never played in a clan. Especially higher skill clan. It's the most annoying thing about battlefield in the whole history of it.


By the way. Has anyone tried to turn off AA in BF2, but turning it on in graphics drivers? Too bad it doesn't work for me either, maybe it will work for you.

[Tiuri20000]

Tried enabling AA in Catalyst control center, it does not work either.

[UncleTon]

Originally Posted by AdasiPL

That's nonsense. If you really want to cheat you can fire it up before launching bf2. You never used alt+tab because you never played in a clan. Especially higher skill clan. It's the most annoying thing about battlefield in the whole history of it.


By the way. Has anyone tried to turn off AA in BF2, but turning it on in graphics drivers? Too bad it doesn't work for me either, maybe it will work for you.

yeah that i tried yesterday,turn off AA in game,and let nvidia control center override the in game AA.Thought it worked cause after that I could alt Tab constantly,but after looking at the graphics in game i'm for sure that the overide function don't work on battlefield cause it was clear there was no AA working in game.So I rather think Nvidia should get their game together and release a driver where the overide of BF2.exe really works.Then I would like too see what happens.

But no can,t alt tab with AA in game on 8

8800gt P4, ht 3.4 ,3g ram,is my specs.
Only Avira on background
everything on high 1280 1024 60hz

Hey but I never use it,but can see why problems arise.On the other hand last days I never get kicked for harrasing a admin while before some noob admins stole my plane,before me,I shoot at the plane out of frustation,the admin then alt tab out and kicks me,so at least that is fixed.To me if you wanna be a Admin, use a laptop next to your pc or another pc to do the admin on,or play without AA cause a admin does not need a beautifull game they just gotta be in it to oversee the game!! So if you a fighting admin and use your abbility to score the most points ,get vehichles by kicking others,and kicking others that have owned you,then your game deserves to go black!!!

[globefish23]

Please keep discussion to a minimum!
There are already enough threads for that.
Let this one be for a comparison list of computer specs.

[UncleTon]

Originally Posted by globefish23

Please keep discussion to a minimum!
There are already enough threads for that.
Let this one be for a comparison list of computer specs.

No discussion,just answerred what the previous poster wondered,posted what you wanna know,things ive tested out)also usefull in FACT finding!!!!.And some sugestions.

[tipiak93]

Voted yes

XP SP3
Radeon HD4890
Catalyst 9.8
AA 8X
1280/1024 - 75 Hz

[PeteRoys]

Alt-TAB bug:
Yes.

Key combinations: (If yes, does a certain key combination work?)
None works.
Alt-Tab, Ctrl-Alt-Del, Ctrl-Esc

Hardware Specs:
CPU: Intel Core i7 920 @ 2.8Ghz
RAM: G.SKILL DDR3 6GB 1066Mhz
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 280
Sound: Realtek HD

Software Specs:
OS: Windows Vista 64 SP2
DirectX: 10
Graphics Driver: Forceware 190.62

BF2 settings:
Screen resolution: 1920*1200 @60Hz
Details: everything on high
AA: 8x
Audio: High
EAX: on

Background Tasks:
Avast! Antivirus

[DakotaDoc64]

I have the same bug, as do many at LegionAtWar And it is not isolated to Vista x64 or Win x64. One person has the bug on an Nvidia 7600 on XP Home. In all instances turning off AA (in game) fixes the problem. So essentially AA is broken.

Note: bug is present if any level of AA is used x2, x4 or x8.

My system for reference:
Intel Core i7 Quad
EVGA X58 Classified.
6 GB tripple channel DDR3
Win7 x64 RC build 7100
EVGA GTX260 (no sli) drivers 190.62
22" LCD display running 1680 X 1050 60HZ

[TomBabmo]

Alt-TAB bug:
Yes.

Key combinations: (If yes, does a certain key combination work?)
None works.
Alt-Tab, Ctrl-Alt-Del, Ctrl-Esc

Hardware Specs:
CPU: Intel Core2Duo E4500@2.66GHz/333FSB
RAM: 2xKingston 1GB DDR667 + 2xPQI 1GB DDR800 = 4GB/666MHz
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce 8600GT 256MB PCI-E
Sound: X-Fi Xtremegamer

Software Specs:
OS: Windows XP Pro SP3
DirectX: 9.0c March 2009
Graphics Driver: Forceware 190.38

BF2 settings:
Screen resolution: 1440*900 @75Hz
Details: everything on high
AA: 4x
Audio: High
EAX: on

[EvilRusk]

Alt-TAB bug:
Yes.

Key combinations:
None works.
Alt-Tab, Ctrl-Alt-Del, Ctrl-Esc

Hardware Specs:
CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720BE (stock)
RAM: OCZ Reaper 2x2Gb @ 800DDR2
GPU: ATI 4850, 512Mb
Sound: X-fi extreme gamer

Software Specs:
OS: Windows Vista x64 Ultimate SP2
DirectX: 9.0c (version that came on game disc)
Graphics Driver: CCC 9.8 (no hotfix installed)
BF2 settings:
Screen resolution: 1680x1050 @60Hz
Details: everything on high
AA: 2x
Audio: Ultra
EAX: on

Background Tasks:
Kaspersky 2010
Razer deathadder trayicon
CCC tray icon

Alt-tab works with AA set to "Off" in-game and functioned perfectly with AA set to "On" prior to patch 1.5.

[Ustanotbesoham]

Originally Posted by globefish23

Logitech Setpoint

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if this turns out to be the culprit. Setpoint caused me a lot of grief for crashing the Visual Studio .net 2008 IDE when users hit Control-F. (iirc, this happened on 64 bit versions, pre sp1)

I cant test this now but i will when i get home tonight.

[Topchaz]

Please try to keep this thread on topic guys & only post if you are including tech specs. The Alt-Tab is obviously a technical issue and if we keep this thread stictly technical, maybe there is a better chance of DICE commiting to resolve this issue. Turning off AA does let me alt-tab to vent/bf2cc/xfire/fraps etc but at a heavy penalty to the quality of the graphics. Hopefully DICE will understand the impact of this issue and work to resolve it.

Alt-TAB bug:
Yes.

Key combinations: (If yes, does a certain key combination work?)
None works.
Alt-Tab, Ctrl-Alt-Del, Ctrl-Esc

Hardware Specs:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 6600 @ 2.4GHz
RAM: Crucial Ballistix pc-8500 1066 mhz @ 800 Mhz
GPU: nVidia Geforce 8800 GTX Extreme
Sound: Creative X-fi gamer

Software Specs:
OS: Windows XP SP3
DirectX: 9.0c (March 2009)
Graphics Driver: Forceware 190.62

BF2 settings:
Screen resolution: 1920*1200 @60Hz
Details: everything on high apart from lighting & shadows (low)
AA: 8x
Audio: Creative X-FI
EAX: on

Background Tasks:
Avast! Antivirus
Zona alarm free
Logitech apps for G15/G9/attack 3 joystick
MSN Messenger
BF2CC
Ventrilo