Ctrl-Esc... Minimize Gaming Window - Win7

Sasqui · Jan 14, 2011

If you're in the middle of a 3D fullscreen game, type Ctrl & Esc at the same time and your game is minimzed to the tray, and desktop is open for business. I knew this for a while using XP.

I have DiRT2 minimized right now. Power consumption is back to 2D, about 190w with a 5870, using a Kill-a-watt. While playing the game it gets over 300w.

Does this work in Win7? Is there anything bad about it?

WhiteLotus · Jan 15, 2011

Alt-tab also works.

JrRacinFan · Jan 15, 2011

I usually just push Alt+Enter (Switching to Windowed from Fullscreen mode) then Windows+D(Show desktop). Then when I want to switch back to game, click on it in taskbar and push Alt+Enter(Switching to Fullscreen from Windowed mode) again.

mlee49 · Jan 15, 2011

WhiteLotus said:
Alt-tab also works.

+1

JrRacinFan said:
I usually just push Alt+Enter (Windowed mode) then Windows+D(Show desktop). Then when I want to switch back to game, click on it in taskbar and push Alt+Enter again.

Thanks didn't know that. Alt codes are very useful.

mrsemi · Jan 15, 2011

*Mini hijack*

I just installed win 7 as I realized I bought an nvidia card for the physx hack and it doesn't work on vist.

I'm not seeing anything that is all that much different than vista, anyone got any other tricks for win7

LifeOnMars · Jan 15, 2011

mrsemi said:
*Mini hijack*

I just installed win 7 as I realized I bought an nvidia card for the physx hack and it doesn't work on vist.

I'm not seeing anything that is all that much different than vista, anyone got any other tricks for win7

Um, it works?

mrsemi · Jan 15, 2011

LifeOnMars said:
Um, it works?

Sorry but vista worked fine. :toast:

hellrazor · Jan 15, 2011

*cough* *sputter* LOLWUT?

micropage7 · Jan 15, 2011

alt+tab and its still one of my fav shortcut

Deleted member 74752 · Jan 15, 2011

mrsemi said:
*Mini hijack*

I just installed win 7 as I realized I bought an nvidia card for the physx hack and it doesn't work on vist.

I'm not seeing anything that is all that much different than vista, anyone got any other tricks for win7

You can do this... http://ultimatecomputers.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3644 ...confirmed on my end for better mouse response and some online games issues.

GSquadron · Jan 15, 2011

It looks like some interesting stuff here

Also, if you have a lot of internet pages, hold down right-click and use the scroll to explore the pages exactly like alt-tab with programs!

Frick · Jan 15, 2011

Aleksander Dishnica said:
It looks like some interesting stuff here
Also, if you have a lot of internet pages, hold down right-click and use the scroll to explore the pages exactly like alt-tab with programs!

This with IE?

LifeOnMars · Jan 15, 2011

mrsemi said:
Sorry but vista worked fine.

Oh come on, I was joking :rolleyes:

GSquadron · Jan 15, 2011

Frick said:
This with IE?

Depends which version
I have tried it with opera, so don't get me wrong there

pr0n Inspector · Jan 15, 2011

ctrl+esc = Win/meta/super

it's been around forever. back then my keyboard doesn't even have a Win key.

there's also alt+esc, it's like alt+tab, but without the box switch, jumps directly to windows.

phanbuey · Jan 15, 2011

Sasqui said:
If you're in the middle of a 3D fullscreen game, type Ctrl & Esc at the same time and your game is minimzed to the tray, and desktop is open for business. I knew this for a while using XP.

I have DiRT2 minimized right now. Power consumption is back to 2D, about 190w with a 5870, using a Kill-a-watt. While playing the game it gets over 300w.

Does this work in Win7? Is there anything bad about it?

It definitely works in windows 7 - although you will (rarely) run into a game or a set of drivers that don't like that at all.

razaron · Jan 15, 2011

If a game doesn't like alt+tab you can use ctrl+alt+delete. That helps alot when a game freezes.

Peter1986C · Jan 15, 2011

When using a Steam game you need to use cntrol+alt+delete, as alt+tab doesn't work then (at least not on my pc).

Sasqui · Jan 15, 2011

Chevalr1c said:
When using a Steam game you need to use cntrol+alt+delete, as alt+tab doesn't work then (at least not on my pc).

Try Ctrl+Esc

Peter1986C · Jan 15, 2011

I could do that indeed. Though I only wrote that to point it out.

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Ctrl-Esc... Minimize Gaming Window - Win7

Sasqui

WhiteLotus

JrRacinFan

Served 5k and counting ...

mlee49

mrsemi

LifeOnMars

mrsemi

hellrazor

micropage7

Deleted member 74752

Guest

GSquadron

Frick

Fishfaced Nincompoop

LifeOnMars

GSquadron

pr0n Inspector

phanbuey

razaron

Peter1986C

Sasqui

Peter1986C

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