Blank screen when returning from full screen programs

[joshogigantor]

When I exit any full screen application in windows xp i'm left with a
blank screen with only the mouse pointer visible. My desktop is still
there i just cant see it, the only way i have found to return the
desktop to normal is to put my computer into standby, then starting it
up again (i have a special standby shortcut key that makes it easy).
I have had problem with Age of Empire II, Return to Castle Wolfenstein,
System Shock 2 and many other games (my system is fairly old hence the
older games!). I also recently discovered that the problem also occurs
when i run the Direct3D test in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
I have upgraded my video card drivers and installed and reinstalled
various codecs but nothing seems to work.

System:
Windows XP home
amd Duron 900
384mb RAM
GeForce2 32mb video card
Phillips 105S 15in monitor

Any help will be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Galen]

In (e-mail address removed) had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

When I exit any full screen application in windows xp i'm left with a
blank screen with only the mouse pointer visible. My desktop is still
there i just cant see it, the only way i have found to return the
desktop to normal is to put my computer into standby, then starting it
up again (i have a special standby shortcut key that makes it easy).
I have had problem with Age of Empire II, Return to Castle
Wolfenstein, System Shock 2 and many other games (my system is fairly
old hence the older games!). I also recently discovered that the
problem also occurs when i run the Direct3D test in the DirectX
Diagnostic Tool.
I have upgraded my video card drivers and installed and reinstalled
various codecs but nothing seems to work.

System:
Windows XP home
amd Duron 900
384mb RAM
GeForce2 32mb video card
Phillips 105S 15in monitor

Any help will be greatly appreciated!!

Hmm... Video card may well not be up for the resource usage, the OS and
anything that is loaded is already eating up some of your video memory and
so when you go to snap out of the varied resolution it's likely freezing but
let's see here...

The next time this happens CTRL + ALT + DEL

That bring up the task manager? If so, good. If not, bad...

What's chewing up resources? (Processes tab - look to see what's eating
'em.)

Hint: While you're there you can reload the explorer shell by File > New
Task (Run...) > type "explorer.exe" without the quotes > <enter button> or
click Okay.

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/ http://kgiii.info/

"Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem, and
its solution is its own reward." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[joshogigantor]

I generally keep an eye on what processes are running so its not a
resource problem. I probably should have mentioned in my initial post
that these games used to exit fine up until about 6 weeks ago, i dont
know if ive accidently done something thats screwed with my graphics or
what,

Also when i type "explorer.exe" in the run box it just opens My
Documents??

 

[Galen]

In (e-mail address removed) had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

I generally keep an eye on what processes are running so its not a
resource problem. I probably should have mentioned in my initial post
that these games used to exit fine up until about 6 weeks ago, i dont
know if ive accidently done something thats screwed with my graphics
or what,

Also when i type "explorer.exe" in the run box it just opens My
Documents??

If it opens My Documents it means the shell hasn't crashed yet.

I sit here trying to think of things (at the Microsoft end) that could be
causing this.

No new updates that /should/ impact video. Hmm... The GeForce2 was a fine
card during the day and those specs would be fine for those games as I'm
sure you know. I have an older system that sits in the living room for
children and guests to poke at and it has a GeForce2 in it. I didn't see any
drivers come down the pipe for it. I'd say check your drivers - see if there
are any updates. Check refresh rates to see if they've changed. Hmm... Maybe
check the resolution - I doubt that has anything to do with it and I doubt
you'd suddenly have a new resolution and not notice it. Well, I might, but
I'm just silly and you're probably more attentive than I.

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/ http://kgiii.info/

"Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem, and
its solution is its own reward." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[Joe]

When I exit any full screen application in windows xp I'm left with a
blank screen with only the mouse pointer visible. My desktop is still
there I just cant see it, the only way I have found to return the
desktop to normal is to put my computer into standby, then starting it
up again (I have a special standby shortcut key that makes it easy).
I have had problem with Age of Empire II, Return to Castle Wolfenstein,
System Shock 2 and many other games (my system is fairly old hence the
older games!). I also recently discovered that the problem also occurs
when i run the Direct3D test in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
I have upgraded my video card drivers and installed and reinstalled
various codecs but nothing seems to work.

System:
Windows XP home
amd Duron 900
384mb RAM
GeForce2 32mb video card
Phillips 105S 15in monitor

You could try lowering the Hardware Acceleration slide to see if that
helps. If it does, you need better, but not always newer drivers. Have
you tried pressing F5 to refresh the screen right after the screen turns
black?

 

[joshogigantor]

Thanks for your help guys, but nothing seems to work. Im guessing its
some little thing that ive missed. Uni's done for the year so i think i
might wipe my computer and start fresh!!