Windows 10 - Something Keeps Pulling Me Back To Desktop

[meths]

Help!

When I'm in a game something is switching me back to desktop at what seems like random intervals. The game doesn't crash, it's still sitting there in the background and I can Alt-Tab back in but it's bloody annoying.

Before I have a fit and wipe the full computer and reinstall apps one by one what are the usual suspects for this?

Someone on this geek fest of a forum must have experienced it before.

Please please please help me because I can't be bothered reinstalling windows!

 

[meths]

I've had wsappx stuff (updating store stuff) do it even with auto-updates for the store disabled, sometimes stuff like manufacturer bundled software for the motherboard, etc. can do it as well problem is narrowing it down. Windows 10 will also occasionally happily download updates and patch stuff causing the desktop to refresh pulling you out of a fullscreen app when supposedly set not to.

I'm surprised more people don't complain about this stuff to be honest - while it is relatively uncommon it still happens a fair bit and it really shouldn't.

One of the reasons I use Windows 7 for when I need to rely on a system

Yeah, been through all of the notification settings and turned them all off but to be honest I don't think Windows is the culprit here. Should still have my old Win 7 license lying around here somewhere if I can't solve this.

Could it be anti virus scanning the files, or a quicker fix reinstall graphic drivers. I would start by closing any running programs in the system tray may be one of them taking focus from the game

Don't think it's the AV. I don't install one and the Windows one doesn't seem to be running when it happens. I've already reinstalled the graphics drivers and am currently shutting things down in task manager.

So far I've got to Adobe and I have a sneaky feeling that the culprit is Acrobat Updater. We shall see.

If closing processes in task manager doesn't work then I'm going to start uninstalling stuff in reverse installation date order until it stop doing it.

 

[meths]

While some 3rd party AV software will do it - I've never had the built in Windows Defender/Malware Protection Engine pull me out of a full screen game - occasionally get itself stuck in a loop using 100% CPU but not switch window contexts.

The most likely culprit is some 3rd party software updater and/or notification but I wouldn't be too sure it wasn't wsappx related - I've had it do it to me a few times on a new Windows 10 laptop when benchmarking Heaven over multiple runs.

Thanks Rroff. I'll try closing it next time I start gaming and will report.

 

[meths]

Think I've found the culprit!

MSI Dragon Centre for anyone that's interested. Uninstalled and not had an incident since.