Strange problem

[rob_one]

I've searched the forums and can't seem to find a precedent.

BIoshock for the moment seems to be working OK - I have to run the damn thing at the lowest graphic settings, but aside from a few tiny black-screen-of-deaths it seems OK. Except for one thing.

Every time something pops up on the desktop while the game is running - antivirus, updates, someone signing in to chat - the game pauses for a second and goes to smaller screen (ie, as if I'd half minimised it so I can see part of the desktop). This occurs even when I do something innocuous like adjust the volume.

I fix it by going into graphics and changing the resolution, which puts it back into full screen for the time being.

An annoying problem. Can anyone help? The machine runs Vista and the card is an Nvidia G400

(I am definately not good with computers, even though I love shooters, so explanations in layman's terms please!)

[headkase]

The only model of video card I can find that is a G400 is a part from 1999. And Bioshock would make that hardware commit seppuku so I'm sure that's not what you have. To find out exactly what you have, hold down the Windows key and press R. Then in the Run Dialog that pops up type "dxdiag" without the quotes and press Enter. Then when dxdiag pops up there will be a Display tab with a Device section which has a Name in it. The Name is what kind of video hardware you have. Please post back with that!

[rob_one]

Never mind - I obviously got the name of the bloody card wrong! Let me take another look...

[Atlas-Puppet]

If the other programs are opening another window, stop them from doing so. Or create another acccount on your computer and don't install those programs.

[Andru_Rian]

Did you try running the game in a windowed mode? Meaning not maximized.