Game keeps minimizing, can't even log in

jaekobcaed · June 2020

Hi, I loaded up ESO just now as I was going to play a little. I'm running the non-Steam PC version, direct via the ESO site. Anyways, I got a small update (~50mb) and then opened the game when it was finished. However, every time I try to log in, the game window minimizes. I tried to reopen the window but it'd minimize again. I, quite literally, cannot even keep the game window open for longer than about 1 second before it auto-minimizes for me. I'm not sure what's causing this. Other than Chrome, I can't think of any other programs in the background that might be causing this issue.

If there are any suggestions for what I can do to fix this issue, I'd highly appreciate them as I'd like to play Greymoor. I haven't played it much due to all the maintenance and rough launch issues which kinda soured the experience, but I do want to play it more and enjoy the $40 I spent. Thanks for any help!

ZOS_Bill · June 2020

@jaekobcaed

Are you playing the game Windowed or in Full Screen mode?

Changing your display mode may stop the game from minimizing to the desktop. You can find instructions on changing display modes here.

jaekobcaed · June 2020

ZOS_BillE wrote: »

@jaekobcaed

Are you playing the game Windowed or in Full Screen mode?

Changing your display mode may stop the game from minimizing to the desktop. You can find instructions on changing display modes here.

Hi, I'm playing in full-screen but I can't even get to the options menu to change that option. It never gave me an issue prior to that small update.

ZOS_Bill · June 2020

@jaekobcaed

You may want to try rebooting into a selective startup to help determine if another program on the PC is causing ESO to get minimized when launched.

catch22atplay · June 2020

You can try changing the resolution settings in usersettings.txt. Should be located in your documents folder, documents/elder scrolls online/live.

SET PreferExclusiveFullscreen "0"
SET FULLSCREEN_v5 "1"
SET ACTIVE_DISPLAY "0"
SET FullscreenHeight "1080"
SET FullscreenWidth "3840"
SET WindowedHeight "1041"
SET WindowedWidth "3443"

For me that's windowed fullscreen. Sorry not exact same as yours as mine is dual monitor in surround mode. Change height and width of course. PreferExclusiveFullscreen "1" would be for a true fullscreen. If you prefer to run it that way just ensure the width and length are correct just to be safe.

In some games there are problems with playing chapter videos so can't even get to character select screen. Not sure if that's the case here. But you can try 2 settings which is updated to the current chapter and that says i have watched the video. The HasPlayedPregameVideo "1" is the one that usually fixes problems when there are problems with this.

SET HighestChapterOpeningCinematicSeen "4"
SET HasPlayedPregameVideo "1"

Other than that i can't think of anything unless you're using a laptop. Then it just needs to use the actual vid card usually by setting power mode to high. Although there may be some other settings as well.

jaekobcaed · June 2020

Hmm, oddly enough, it seems to have fixed itself. I did a normal reboot just to test it and it seems to have worked. I'm wondering if it was a bug with my new keyboard. It's a cheap USB gaming keyboard and I seem to be having trouble like this with other games, too... such as the lettered keys going completely non-responsive a few times during a match of Star Wars: Battlefront II, requiring me to unplug the keyboard and plug it back in.

Hopefully these issues stop, it's relatively frustrating but I don't really want to send it back because I'm really enjoying it otherwise.

Thanks for the attempts to help, both of you!

ZOS_Bill · June 2020

@jaekobcaed

Thank you for letting us know the issue resolved itself. We are going to close this thread since the problem is no longer happening.