Help me waste some time

November 15, 2006 12:53 PM

How do I force Windows XP to run something in a window rather than fullscreen?

I'm a huge fan of physics games like those profiles at Fun Motion, but they drive me insane when they force Windows to run them fullscreen. I know it has something to do with the way that DirectDraw or DirectX is interacting with the underlying graphics system, but there's got to be a way to run them in a window. Unfortunately, I'm failing to find it.

I'm hoping that some enterprising mefite out there has already got this one tucked into their computer somewhere and can point me at a fix. I'm specifically looking at games like Bontago, if it helps.

HelpFilter: I've already looked at the preferences for the applications in question, and I've already tried both Autosizer and AutoWindowManager.

posted by griffey to computers & internet (6 comments total)

It's solely up to the programmer. Some games are written in toolkits like Torque that allow you to ALT+Enter back to a windowed mode, though.
posted by boo_radley at 1:06 PM on November 15, 2006

A lot of games have undocumented switches such as -w or -window that will run the game in windowed mode. You can also check their forums or e-mail their support team.
posted by mphuie at 1:13 PM on November 15, 2006

This previous question's answers may help you out.
posted by utsutsu at 1:29 PM on November 15, 2006

A really complicated solution would be to use Virtual PC to run another instance of Windows in a window and do it that way. It isn't an elegant solution, but I believe it would work. Because the game would force full-screen on the virtual machine, but wouldn't be able to maximize the window that the virtual machine runs in.
posted by idledebonair at 4:07 PM on November 15, 2006

utsutsu, I swear, I searched for old questions!

Damnit.

In any case, the best answer there is the best solution I can find. Too bad the only software that seems to work is in a language I can't read.
posted by griffey at 7:54 PM on November 15, 2006

I'm going to assume you've tried the default keystroke to switch from fullscreen to windowed: Alt-Enter.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:40 PM on November 15, 2006