Drop to desktop

It's probably because of another process running. For example at work, we play counter strike at lunch. If I leave AutoCAD running, the game will regularly minimize. Sometimes if I leave a network folder open, the same thing happens.

I would try killing processes one at a time (that are unnecessary) and see if the problem goes away.

Interesting... no antivirus or anything like that? Are you spyware/antivirus free?

Maybe try a new video card driver for fun.

I don't know a TON about computers... a fair amount, not a "Ton"... but this problem has been bothering me for years... Even when I build or upgrade a new computer... However... Sometimes it works slightly different... Here's some examples...

The entire line of Total war games seems to randomly just crash without the program/app still running... no errors or anything... and I don't entirely know how to explain it, but if you've ever played any of them... it's like when the screen is switching, or refreshing so to speak, It seems random, but once it starts, it doesn't go past that spot and I have to start a new campaign. It seems to occur when I'm in the world view mode, and it goes to switch to the battlefield, or vise versa...

Another example is sports games. Like madden... Football. I just got Madden 08. and anytime it goes to load a game, training session, or anything along those lines, It kicks out to the desktop. However it's still running and like Galdethi, I can alt +tab or simply restore it and continue on my way, but of course, when it goes to load back to "My appartment" from a game or training day etc. it repeats.

Quite an annoying little thing. No clue what the problem is, Refresh rates? Open GL? it even does it on warhammer games.. it seems like anytime it's loading a battle field, or a playing field what have you. It kicks on out.