M2 no longer continues with enemy turns during alt-tab.

**berylthranox** · September 26, 2014, 01:52 PM

I used to be able to alt-tab into my web browser, etc., and the game would continue with the long turns as everyone else moved about. This was great during the early years of building infrastructure as it meant I didn't spend the majority of my time waiting. Now the game pauses when I alt-tab and nobody takes their turn. Why? How can I fix this?

**alex86** · September 26, 2014, 02:30 PM

If you use windowed mode, it should continue. In medieval2.preference.cfg set windowed = 1 and bordeless_window = 1, then make sure the resolution is the same as your desktop resolution. It will effectively be fullscreen, but in reality is "windowed", allowing you to alt+tab quickly and have it run in the background.

**berylthranox** · September 26, 2014, 02:46 PM

This does not seem to be working. I'm wondering if CA didn't cause this with that patch for multiplayer.

**irishron** · September 26, 2014, 02:57 PM

Do you have the Steam version? If so, have you searched their forums?

**berylthranox** · September 26, 2014, 03:03 PM

I do have the steam version but my search of their forums turned up nothing, as it did here. The problem on that end is that it's a very difficult question to word specifically enough to be able to search it well.

**alex86** · September 26, 2014, 05:43 PM

I have the Steam version, and it definitely works while under Windowed mode.

In your Medieval II Total War folder's medieval2.preference.cfg, those two settings I mentioned should be under the [video] section of the file. It may help to put the file in read only so it doesn't continue to get changed in the future. But the first time you launch it after a change, it should work.

If not, it sounds like you're not successfully launching the game into Windows mode. Try just windowed = 1 and borderless_window = 0; that way, you can tell if it's a window or not.

It's possible it's something else?...I can't remember if alt-tabbing from fullscreen mode paused the game or not. Switching windows should not, however.

**berylthranox** · September 27, 2014, 07:27 AM

I'm definitely in a borderless window and I am so because of the texts that you suggested. When I alt-tab out I find that there is a loading screen when I go back in. Before the game used to actually sit in the background and I could see the AI turns through the opaque parts of my browser. Now it seems as though the game is being minimized rather than simply pushed to the background in favour of a new window.

**irishron** · September 27, 2014, 04:03 AM

The only time I alt-tab out is when the Mongols and/or Timurids are still alive. When they go back to horde, it can take a long time, one last year took an hour and my computer isn't that slow. I alt-tabbed out to check Task Manager and kingdoms.exe was still working away.

I have the disc version, though.

**irishron** · September 27, 2014, 07:56 AM

It would not be the only thing CA fubared trying to get MP fancy. I have not read it being reported at http://forums.totalwar.com though, according to them the "official forums".

**berylthranox** · September 27, 2014, 10:50 AM

Perhaps steam is the issue in some way then? You may know that a few months back steam screwed up the starting of mods like SS by removing the launcher and forcing players to right click on the game to select the kingdoms expansions. Now I have to use a launcher , http://forums.steampowered.com/forum....php?t=2500705, to start any mod. Any ideas regarding this as the cause of my issue?

And if you don't alt-tab out during long turns what do you do?

**irishron** · September 27, 2014, 10:59 AM

I have refused to use the launcher since it was introduced with the 1.2 patch 7 years ago predating it being used as Steam's DRM until this MP fiasco. I have a desktop full of icons instead.

This maybe a better alternative as a launcher. http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...te-Compatible)

You may also consider a clean reinstall of the game, too.