Alienware 18x - Volume Control Closes Games

Hi Hushpuppygirl,

Sorry about the inconvenience. You may try uninstalling Alienware command center by following the below steps:

(1)   Click on start

(2)   Type Programs and features in the search box and hit enter.

(3)   In the Programs and features screen, detect command center and uninstall it.

(4)   Then you may use the below link to reinstall it:

http://dell.to/1660hkx

Input system service tag, select right operating system and download command center from Application tab.

If you have any other questions do reply to the same thread.

Hello,

I followed the steps you listed, and it worked, however a few hours later my problem was back. Any idea's what I may have done wrong? Or something I changed to make it return?

Hello Hushpuppygirl!

As well you can try uninstalling the OSD (on screen display) and re installing it  again, I have seen that before but it might be a game related issue or configuration. 

Hello,

I don't think it is a game related issue, It is happening for many of my programs and games I have in fullscreen mode. I also did not have this problem with my previous computer using the same programs.  I have uninstalled, and reinstalled the OSD. So far it is working. I will continue using my computer and see if the problem returns, then I will check back here.

Ok let us know how it goes. 

Hello again,

Everything was working fine until a few moments ago, now the problem is back. I'm not sure whats causing it to return. I've played a number of games, and changed the volume in each of them numerous times without issue, until now. No clue whats happening. I'm open to doing just about anything to fix this, I'll keep checking back for your reply.

*Edit: What exactly does the OSD do? If I leave it uninstalled and it fixes the problem, what other things would I be missing out on?

Hello Hushpuppygirl!  

The OSD is the one that controls all the function keys if you uninstall it most likely you will not be able to use them.

Now, other troubleshooting steps that you can try will be, update the BIOS to the latest version, and as well uninstalled the video card drivers and install the latest version as well. 

Hi Hushpuppygirl,

Request you to refer the below link and try performing a clean boot based on the type of operating system you have which might help:

http://dell.to/14Lw76B

Do reply with your findings.

I have found the solution to this problem; on a toshiba forum actually.   Run MSConfig and go under the Startup you will see Alienware On-Screen Display, uncheck that box and restart   This will disable all overlay from all the fn buttons

What is happening is the on-screen visual indicator is stealing focus and causing the game to minimize much in the same way using Alt+Tab would do. This has been a common problem for years with any laptops that use an on-screen display overlay for volume, brightness, caps lock and number lock. 

There is a Bluetooth system tray notification balloon application on some systems that controls on-screen indicators that causes exactly the same problem. It can also be unchecked in MSCONFIG (or the Startup tab in Task Manager for Windows 8/8.1 users) and disabling this has no effect on Bluetooth operation. If some users still find this to happen, find and disable that worthless Bluetooth application from running in the background and it should stop this nonsense.

Thank you for your reply, hopefully this will help someone in the future. Unfortunately my Alienware laptop had too many other issues that I had to return it, as well as the replacement. Perhaps the next Alienware model will have a built in fix for this problem.