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I often start Calculator by pressing the little Calculator button on my MS keyboard - but for some stupid reason it always starts minimized - meaning I have to restore it first before I can use it. Any idea why it would do this?

It appears to start fine if I start it any other way.

Update: I've just realized this only happens when Visual Studio 2008 is in focus - which is a lot of the time on my machine. Weird! Still annoying though.

Update 2: OK, so it's not just Visual Studio - but Calculator starts without focus in all programs. Some programs it starts under, and some programs it starts over the top, but still not focused - so you have to click on the program itself or on the taskbar.

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  • 2
    what version of windows are you using?
    – lexu
    Aug 20, 2009 at 4:43
  • Man... I so want to say "Because you touch yourself at night." or something... really, that's an odd problem to have. I suggest remapping the calculator button and see if that fixes the problem.
    – mpen
    Aug 20, 2009 at 4:47
  • Using Vista x64 Business Edition. I know it's odd - I even tried remapping it to start calc.exe manually, but it just does the same thing :|
    – wows
    Aug 20, 2009 at 4:50
  • Interesting. Any other programs launch minimized when VS is in focus? IE, Outlook Express?
    – hyperslug
    Aug 20, 2009 at 5:05

8 Answers 8

3

I had the same problem with Windows 7 x64. I fixed it by creating a command file calc.cmd with the following lines:

start C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe 
exit

Then I assigned the key to run the command file, and calc now starts in the foreground.

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  • 1
    Also a work-around. Let’s try to fix the problem.
    – Synetech
    Apr 5, 2010 at 16:04
  • Works for me, Windows 10, Logitech K270
    – Seraphim
    Apr 2, 2016 at 15:12
  • This is the perfect fix for the Windows 10 calculator that will start in the background and with no focus on the numbers line. With this, it starts just like old Windows 7 calculator; on foreground and with proper focus.
    – DocWeird
    Mar 29, 2018 at 6:45
  • The only solution that works for me on Win 10.
    – GoTo
    Mar 25, 2021 at 22:14
1

Whilst my keyboard is not a MS keyboard but a Logitech keyboard, I had the same problem. It would either start minimised or out of focus. It was very annoying especially as I use it a lot.

To fix this problem I changed the keyboard button allocation from 'Default Task' (IE: Calculator) to 'Launch Program', then browse to the calculator application (often located in 'C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe') then clicked Apply.

Worked for me...

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  • I went into the SetPoint settings, added "start " before the "Program:" field under "My Keyboard" -> "Launch Program" and clicked "apply". Then it worked. I changed it back and clicked apply, and it also worked. We'll see if it survives a restart whenever that happens next. Sep 22, 2022 at 18:13
0

One was this could happen is if that key is mapped to a shortcut with Run set to Minimized. What kind of MS keyboard?

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  • It's a standard MS Digital Media keyboard - nothing special. I've looked in the Microsoft Keyboard settings and all the calculator key does is start Calculator. No other options there (such as start minimised, etc).
    – wows
    Aug 20, 2009 at 4:47
  • I can confirm I have the same keyboard and have never experienced this problem. Aug 20, 2009 at 7:01
  • But how does it start the calculator? Does it run calc.exe or does it just “run calculator”. What exactly is displayed in the configuration dialog?
    – Synetech
    Apr 5, 2010 at 16:05
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You can use an AutoHotkey fix:

WinWait, Calculator
WinActivate

or compile the following script, drop it into system32 and rename calc.exe to calcX.exe and name this compiled script calc.exe.

Run, calcX.exe
WinWait, Calculator
WinActivate
3
  • not sure which key AHK uses for calculator in specific, or i'd have a solution to map that key to the above. I know the scan code for the calculator button is E0_21, but I don't know what the AHK authors named it.
    – user1931
    Sep 21, 2009 at 2:44
  • That is just a work-around and doesn’t really address the problem. The OP already has a work-around (restoring the calculator after running it), so it would be better to figure out what the problem is and fix it.
    – Synetech
    Apr 5, 2010 at 16:04
  • -1 Replacing system files is dangerous.
    – kinokijuf
    Aug 26, 2012 at 15:36
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It looks like there is not going to be a straightforward answer for this. It is going to require investigation and debugging of your system. Fortunately most of us here love doing exactly that, so let’s start. :)

Try mapping it to something else, say Notepad for example. What happens? Try mapping a different extended button to the Calculator. What happens then? The goal of this step is to see if it is the calculator that is the problem or the specific button.

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  • That's not only the case of calculator, actually every single program that I start using keyboard shortcuts, like web browser, communicator, music player, and even folders like my documents, my music, my pictures - they're all always start unfocused. A picture of buttons that I'm writing about: i.imgur.com/3Jtka.jpg , key assignment: i.imgur.com/sTUXl.png Mar 1, 2012 at 8:21
0

Had the same problem, fixed this way:

  1. open the ms mouse and keyboard settingsin control panel
  2. select the calc key
  3. disable
  4. enable (calc)

Done

0

I've come across this on multiple systems and either of these worked 100% of the time:

  1. The usual suggestion is to pin calc to your taskbar. You don't have to run it from there, it just being there somehow changes how it's started and will be front and center every time with focus. So you can then continue to use your keyboard shortcut. I also noticed that once you pin it, you can remove and it continues to work! Weird. I tried to get an answer for this on the calc github but no one could figure out what's going on. So just pin then unpin. Done.

  2. If you have a keyboard app that lets you assign apps to buttons, DO NOT use whatever default shortcut they have for calc. If you right-click the start menu item for calc you'll see it's no longer a normal shortcut as of Windows 11. I believe this to be the problem for many. If your app allows it specifically select C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe as the app to run for whatever key on your keyboard.

-1
  1. Windows start menu;
  2. All Programs;
  3. Accessories;
  4. Calculator;
  5. Right-Click Calculator and select Properties.
  6. Under the Shortcut tab half way down is the Run attribute; change its property to “Maximized”.

Run your normal shortcut key to open the calculator in maximized state.

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  • 3
    he doesnt want to start it maximized.
    – Keltari
    Sep 3, 2011 at 18:10
  • @Keltari: Did you actually read his answer before commenting? Dec 5, 2011 at 14:09
  • While the OP doesn't mention OS version, this wont work on Windows 11 moving forward as they no longer use normal shortcuts for system apps. i.e. there is no "properties" anymore. Mar 24, 2023 at 19:21

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