When you are running TF2 (and some other steam games) the challenge is to be in the game, then leave to check something in a browser or otherwise. Typically you alt-tab out, and it might work, or might not. But either way its slow.
This will fix this issue forever.
Right click on the steam icon, library/tf2(or whatever game)/properties/set launch options.
Then enter this: -novid -startwindowed -noborder
what this does: it starts tf2 with no initial video (which has to be boring by now and just wastes time when you are starting up the game), then runs in windowed mode, but with NO borders. Essentially you cant tell the difference - it looks exactly the same.
But your operating system sees it differently and will now let you alt tab through all your open programs easily.
if you dont like it, just delete the commands and relaunch.
mark
This will fix this issue forever.
Right click on the steam icon, library/tf2(or whatever game)/properties/set launch options.
Then enter this: -novid -startwindowed -noborder
what this does: it starts tf2 with no initial video (which has to be boring by now and just wastes time when you are starting up the game), then runs in windowed mode, but with NO borders. Essentially you cant tell the difference - it looks exactly the same.
But your operating system sees it differently and will now let you alt tab through all your open programs easily.
if you dont like it, just delete the commands and relaunch.
mark