so i have this problem with Baldurs gate and my other infinity engine games (some of which i have on disk so i assume its the game and not just the GOG version) i have a windows 7 machine and when i open the game, it immediately minimizes to desktop. When i click the game, it comes up for a split second, then minimizes again, and again, and again. After about 5 minutes of doing this i can eventually get it to work properly, but if i alt tab out of it (which i like to do because i listen to music or youtube videos when im playing longer RPGs) then it starts the annoying process all over again. I heard the problem lied with AVG antivirus, so i uninstalled AVG and installed MSE. It solved the problem with other games (neverwinter nights, splinter cell) but not this game.

This might be solved by using windowed mode, but this just causes another problem. The frame rate on these games just goes to hell in windowed mode, making it absolutely unplayable. A solution to either one of these problems would be great.

Disable whatever Antivirus you have.
Right click on the setup_baldurs_gate_2.exe & run as administrator
Click on the option box & install in C:\Games\BaldursGateII
Check that it runs, install any mods, enable your Antivirus (I use AVG, it's fine)

i need it directly in the C drive? damn. guess ill have to reinstall it.

The annoying thing is i cannot figure out why the hell the problem occurs. sometimes it lauches without issue and im able to play the game perfectly, other times it just keeps minimizing

No, it doesn't need to be the C:\ drive, just not the default C:\ProgramFiles(86)\ & running setup as administrator

Do you by any chance have Firefox or a web browser up when the minimizing happens?

Firefox had (may still have) a tendency to try and take the focus of the computer, resulting in it forcing minimizing of older games.

I had this problem with games like Arcanum that drove me mad until I figured out it was Firefox doing it.

yeah i do. I like to listen to youtube videos while i play,

I found one way to cut down on the problem. If i have an icon selected on my desktop the problem is sure to come up. if i dont then the game is less likely to do that