Windows 7: PC screen suddenly flashes to a black screen and back

Hi all,

I have Windows 7 Ultimate x64 installed on an brand new HP Pavilion s5-1205z Slimline desktop.

When I am reading an email or document the screen will just suddenly flash to a black screen for a second. Sometimes it does this several times in a row, and other times just once or twice. It is random and does not matter what program I am in, if I am browsing, playing a video on-line, or typing. I have installed Java and done as much troubleshooting as I can and can't find anything that relates to that kind of behavior at all in the Help Files or FAQ's.

Any suggestions of where I might look to see if I need to check or uncheck something, and what, would be very much appreciated.

Combining the info that you posted here with the info in this thread - I gotta wonder if someone is able to remote into your computer. If you are not too far along in setting up your computer, you might want to consider a clean install without all of the bloatware.

Unless you have a specific need for Java - uninstall it. If you need it, then it might be worth the security risk of having it installed. If you don't need it - then why risk having it installed?

Hi Username, thank you for your time to respond. There is no one else who uses my computer or has access to it. This was happening before I installed the Java, and I thought it might be that some of the programs I was using might require Java for some reason. Especially, IE, which often does require Java for some sites. I have used Java for many years and never had any problems before. But, as the flashes are random and intermittent, for the purpose of seeing if it has helped or not, I'll uninstall it.

For the record, I am on a home network, going through a NetGrear router. However, I have had this same network for years with various computers and OSs (I'm an MS Tech Beta Tester), and have never had any such problems before. I have also just done an Anytime Update from Windows 7 Home Premium to Ultimate, and will see if there is any change with the upgrade.

Thank you again for your time and help. I'll post back with any updates.

Hi Tink,
I had a PC with similar symptom and it turned-out to be a graphics-card related process. Regardless of cause, you might be able to trap it by:
1) open task-manager,
2) display processes and sort by %CPU
3) position mouse over the second process*
4) When screen goes black, click mouse (once).
5) When screen returns, look for blue-highlighted process
- there's a reasonable chance that screen black-out is related to that process.

Hope it helps!

*The first process is almost always "System Idle Process"

Hi smopuiM. Thank you for you time to help. I had an inkling that it was graphics related, but, as this is a brand new PC, didn't really think it would be the cause. I have now upgraded the graphics card and will see if that helps. But, as the flashing is very random, and not specific to any one program, it would be hard to try and work sitting in the Process window and wait for it to happen. I could be there all day. :-)

But, might there be and event log of some sort someplace that might shed some light on the issue?

Hi Tink,
That's a good idea to look for a related event.
You might have some luck here:
C:\Windows\System32\eventvwr.exe

Cheers.

Hi smopuiM. Ok...I have checked the event logs and found a couple of events that might apply, but, not sure as I don't know what they mean. But, one applies to the WAN and the other to the AMD. I am wirelessly connected to the network via a wireless NetGear WGR614v9 router. And I have an AMD HD 6530D graphics card. There are 4 other PC's that use the wireless router on our home network and none of them are experiencing the flashing.

The first event is regarding the WAN:

WLAN AutoConfig service has successfully stopped.
WLAN Extensibility Module has stopped.
Module Path: C:\windows\System32\bcmihvsrv64.dll
Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-WLAN-AutoConfig
Date: 6/18/2012 10:47:11 AM
Event ID: 10002
Task Category: None
Level: Warning
Keywords:
User: SYSTEM
Computer: BelleHP
Description:
WLAN Extensibility Module has stopped.
Module Path: C:\windows\System32\bcmihvsrv64.dll
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="Error">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-WLAN-AutoConfig" Guid="{9580D7DD-0379-4658-9870-D5BE7D52D6DE}" />
<EventID>10002</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>3</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x4000000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2012-06-18T17:47:11.397636500Z" />
<EventRecordID>6145</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="1428" ThreadID="50352" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>BelleHP</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="ExtensibleModulePath">C:\windows\System32\bcmihvsrv64.dll</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

The second is regarding the AMD:

Log Name: System
Source: Service Control Manager
Date: 6/18/2012 10:47:02 AM
Event ID: 7034
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: BelleHP
Description:
The AMD FUEL Service service terminated unexpectedly. It has done this 1 time(s).
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="Error">
<System>
<Provider Name="Service Control Manager" Guid="{555908d1-a6d7-4695-8e1e-26931d2012f4}" EventSourceName="Service Control Manager" />
<EventID Qualifiers="49152">7034</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8080000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2012-06-18T17:47:02.926821700Z" />
<EventRecordID>6103</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="1028" ThreadID="51852" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>BelleHP</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="param1">AMD FUEL Service</Data>
<Data Name="param2">1</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

I don't know if either of these could be a factor in the problem or not, as I don't really know what exactly they are referring to. But, there are at least two of these for each day and the flashes have occurred at least twice a day, sometimes more. The one for the WAN is in the form of a Warning event. The one for the AMD is in an Error event.

From all the other events listed, these are the only two that stick out as might be related to the flashing.

It is always good to know your audience when posting. The combination of the two threads just screamed remote control software to me and some users would be clueless that another person had gained such control.

Good luck ferreting out the offending program/setting/driver/???

:-)

Is the problem fixed? If it is, then please mark the thread as solved. If not, then please run a malware scan with Malwarebytes: Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.61 - FileHippo.com
When it asks you about the trial of the Pro version, click on decline.

Hi Username..."It is always good to know your audience when posting"

Indeed. I am was also a long time MS MVP, and attended many of the Summits. I can sometimes pick out other MVPs even if they are using another handle, just by the way they post.

I have tried one other thing that I had thought of but hadn't tried yet. I have a HP LP2065 dual monitor that I use with my two desktops. I have switched the connections so that the new PC is the first in line instead of second. Not that it may make any difference, but, I thought I'd try it.

I've double checked and made sure that both remote assistance and remote desktop were both set to not allow and they were. So, not sure how anyone would be remote access to my PC.

Anyway, thanks for the help and good wishes. I am hoping to find a solution soon. When I do, I'll post back, unless I have more questions before then.