Desktop Flickers


  1. LiquidFlames
    Posts : 16
    Windows 7 Professional 64bit
       New #1

    A PC with the hiccups?


    Hey Folks,

    I've got a weird one. It's on a Windows 7 Pro 64bit machine. I have never seen 7 do this before. The taskbar and desktop icons flash once every 30 seconds or so. The wallpaper and any open programs seem to stay put. If I click on anything, say Start for example, when the flash happens, it closes the Start menu. So, I have to get my clicks and typing in between the flickers.

    It's almost as if explorer.exe is crashing and immediately restarting itself every 30 seconds.

    I tried running system restore but got the error:
    System Restore does not appear to be functioning correctly on this system. A Volume Shadow Copy Service component encountered an unexpected error. Check the application event log for more info. (0x80042302)

    I tried Event Viewer and got the error:
    Event Log service is unavailable. Verify that the service is running.

    It is also stuck on the Windows Classic theme. The Windows 7 basic and Aero themes are greyed out in the personalization window.

    This behavior happens on all but one user account.

    For the other user account, no flashes but it is also stuck on the Windows Classic theme. So, using the other account I am able to at least do some troubleshooting without being interrupted by the suspected explorer crashes but I cannot get it to change themes.

    I also started up in safe mode. I logged in to the user accounts with the suspected explorer crashes and no more crashes.

    I have run a complete virus scan using an updated Microsoft Security Essentials.

    Device manager shows no splats.

    I created a new user account and it also flickers.

    Any other ideas?

    Thanks!
    LF

    PS - The system in my profile is NOT the one having the issue. If you need the specs of the broken system, I can list them.
    Last edited by LiquidFlames; 11 Sep 2010 at 23:23.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. richc46
    Posts : 17,796
    Windows 10, Home Clean Install
       New #2

    I would go to device manager and update the video driver. If needed it will not just show with a yellow marker, you have to investigate. Update from the website, not automatic update.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. LiquidFlames
    Posts : 16
    Windows 7 Professional 64bit
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Thanks Richard,
    I will give that a shot. I must also correct myself from my original post.

    Only 1 of the user accounts shows the crashing explorer behavior. The rest are fine. They are just stuck in the Classic mode.

    Confirmed that it is indeed explorer.exe crashing. I watched the Task Manager window for a good 20 minutes. When the flickers happen, explorer.exe dissappears from the list and almost imdeidatly reappears. When this happens, system idle process goes from 99% to around 70%, explorer.exe disapears, comes back at around 30%, and then system idle goes back to 99% and explorer to 0%. This all happens in the blink of an eye. So, on one user account explorer.exe is dying and coming back every 30 seconds or so.

    Also, in safe mode, I get the same exact thing as I get in normal mode. Explorer.exe, flickering, the whole works on that one account. The rest of the accounts are fine in safe mode.

    I will update the video driver and report back.

    Thanks again.
    -LF
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. richc46
    Posts : 17,796
    Windows 10, Home Clean Install
       New #4

    Im a set of fresh eyes, you are too involved. One account; then I say open a new account. If it does not flicker, the account is defective and causing the crashes. You can delete it.

    Maybe, its not the crashes causing the flicker, but the flicker causing the crashes.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. LiquidFlames
    Posts : 16
    Windows 7 Professional 64bit
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Thanks again for the help. I tried the driver update for the video and it wouldn't install. Gave an error about elevated permissions even though the account was an administrator. Tried right clicking it and running as administrator, too.

    Did some more digging in the system and finally got into the event viewer. Going back about 4 days ago it seems like something in the system is stopping, or trying to stop, ALL running services. Even though the virus scan showed no threats, I am leaning toward a virus or something malicious. I'm going to back up some photos and do a format/reinstall of windows. I'll keep you posted.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  8. richc46
    Posts : 17,796
    Windows 10, Home Clean Install
       New #6

    If worried about a virus, be sure to format.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  10. LiquidFlames
    Posts : 16
    Windows 7 Professional 64bit
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Did a format on the hard drive and reinstalled Windows 7. Everything is running great. Even some of the hardware problems I failed to mention have been cleared up. So, I don't know if the OS was just totally shot or if it was some kind of malicious software, virus, whatever. Everything seems to be great now, though. Thanks again for all the help!
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  11. richc46
    Posts : 17,796
    Windows 10, Home Clean Install
       New #8

    Sounds like you did it just right, glad that it worked out.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

  Related Discussions
Hello, Just put my new system together. CW03 case with LCD 790fx board with ATI 5870 Graphics card. I have reformatted and updated all drivers. I've searched but I see alot of Nvidia related threads. When I watch TV in 7MC there is alot of flickering (flashing, it gets bright and...
Hello, does anybody when clicking the bookmark arrow or a folder with bookmarks in chrome gets a small (i mean very fast!) black flickering??? Also in Windows 7 Jumplist sometimes when opening it will show aero glass before populating with icons (also very fast) Can someone check this out to...
Desktop screen flickers and crashes
in BSOD Help and Support

Been running Windows 7 32-bit for a while now with no problems. Yesterday though i've found that whenever I boot up the OS, the desktop screen flickers with little purple and green dots along the program bar at the bottom of the screen and on any icons. The main wallpaper does not. Everything...
2nd monitor flickers
in Hardware & Devices

Hello all, I noticed lately my 2nd monitor flickers from times to time, im useing a 24"widescreen as my main monitor and at the moment my 2nd monitor is my Tv and thats roughly 37" and useing a hdmi-hdmi cable for the tv, now the flicker is not the whole screen its just a section in the middle and...
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:17.
Find Us