This suddenly started (in the last 24 hours). I have 2 Windows 7 laptops (same make/model); the *newer* one has started to exhibit this problem.
The older one, which I essentially "froze in place" a few years ago (and which I'm using to post this) does not have this problem.
What's a useful diagnostic path?
Seems plausible that some recent Windows Update introduced the issue...??
(by the way, I'm not a new member - have participated here for years, but there's been no need to post, until today!)
Hi billm5,
Some questions!
[1] You could try running Malwarebytes [FREE] to see if that picks anything up?
[2] Have you run a full AV system scan?
[3] Have you got a system restore point prior to this happening?
I hope this helps!
Last edited by Paul Black; 09 Nov 2018 at 13:22.
I have MSE and Malwarebytes (free version, which is on-demand scan-and-report only) and I've not tried to run it yet, because there's so little I *can* do with everything on the desktop flashing randomly.
The "everything flashing" essentially makes the newer machine unusable ... including the handful of Notepads I had opened as virtual-sticky-notes (not using the StickyNotes 'product' at the moment)
Since essentially everything on the screen is flashing, there's little I can think of to try, other than ctrl-alt-del or power-down/up. What would you do in this situation?
Obviously I don't want to lose those notepad (.txt) files... some of which haven't even been given filenames yet
Last edited by billm5; 09 Nov 2018 at 12:34. Reason: diagnosing
Was logged-in as a non-priv'd user; was able to "switch user" successfully (to Admin) ... hoping all my normal-user stuff (including the flashing icons?!?) stays intact until I either log-out that user or reboot. Yes??
McAfee Security Scan Plus (free product) started on its own, and appears to be doing something (though I've never found it to be particularly useful).
Hi billm5,
It sounds like it could be a failing graphics card, a corrupted display driver or corrupted graphics driver!
[1] Does it work correctly now if you log back in?
[2] Do you have the same isssue with the Administrative user?
I hope this helps!
EDIT:
[3] Your F5 [refresh] key isn't stuck is it?
[4] Have you installed any new hardware, software or updates prior to this happening [in the last 24 hours as you mentioned], and if so, what?
Last edited by Paul Black; 10 Nov 2018 at 03:05.
Hmm. Left it alone for 30 min. or so, now both machines seem to be functional... but the newer one is saying "Firefox is being updated by another instance" (a message I've not seen before today, though I've seen it on both laptops) ... and mozilla's website hasn't enlightened me.
I *assume* "another instance" would mean another running copy of Firefox, i.e. another firefox.exe process. Task manager reports there are 10 firefox.exe processes on that machine (which seems excessive with only only one Firefox browser window alive).
Last edited by billm5; 09 Nov 2018 at 19:22. Reason: 10 firefox processes?? not a closed case; mysterious.
Have you rebooted since you saw that Firefox message?
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