Black desktop/wallpaper disappears

[z33ro]

ok first I am using win7 build 6956 on a laptop with t3200 2.ghz cpu and intel 4500 gma with 4gigs of ram.

Now my problem is that on random cases the desktop would go black more specifically the wallpaper disappears. The taskbar is there working OK, when I click the show desktop button on the taskbar the wallpaper re-appears. When I browse the windows by hovering over the windows all seems fine but when I click on the window the wallpaper disappear again. So far it can be resolved by a simple login/logout but still annoying.

I know its hard to imagine but I failed to take a screenshot before, I am trying to replicate the problem and will post some screens afterwards.

The only instances I remember this happening was when I was trying out the slideshow and after playing dota (GARENA).

I am totally lost as to what the cause is, any info on the matter is greatly appreciated.

6956 is almost perfect substitute fr my vista rig, well almost because of the desktop problem I am having...

so guys please help...

 

[baarod]

the only time i had this happen was when i had desktop picture changing enabled, i'd selected the pictures from a library and some of the files in the selected library were on offline storage and not available at the time the picture changed.

 

[Mark]

May also be the result of activation hacks if you have applied any.

 

[z33ro]

No activation software or similar was installed, although I have a copy of a time Timernuke I have not used it yet since I still have more than 20 days till I need to activate.

 

[DiamondNRG]

No activation software or similar was installed, although I have a copy of a time Timernuke I have not used it yet since I still have more than 20 days till I need to activate.

I would advice not doing that, ever. Just use the re-arm method, which just resets the 30 days (max 3 rearms) ... that should get you to public beta just fine (You might make it anyways with 20 days left).

 

[z33ro]

I would advice not doing that, ever. Just use the re-arm method, which just resets the 30 days (max 3 rearms) ... that should get you to public beta just fine (You might make it anyways with 20 days left).

I was thinking the same, thats why I have not used it yet .

just an update on the problem, I dunno if its gone but I have not encountered it again since yesterday and I have been using the notebook for all sorts of things for more than 5 hours straight today.

 

[z33ro]

ok, so now its back again...

This time only playing dota offline...




Ok so at least i know that warcraft in W7 is causing the problem. Any ideas on how to prevent this problem from happening?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello z33ro.

Did you install warcraft in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html?ltr=C?

Keep us informed!














Later :shock: Ted

 

[z33ro]

I cant recall really...:shock: I'll give it a try then see what happens, I really hope this is it. thanks!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Yes; be sure to keep us informed!


















Later :shock: Ted

 

[johngalt]

Honestly, it looks like what happens during remote desktop - are you running an AV program? If not, grab Avast! and Malwarebytes.org and scan your system....

 

[doubleblack]

Happens to me to on occasion

 

[johngalt]

Then it means something ain't working right somewhere....

Perhaps all your memory gets used forcing the WDDM to drop off the background to conserve memory?

 

[z33ro]

ok tried re-installing and got the same result.

with regards to memory I have 4gb although only 3 is being used(32bit). At boot W7 only uses only 27%... Yeah but the background is not gone actually since if you click the show desktop then the background will show but if a window is opened then it disappears may it be maximized or in window mode.

I am using avast by the way... I will try malwarebytes. Thanks/

 

[johngalt]

I ma using Avast! as well, and also have run MBAM (it reports a FP, It may be becuase of DisplayFusion and a registry key I created, so you may not get the same FP) and my wallpaper never disappears.

In fact, with dual monitors, neither disappears - so something on your end has to be cause the wallpaper to disappear when you open a window - which does not make any sort of sense....

 

[cbstatix]

Possible Solution to the Blackness

Okay, so, I've had the same problem too, with the desktop disappearing, and I discovered two things...

1. I made the icons on the taskbar reappear by expanding the taskbar upwards with my mouse.

2. I fixed the black desktop problem by enabling CrossfireX on my two ATI graphics cards.

I don't know if this helps any, but maybe if you mess around with your screen resolution, or graphics card it will do something.

I just remembered something. First time I had the problem was when I unplugged the monitor cable from the graphics card. When I plugged it back in, my desktop was gone.

Hope this helps some.

 

[GHad]

Got the same problem once i exited Rise Of Nations. May it has to do with screen resolution changing?

Greetz,
GHad

 

[renthor]

There are other people (myself included) encountering this:

http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/2005-theme-problems.html

 

[Laughingman]

I have the same problem occasionally. It only seems to happen when exiting out of a Valve game (CS, L4D) for me, so maybe it is Steam related? However I simply right-click and hit next desktop background picture and it works fine with no need to log out, so maybe this is unrelated to your problem?

 

[squall325]

this happened to me after playing warcraft3... it got fixed when i used the vista nvidia 181.20 whql driver instead of the WDDM 1.1.

this can also be foreshadowed when playing warcraft3.. if you dont notice it.. before you get the black screen your warcraft3 seems to move in a little bit slower than it should be but not laggy... then when you exit warcraft3 you get the black wallpaper.

you also sometimes get artifacts on the wallpaper while running the slideshow when exiting COD:WAW.. havent experienced it on other games though.. was persistent on WAW until i changed drivers.