Corrupt application windows

[nerdstampede]

Seeing some strange behaviour from multiple applications. Interacting with them gradually results in the window becoming corrupted.

At first it was just JDownloader, but now Thunderbird is doing it too (after a 3->5 upgrade). What is interesting is that any child window or dialog inherits the corruption, even on a different LCD screen (I have 2).

I thought it might be a video card issue at first, but only these 2 applications are affected.

Another interesting piece - if I run the 64bit JDownloader binary, it does not get corrupted, but the 32bit one does.

Compatibility mode doesn't seem to make a difference in either application.

This sound familiar to anyone? I'm at my wits' end. See attached screenshot for an example.

 

[seavixen32]

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

I think your computer has been hit by a virus.

Download Malwarebytes and run a full scan in Safe Mode.

 

[nerdstampede]

I wish it was a virus, I could easily do something about that My Uni has a symantec site license, so I've been running with that for a while.

Any other ideas? It really seems to be something related to 32bit applications - I'm pretty sure Thunderbird 5 is a 32bit binary, as is the JDownloader binary that gets corrupted. The 64bit JDownloader exe does not exhibit this behaviour.

 

[MacGyvr]

You'll need to seek help in a Java forum for that one.

 

[SlasherIT]

If only people would run native programs, I personally hate the Java runtime, its really slow and buggy for applications, even though in theory it is great (works on MANY OS', Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris, Android, Symbian ect.).

 

[nerdstampede]

Unfortunately this is occurring with Thunderbird as well. JDownloader is just one example.

It isn't Java, since I uninstalled both 32 and 64bit JREs and Thunderbird still exhibits this behaviour.

 

[nerdstampede]

Another screenshot

Here's Thunderbird doing the same thing. Unless it is shipping with an embedded jre/jdk, this isn't specifically a java isssue.

 

[nerdstampede]

Bueller, Bueller, Bueller?

 

[SlasherIT]

Just run a MalwareBytes scan. MalwareBytes is a very powerful AV on-demand tool compared to other AV's.

 

[nerdstampede]

Nothing from any Malwarebytes scanner - I even booted up Trinity rescue kit and ran those AV scanners. Nothing.

Again, this seems to be a 64bit Windows vs. 32bit application issue.

 

[SlasherIT]

Are you using an OEM copy of Windows 7?

 

[Magron]

If only people would run native programs, I personally hate the Java runtime, its really slow and buggy for applications, even though in theory it is great (works on MANY OS', Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris, Android, Symbian ect.).

If only MicroSoft hadn't manufactured the problem by fighting with Sun after Sun invented java.

(in the interests of historical accuracy)

 

[nerdstampede]

Yes OEM.

Check this out - Chome 12.0.742.122 is now exhibiting the same behaviour, but only in a single tab. On Apple's site of all places.

 

[SlasherIT]

Its the Windows 7 installation causing these issues... Clean re-install from a retail copy of Windows 7 is needed...

Slasher

 

[nerdstampede]

I'm more interested in finding out what the underlying issue is that is causing this problem at this point. A reinstall, while painless, does not address the root cause and there's no guarantee the issue won't reoccur.

I'm not sure how to debug this issue further - nothing in the event log indicates at problem at all, there are 0 relevant entries in the last 24 hours, and yet I've seen it happen every time i start any of the applications noted.

 

[SlasherIT]

Well, after a clean re-install, these apps should not behave like this. While installing things one by one, after anything you change on the system, test to see if you get the problem on these apps.

Slasher

 

[nerdstampede]

I really want to figure out the root cause. This thread is in the top 5 search results for 'corrupt application windows' on Google. Respectfully, a reinstall is just not happening - there has to be a reason for this, and for anyone coming here looking for a solution, I'm certain a reinstall is 99% out of the question and is beyond their abilities.

If you can point me at somewhere to further debug this, I'd very much like to help everyone else out. Just not sure where to look beyond the event log.

As a start at debugging:

• Using any compatibility mode doesn't help
• Nor does uninstalling SP1
• Nor does uninstalling .NET4

 

[SlasherIT]

As I said in my previous post, if you would like to 'debug' this issue, you are going to have to re-install Windows yourself (clean install). Now obviously, the problem won't return from a clean install without any changes to the computer (unless the hardware is giving issues). So, after the clean re-install, install all the apps you have one by one, each time a new program is installed, check if you get this issue or not. Make all changes one by one to your computer, restoring it bit by bit to its previous state (before clean re-install). Eventually, you should get the issue again (if you are installing the same things you used to have on your computer). If you get the issue, you will know which program or thing is causing this problem. Then you can stop using the thing that gives you the problem, and get on with your computing life. If you manage to find the problem, you will have successfully 'debugged' it. This is why it is necessary to do a clean re-install. If you don't clean re-install, I cannot help you and you most likely won't be able to solve your problem.

Slasher

 

[nerdstampede]

Fascinating. I totally get the 'forget about it and move on' response, loud and clear there. But being new to Windows (experimenting with it, been using Linux since the late 90's), I just cannot comprehend how trivially people approach doing a reinstall of the entire OS.

There is plainly a flaw somewhere in Windows 7, else this behaviour would be limited to a single application. I would like to solve the problem so that others who might encounter this issue will benefit.

Again, Chrome tabs, Thunderbird, and JDownloader are misbehaving - all 3 are running 32bit code on a 64bit system. There is a commonality, and a specific portion of the OS that I am sure is possible to debug and glean more information.

Does anyone have any ideas as to where I should look?