Desktop / Explorer icon instability & sudden shutdowns

[CaptainMorgan]

I have an Acer Laptop running Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit, on two external Acer monitors, MS Comfort Keyboard, and over the last couple of weeks, it has begun to show some real odd problems:

- in Windows explorer on one monitor, the contents display (Right side) will flicker between "Details", and random other displays (eg "List" or "Small Icons").
- Windows desktop icons will occasionally flicker between 2 different sizes. (Seemed to be related to mouse movement, but that might be a red herring!)
- a number of unrequested shutdowns have taken place, preceded (VERY briefly) by what looks like a "Permission Denied" message box.
- when working and producing data files, occasional "Permission Denied" messages appear, but these can be overcome with a "Re-Try". Irritating but not earth-shattering.

I have set my only user ID to have full access in a bid to address the "Permission Denied" errors, and this did seem to result in a reduction...

Have been running the machine for a few years quite trouble-free, and I am at a complete loss as to why this might start all of a sudden.

The only major change I have made recently was to install a WD MyCloud external drive on my hub. Their software was installed, but when "Permission Denied" messages started appearing when working, all the software was removed.

I have scanned the machine with Norton 360 - nothing disreputable found.

Can anyone offer any guidance on what I might try next to resolve these glitches?

Thanks in advance...

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
Use the link above my signature picture to fill in your system spec's page so all the information about your computer follows you posts,
It sounds like a video card or driver related issue to me ?
Check with Acer's website for graphic's and other driver updates,
See if the issue happens using only one monitor,
And how exactly are you connecting using two monitors ?
Is one using a hdmi port and the other vga ?

If you feel like you might of picked up a bug ?
Review Jacee’s instructions to run Adwcleaner here post #7,
Ignore the title of the thread,
http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/316404-instant-savings-app.html
You can use these free tools to see if they find anything,
Manually Update them before running full scans,
Try not to use your computer while the scans are running, (one at a time of course).
Uncheck the box to Activate the Free trial from the final install options,
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free
http://www.superantispyware.com/?tag=SUPERANTISPYWARE
This one is the longest up to 4 hours, the others are only about 45 minutes,
http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx

 

[CaptainMorgan]

Thanks ThrashZone,

Yes, problem with Explorer happens on only one monitor (HDMI) but not other (VGA), but if you drag the window across screens, the fun gets much more interesting... behaviour of icons can be provoked into swapping, if you see what I mean.

The desktop problem happens on the Primary (VGA) connected monitor. Haven't swapped to using HDMI as primary, but there's a weekend coming up to experiment...! :banghead:

Everything has now quietened down for the last couple of hours - ever since I placed my original post, bizarrely - but will be sure to follow up on the malware links.

Cheers....

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi thanks don't forget to fill in your system spec's also

HDMI's are notorious for becoming defective,
Is it a gold tipped cable = High speed if so which brand,
They are pricy but if you have a spare see if it reacts any differently,
The best thing you could do is get a real video card that uses dual dvi dedicated of using multiple monitors,
Cheers.

 

[andrew129260]

HDMI cables are all the same and should not be pricey.

See here:

Why all HDMI cables are the same | Crave - CNET

HDMI Cable - Monoprice.com