Solved Flicker/flash all screen boarders every few seconds - typing stalled!

[BJEvS]

This is a real "trip" to describe! There is a persistent flicker/flash of all screens which when in the "off" canot type, or us the mouse or keyboard input. 2-3 second intervals - type/no type. And nothing stops or halts it.

EX. The main app CHROME screen + all popups screens, etc. flicker/flash at the boarders, and screen control box (top right every screen where the X red app close box shows). The box/boarders flicker off/on every few seconds - like the red X background color flashes back grey; then back to red;...). I cannot type on omnibar, search bars, make the cursor work... total lose of screen control and keyboard input while the flicker/flash occurs in the washout color state. Then capability comes back and can type a few characters, then capability stops. This keeps up : off/on state 2-3 second in sequence continually. Nothing but going back to a random System Restore Point circumvents this problem. That regresses all work after the old restore point. And not always the same one works either?????

Does not seem to occur in Safe Mode, but being a reduced system state, maybe it's just more dormant.
I even went as far as killing all processes with Task Manager until only CRSS and task manager and login resident processes in system. A unknown to HP process called ReStart.exe flashed in and out of the TM process list with every flicker. It is described as "Restart for HP" in the description field on the TM process screen. And when I killed the TM process, all that I saw was the desktop theme and cursor pointer on the laptop screen - no START menu, other taskbar icons - nothing. And the flickering still happened with the hour glass icon!!!

Three HP calls. None at HP knew what this ReStart.exe is and Googe search, well it was no help either (F-Secure ??? old antivirus jive). Five (5) major antivirus product full scans find no threats. Reloaded Graphics drivers. Did all HP hardware runs in BOOT diagnostic mode - all passed. A tech at Webroot saw it with remote session support, as did a HP tech with Logmein123.

All tech support "heavies" finally say clear my hard drive and reload Windows and HP software like when I got it from the store. Smash a fly with a sledgehammer!

I'll do whatever not to have to start from scratch with no guarantee's it's not a freak hardware deal (I know - why not Safe Mode failure?!)

Failed 2 months now. Searched weeks and many long days (I'm at a Restore Point now that stopped it). If the Probook crashes, I may not be able to circumvent. Soon must start from purchase day 1. No $$$ to buy another machine.

Is anyone curious? Know the textual description is confusing - got to see it!

Thanks for any feedback.

PS. New to this forum, so please forgive my usage faults until I get familiar with how reponses viewed/known.

Win 7 PRO 64-bit sp1 : CHROME : & HP Probook 4530s

 

[VistaKing]

Welcome to SevenForums

Run the tool below

Click here DDS

:ar: Click on Download Now button

:ar: When the download is complete . Drag the DDS program from the Downloads folder to your Desktop

:ar: Double click the DDS icon on the Desktop then click the Run button to run the tool.

:ar: Place a check next to attach.txt and click Start . When done, DDS will open two logs

• DDS.txt
• Attach.txt

:ar: Save two logs onto your desktop and upload them with your reply

   Note

Don't zip the Attach.txt file

 

[BJEvS]

Howdy Vista King, and thanks for the hello and feedback.

Not sure if protocol allows phone calls, but be glad to give you mine as I have diabetes with severe neuropathy pain and typing is a real blister. Very clumsy. I never learned more than the old "2 finger" type anyway.

I'll do this, but understand do run when the problem exists will require I chance never having a good Restore Point to go back to (unless I can keep regressing with other RP's until I find the good one that circumvents the flicker), and I'm SOL for good. I presume the logs will be useless if the problem is not occurring, and you're not just looking for strange drivers, etc.?!

I'll have to first, before I try to get the logs you want to see, set up my new installs of Win 7 PRO 64 bit, and HP ProBook new load - just as if I had a hard drive failure and must replace it all to factory new. There is no local friend's help, no backup System Image, no alternate PC's (except the library), or funds to get help to do this, so I am on my own, like the moon.

BJEvS

 

[Layback Bear]

Your specs show this.
Antivirus MS Security Essentials -or- Webroot Secure Anywhere COMPLETE
------------------
I would recommend only installing Microsoft Security Essentials.

 

[BJEvS]

Thank you, but it's just that I'm giving Webroot a trial. Have MS SE turned off while Webroot is on. Wish that was the problem.

Update:

After many failures of Webroot's Security Keycode during trial, I've come to the conclusion you meant NOT to use Webroot, as opposed to running concurrent 2 diff. antivirus products. I do not now use Webroot.

 

[BJEvS]

Files from DDS

Hi VistaKing

Have to make this short as flicker started in mid-session - first time this happened - 5 minutes before timestamp on reports sent. Always before only on restart of ProBook!!!

Typing near impossible.

Hope I get reports to you - have to read how in 7forums tutorial. Can you tell me if you got them.

Now I hope to reboot and stop flicker. Too bad we can't do Remote Session.

BTW started when chose "HP Internet Sharing Manager" in Control Panel.

BJEvS

 

[VistaKing]

I apologize for the late reply . Run RogueKiller

<==== Download Link


<==== Download Link

:ar: Click on one of the links above that goes with your Windows 7 bit versions

:ar: Save to the Desktop.

:ar: Close all windows and browsers

:ar: Right click on

and choose

:ar: Press: SCAN

:ar: provide the RKreport.txt (Mode: Scan) in your reply.

 

[BJEvS]

That's perfectly OK. Like I said, I just wanted to be sure we were communicating. I guess forum users are supposed to presume the correspondence is going to the right person by default. Still wish they'd just put a little message like "Sent to VistaKing" in my case, or a "Send to:" box. But now I know if I open the link, and see your response,the message is for sure going to you, and not just a post in the pool.

That being said, do you want me to wait to run the RougeKiller when the flickering returns, or now, when the laptop seems to be stable - no flicker?

 

[VistaKing]

No Flicker . It could even mean a bad video do you have an external monitor you could test this on ?

 

[BJEvS]

Yes. I can try that. Good thought. Now I have to wait until I get it it fail again, which is very fickle. Someone else thought it might be the cable link to the monitor. It's a HP ProBook 4530s. Trouble with hardware problems is they take eternal meters & other such ab stuff, and I have zero funds for any help.

If/no when it flickers again, I'll hookup the other monitor on the secondary port. Never did this so I guess just plug it in, and hope it doesn't do the flicker, while the primary connected laptop monitor does. Then problem can at least it can be narrowed.

Like I suspected a month ago, it's hardware. But let the monitor possibility fall to the bottom with all else to do - "forest and the tree" dilemma.

I can still run the RogueKiller for grins. Unless you want to write, I'm going to be weeks into more prominent issues. But I promise to write about the results of the RK and monitor when experiment time is available, or a really bad flicker run forces me to act now.

Thanks.

 

[VistaKing]

If you get flickering on the secondary monitor its your video card if not then its your laptops LCD screen . Which will need to be replaced .

 

[BJEvS]

Well, it must be my video card because the second monitor is flickering too. Not to arrogantly question your advise, but what experience leads you to believe it is the video card? How can it be checked? Is there no on-board diagnostic in the HP boot? Must I bring the laptop to a HP authorized support center? What can I do before buying a new video card?

I'd be upset to buy a new video card and still have the problem. Even given with my tech logic & opening up the ProBook to swap out the video card.

Thank you for your feedback.

 

[VistaKing]

Not that easy on some laptops. To replace a video on a laptop is replacing the motherboard. If you have warranty Id open an RMA and have them replace the motherboard but before you do that back up your stuff just incase they do wipe your hard drive in some cases they do that .

 

[BJEvS]

Screen flicker solved by self.

Sorry to respondents this took so long. Solved it Thanksgiving 2013, but put the forum into "Dark Space". VistaKing, this if to you as well. Not a video card. HP replaced my motherboard.

Just got lucky, with a dash of old school tech work. Started killing services the binary search method - half turned on - half turned off. Still a problem? Half of those half left on, turned off. Keep this up until you are down to two choices.

As it turns out it is a driver from (Realtek) RtlISMServ in System Configuration's SERVICES tab. Stopped it and the screen flicker stopped. Never have turned it back on (except to test my presumption), and it apparently is of no use to me. Refers to Wireless WAN and I am a single use home environment; might even be a malware?! Tried to contact RealTek in Taiwan, but language barrier got me zip. HP who provides this product had no clue either. At this point I don't care much. Had to move on.

Contact me if you want any more info.

Again sorry for the lengthy delay.

BJEvS

PS. Whoops - just saw VistaKing was banned. Oh well hope this helps others looking for a screen flicker. It was 6 months of dead ends, system restores, and 2 days from a complete reinstall of Windows, and/or HP!!!