Flickering windows, when Online... Games and Net Browsers

[Nyarlathotep]

So a week ago I had a virus issue. After getting that dealt with, I am left with an odd problem of my window flickering.

If I have the internet browser open; whether it be IE, Firefox, or Chrome... the window the browser is in will flicker from time to time.

While playing Grand Theft Auto Online; the screen flickers.

While logged into Second Life, the SL Viewer Window will flicker.

With these latter two it is much more obvious and incessant; rendering those application nearly unusable at times.... while with the browser window it seems to only do it while a page it loading.

On occassion, and this is most obvious with the Second Life Viewer; the program icon at the bottom on the task bar, will jump 1 space to the right, when the window flickers... then slide back into place.

For reference... I have the following.

Malwarebytes
Emisoft Anti Malware
SuperantiSpyware
TDSSKiller
ESET Online Scanner
Microsoft Security Essentials

It is rare that I get a virus... and with this latest, I used each of those programs repeatedly, both in Safe Mode and normal mode; repeatedly... until they each came back with zero results.

They still, report zero results... so, clean system... or I am presuming.

This flickering issue is telling me that the Virus might have done some damage somewhere, but after a week of trying to figure it out, I'm completely stumped.

I've removed, and reinstalled Flash.

I've removed and reinstalled Video Drivers (using Drive Sweeper to ensure full removal and clean install)...

I've disabled Windows Aero (after reading someone posting on Bleeping Computer a few months ago the exact same problem as I, and that disabled Aero resolved it) ...

...and each of these has done nothing to fix the issue for me.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Ok I think its a problem with DWM.exe

Desktop Windows Manager, which yes I know is an integrated part of Windows; which ironically control things like Windows Aero. But, I read previously that Windows Aero could be a cause of the problem after reading about someone else who had the exact same problem, and disabling Aero resolved it. But I tried that, as previously stated... and it did not fix it for me.

Yet, I am thinking there is still a problem with DWM.exe

Ok, for example... I load up the Second Life Viewer, not even logged into SL, just with the Viewer open and sitting on its login screen, and then I load up the Task Manager and look at the list or running Processes while the Second Life Viewer is open and flickering.

Each time there is a flicker, DWM.exe jumps to a different spot on the list of running processes; like constant, non stop.. every second, the Second Life Viewer flickers, and DWM.exe jumps.

Closing the SL Viewer, and DWM.exe does not do a thing on the processes list.

With a Web Browser open like Firefox or Chrome, DWM.exe will occasionally jump around on the list as the Web Browser flickers.... but it does not seem as constant as it does with Second Life is open.

With the web browser closed... with NO "online" applications open... DWM.exe does not do a thing on the processes list.

So researching "issues and problems with dwm.exe" brought me to the following:
Random crash of dwm.exe - Microsoft Community

Reading the replies, it suggested disabling Aero, which I did and then suggested that if that does not work then to try a Clean Boot of Windows.

So I tried the clean boot as instructed via the link provided on that page.

The problem persists; even with all the startup services disabled...

At this point, I do not know what else to do other then run a Repair Installation of Windows...

Unless, someone else has other suggestions?

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Ok I can now confirm with certainty that the problem is DWM.exe.

Here is what I did...

start>run>services.msc ... disabled Desktop Windows Manager, and then STOPPED Service.

The flickering problem immediately stopped.

Its a temporary fix though, as I can only guess that dwm.exe became corrupted somehow from the virus last week...

I've used Windows Aero features constantly before now without any problems.... soooo, why is there a problem with it now, and how do I fix it?