Program windows flickering

[Hotfuzz56]

Hey guys, about a week a problem started in which program windows (for example Teamspeak, device manager or the "Personalization" screen) will flicker. By "flicker" I mean that text and icons inside these windows will disappear and instantly disappear at short intervals.

So far I've tried:

• Running CCleaner
• Re installing Nvidia graphics drivers
• Monitoring temperatures (they are all normal)
• Checking the hard disk: no errors were found
• Updating all available drivers and windows updates

I should also mention that I was getting an issue with drop down menus about a week ago - the menus would often leave "ghosts" behind. I fixed this by turning off "fade in/out menu items" in the performance and appearance settings.

Restarting the PC often seems to fix the issue, but this becomes very tedious and i'd love a permenant solution to this problem.

Cheers,
Hotfuzz56

EDIT: Restarting the PC no longer fixes the issue.

 

[andrew129260]

A couple tests to try:

1.) Turn all visual effects off by adjusting for best performance. Then restart the PC. Turn the ones you want back on then.
2.) Replace your monitor cable
3.) Test with another monitor

 

[Hotfuzz56]

Thanks for the reply, the problem still persists with appearance set to best performance, even after a restart.

I forgot to mention in the OP that I'm using 3 monitors: the flickering problem occurs across all of them.

 

[Hotfuzz56]

Quick update- the problem isn't there in safe mode. This has led me to believe that a recently installed program is causing the issue. Ill update if if I make any progress.

 

[bigmck]

Try a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html to a date before you had the problem and let us know how it goes.

 

[Hotfuzz56]

It doesn't seem like there is any system restore points available for a time before this problem started to occur unfortunately. I've tried uninstalling some programs to no avail - I even uninstalled a .NET framework update that was installed 10 days ago but the problem was still there, so I reinstalled it. The only program left to uninstall would be "Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (x64) - 11.0.60610" but I believe that this was installed before the issue began to occur. Shall I try uninstalling it anyway?

 

[andrew129260]

Okay, software is not the issue here- it has to be the hardware.

The only software suggestion left is to calibrate color under the display settings in control panel.
Also try under display in control panel-screen resolution-advanced settings-monitor tab What is the screen refresh rate? Try turning it down or up and see if that helps.

But if it started happening right out of the blue like you stated, I really believe it to be a hardware issue.

I know you stated you have 3 monitors, could you try replacing the monitor cable (vga, dvi, hdmi) and have 1 monitor connected and see what happens?

 

[Hotfuzz56]

I've calibrated all 3 monitors and changed their refresh rates, the problem is still here I've also tried just using one of them with spare HDMI cable to no success.

As with it being a hardware issue: in safe mode there is no flickering so I don't think it could be to do with hardware. However, this problem started about 2 weeks after I installed a new GPU (GTX 780 Ti). Does safe mode use the GPU or integrated graphics? If it uses integrated graphics then I think it could be a GPU fault.

 

[Ranger4]

If the problem started just after you installed a new GPU, then that is certainly the likely cause. Have you installed all the correct drivers for it.
When running in safe mode the screen resolution is reduced to the old standard of 640 x 480 which is much less demanding on the GPU.

 

[Hotfuzz56]

I've made sure all drivers are up to date and in safe mode I've changed the resolution to 1080p and the flickering still doesn't occur.

 

[Ranger4]

If you still have the old GPU that you used before installing the new one, you could try installing that again, re do the drivers for it & see if that fixes the problem. If it does then your new GPU may be faulty & should be replaced under warranty.

 

[Hotfuzz56]

Just put the old GPU back in and the problem is still there. Im thinking its a software issue and since I've got no restore points I'm thinking I should just reinstall windows 7 on an SSD. I've been meaning to make the switch to SSD for some time and now seems like a good time to do so

That said I'm still open to ideas if anyone has any

Cheers,
Hotfuzz

 

[Hotfuzz56]

Quick update, reinstalled on an SSD and everything seems to be working fine. Some right click menus flicker when hovered over but nothing major.

If anyone else is having this issue it seems like its down to software- possibly a recent update, install or windows 7 file error. In my case, a fresh install worked.

Thanks,
Hotfuzz56

 

[Spitfire7]

I did a google search because I am now having the same problem since I updated my graphics card. I was running on a GTX 260 for 8 years just fine using a VGA/DVI PC to TV VGA working perfectly. Now I just installed a GTX 970 HDMI to my HDMI TV. The exactly issues you are talking about I am having. I have tried everything you did too except a full windows reinstall. I really don't want to do that. Is there another fix for this? I even RMA'ed my GPU right away since I thought something was wrong with it. Apparently not and the new card is doing the same thing. I have also found WMP acts really strange and automatically comes out of full screen mode and bottoms turn white. When I move the mouse over the button it will appear and flicker. Please help. We can't be the only ones having this issue.

 

[Hotfuzz56]

Sorry to hear you're having this issue - it's really annoying. I still don't know if it was a hardware or software issue. If it was hardware, then it was being caused by my old HDD. If it was software, it was probably the OS.

I've not had the problem since except one time when I installed Unity 3D Webplayer. After restarting to finish the install, I was getting the same problems again. I uninstalled it and everything was back to normal.

Hope you get this sorted, let me know if I can do anything else to help.

 

[Spitfire7]

Did you ever mess around with the HDMI cable? This is the first time I am using the HDMI and wondering if that could be the issue. If I am using my computer on my HD TV do I need a specific HDMI cable?

 

[Spitfire7]

I figured out the issue. The GTX970, 980s do not work well with EVGA's Precision X16 tool. This series of cards also doesn't work well with any Windows Media Player aftermarket codec. So try disabling or deleting your WMP codecs and uninstalling Precision X and everything will work perfectly fine. It did for me and these were the two things messing everything up.