Windows 7 screen flicker

Question

When running outlook 2007, Firefox (3.5.6 and 3.5.7), on windows 7 home prem, i get a very fast flicker on the screen. It flashes the desktop very briefly. This happen typically when I am browsing  or doing something. I also run Phoenix (a flight simulator) and then it happens more ofetn say 1 x 20 sec. I have been able to see that in the top menu bar i see "Not Responding" for maybe a 10th of a second.

I also get this in IE8. Ihad a nvida 9500GT and have exchanged this for a ATI radeon HD4670, and still have the same problem. It seems tobe app independent.

Answer 1

Hi Robpols,

Have you updated the drivers for the display adapters for your computer?

Check for the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website and download them and check if it works fine.

This also might happen if any of the background programs is conflicting with the smooth running of your computer. To help troubleshoot error messages and other issues, you can start Windows Vista by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This kind of startup is known as a "clean boot." A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts.

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The steps to be performed in clean boot are given below:

1. Log on to the computer by using an account that has administrator rights
2. Click Start, type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER to start the System Configuration Utility.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type your password, or click Continue

3. On the General tab, click Selective Startup, and then click to clear the Load startup items check box. (The Use Original Boot.ini check box is unavailable.)
4. On the Services tab, click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box, and then click Disable all

Note: Following this step lets Microsoft services continue to run. These services include Networking, Plug and Play, Event Logging, Error Reporting, and other services. If you disable these services, you may permanently delete all restore points. Do not do this if you want to use the System Restore utility together with existing restore points

Once you boot to the desktop check if the issue persists, follow the steps given in the article and figure out which of the program is causing the issue.

For further information on clean boot please follow the below given link:

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps to reset the computer to start as usual:

1. Click start, type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type your password, or click Continue.

2. On the General tab, click the Normal Startup option, and then click OK.
3. When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Restart

 For more details follow the link given below.

Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Update-a-driver-for-hardware-that-isnt-working-properly

Hope this information is helpful.

Amrita M

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Answer 2

I turned off and deleted the Microsoft RSS feeds in the email folder and it went away

Answer 3

Thank you so much Jonathan!  I was having a similar problem and it was driving me absolutely crazy.  When running Mozilla Firefox with certain websites, my task bar would flicker constantly and sometimes the title bar too.  I have a new computer with Windows 7, and made sure everything was up to date (flash player, java, etc).  I tried disabling all add-ons without any relief.  But then I found your suggestion and it worked!  Thanks.

Answer 4

I was having a similar issue, and I don't know if it's too late to help, but here's my story:

(Win7, ati gpu, intel dual core)

After I installed a PS2 emulator and ran it, I started getting screen flashes, with windows showing "Not Responding" for split seconds. It would flash other windows, or the desktop, with no pattern.

I found removing icons from my desktop helped allieviate issues when dragging windows around. After much searching, I found someone mention "Windows Desktop Manager."

I disabled it, and all the issues have stopped. The PS2 emulator works perfectly now too.

Instructions:

1. Click Start .

2. In the Start Search textbox type Services.msc If prompted by the UAC, provide a password or confirmation. Click Continue .

3. Scroll down until you locate the entry that is labeled Desktop Window Manager Session Manager.
4. Right-Click on this service. Select Stop from the context menu.
5. Right Click once again on the entry. Select Propertiesfrom the context menu.
6. Go to the “General Tab ” to change the start up type to Disabled. Click OK .

Answer 5

JHi there,

I've recently had the same issue, (flashing screen using outlook 2007 and windows 7 os), especially when I try to attach a document to an email. I can write the email but when I go to attach a file the system appears to have a fit and the attachment pop up flashes very quickly and becomes unresponsive. The only option to resume windows is to use task manager and close the outlook.exe process.

I've looked on a number of forums and not really found one single cause or resolution other than running MS Outlook 2007 as an administrator and in a previous operating system, Vista.

This can be done by clicking on the Start button and finding MS Outlook 2007, before opening the program right click on outlook and go to properties. A window open and there is a tab at the top titled 'Compatibility'. Click on the tab and here you have the option to run outlook in previous os versions. Click run as and select Vista from the drop down list, I also selected to run the program as Administrator (tick box at the bottom o this part of the same window) and this appears to have resolved my problem.