PDA

View Full Version : Sporadic problem. Flickering screen. Window redraws.


davision
07-19-2008, 09:46 PM
I have a Vista computer that's begun to "freak out" for the lack of a better term on a sporadic basis. I'd say it happens about once a day and is only fixed by rebooting Windows.

The symptoms are a little hard to describe but basically the screen starts to flicker and as you move the mouse the open app windows are redrawn frenetically and somewhat randomly all around the screen. Also, the taskbar usually jumps to the top of the screen. Strangely, right-clicking the task buttons up at the top of the screen sometimes lets me get a menu for closing the apps (which is what I do so I can save any open files prior to rebooting). Usually the flickering will stop here and there so I can close down some apps. If I use Windows+D to go to the desktop sometimes the flickering settles down. I was thinking that this problem had something to do with the video card, but there's one command that always stablizes the screen perfectly. Ctrl-Alt-Delete -- hitting that and Vista goes to that full-screen menu -- always works. However if I start Task Manager, I have to wrestle with the flickering again as I try to shutdown apps.

Can anyone shed any light onto what might be causing this? There's no rhyme or reason to it and I can't think of any particular reproducible action that causes it.

devil22
07-19-2008, 09:53 PM
Not sure, but I'd try:

1. change video drivers
2. check the event log for any errors
3. test the ram

Try those then report back.