Blinking/Flashing Icons on Desktop PC


  1. Posts : 128
    Windows 10 Home x64 vers. 21H1; Build 19043.1889
       #1

    Blinking/Flashing Icons on Desktop PC


    Hi:

    I am experiencing blinking/flashing of several icons that are located on my Win10-64 Pro desktop PC's screen and icons that are pinned to within the taskbar. The PC is a DELL XPS 8700 desktop. I think my PC has Windows 10 version 1803 installed on 5/19/2018, and am getting updates automatically from Microsoft.

    Observations:
    When booting the PC, after the login screen, it is taking an unusual amount of time to load the "image" part of the desktop icons; the filenames in text appear first and quickly, and then a delay occurs before the icon images are "painted" onto the monitor's screen. I also noticed that while having file manager opened, the same file names blink in the directory structure pane, at the far left. Just now noticed, as I am writing this, that while using Internet Explorer browser, blinking has stopped, taskbar icons have disappeared and replaced with blank, box outlines, no response when clicking on a desktop icon; this happened once before and I had to reboot PC to get control of taskbar back.

    What I have tried thus far and results:

    1. I ran the inbuilt DELL diagnostics, and all hardware passed the "thorough" tests.
    2. I followed instructions given in this YouTube video: Windows 10 - How to Fix Screen Flashing and Flickering Issue - YouTube, and used msconfig to locate and uncheck the boxes for (1) WindowsErrorReporting and (2) ProblemsReportandSolutions. I also used this video's instructions to uninstall iCloud. The result of doing that is, possibly, a slow down in the blinking rate of icons within the taskbar and on the desktop, but the flashing continues. This was done during Windows normal mode (while icons were blinking); I have yet to attempt these same steps while in Windows Safe Mode.
    3. I then followed instructions given in this YouTube video: Disable Flashing Taskbar buttons or icons on Windows 10 taskbar - YouTube, and used regedit to locate (1) ForegroundFlashCount and (2) ForegroundLockTimeout and reset each of those to 0 (zero). The result of doing that is no improvement/change in the flashing icons.
    4. I also used Windows Restore to go back to 4 OCT 2018. That has not helped, either.


    I think there was an automatic windows update done on my PC, overnight sometime after 5th OCT. I would like to know how to go about identifying and undoing the last Windows update? and how to disallow automatic updates from Microsoft?

    I do not know what to do next. Any help would be appreciated.

    TNX.

    VinceB.


    Last edited by VinceB; 13 Oct 2018 at 10:44.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 128
    Windows 10 Home x64 vers. 21H1; Build 19043.1889
    Thread Starter
       #2

    After some , I finally managed to get to WIN10 into Windows Safe Mode with networking. I was recalling previous OS methods until looking up info for WIN 10.

    Icons are not flashing while in safe mode with networking. What does that prove in regard to my flashing icon problem?

    I still do not know the cause of this problem.

    Could it be that an update to Acrobat DC Reader (since OCT 4th) is causing the problem? I say that because when doing the Restore, I saw that Acrobat DC Reader was listed as being affected by the restore process.

    Time for a break!

    VinceB.

    Last edited by VinceB; 12 Oct 2018 at 08:57.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,471
    Win10 Home x64 - 1809
       #3

    Hey VinceB,
    It might be a Windows Search/Indexing issue ...
    1. Boot to normal desktop
    2. Go to Windows Services > Scroll Down to Windows Search
    3. Right Click on Windows Search > Properties > Set Startup Type Manual > Click Apply > Click Stop > OK
    4. Windows Search should NOT be running now
    5. See if your desktop icons and taskbar stop flashing
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 128
    Windows 10 Home x64 vers. 21H1; Build 19043.1889
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Eagle51 said:
    Hey VinceB,
    It might be a Windows Search/Indexing issue ...
    1. Boot to normal desktop
    2. Go to Windows Services > Scroll Down to Windows Search
    3. Right Click on Windows Search > Properties > Set Startup Type Manual > Click Apply > Click Stop > OK
    4. Windows Search should NOT be running now
    5. See if your desktop icons and taskbar stop flashing

    TNX Eagle51:

    When you say go to Windows Services, I presume that you mean do that by use of msconfig ? Is a Restart required after stopping Windows Search?

    Do you think that since Safe Mode does not have flashing icons, I should then turn back on those two services that I had unchecked? and undo the regedit attempt?

    I have since done a System File Check (SFC) which indicated no problems were found, FWIW.

    TNX again. I will give your suggestion a try when I have more time to spend in front of this PC. Now, going bowling!

    VinceB.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,471
    Win10 Home x64 - 1809
       #5

    When you say go to Windows Services, I presume that you mean do that by use of msconfig ? Is a Restart required after stopping Windows Search?
    No, I meant Windows Services (Start > Administrative Tools > Services), but disabling the Windows Search in msconfig basically accomplishes the same thing. If it's a Windows Search/Indexing issue that's causing the blinking icons and taskbar, then when you stop/disable the Window Search the blinking will stop and you probably need to rebuild the search index.

    When you stop/disable Windows Search, does the blinking icons and taskbar stop ?

    IF yes, then see this tutorial - Rebuild Search Index in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials

    Note: You need to make sure that Windows Search startup type is set to manual, before doing the index repair (it can't be disabled). Use Windows Services to check it.

    Do you think that since Safe Mode does not have flashing icons, I should then turn back on those two services that I had unchecked? and undo the regedit attempt?
    Yea, probably so ... since you say they didn't help. I don't think they have anything to do with the issue ... but don't quote me on that.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 128
    Windows 10 Home x64 vers. 21H1; Build 19043.1889
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Eagle51 said:
    No, I meant Windows Services (Start > Administrative Tools > Services), but disabling the Windows Search in msconfig basically accomplishes the same thing. If it's a Windows Search/Indexing issue that's causing the blinking icons and taskbar, then when you stop/disable the Window Search the blinking will stop and you probably need to rebuild the search index.
    When you stop/disable Windows Search, does the blinking icons and taskbar stop ?
    IF yes, then see this tutorial - Rebuild Search Index in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials
    Note: You need to make sure that Windows Search startup type is set to manual, before doing the index repair (it can't be disabled). Use Windows Services to check it.
    Yea, probably so ... since you say they didn't help. I don't think they have anything to do with the issue ... but don't quote me on that.
    I am still having trouble finding Windows Services.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 128
    Windows 10 Home x64 vers. 21H1; Build 19043.1889
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Eagle51 said:
    No, I meant Windows Services (Start > Administrative Tools > Services), but disabling the Windows Search in msconfig basically accomplishes the same thing. If it's a Windows Search/Indexing issue that's causing the blinking icons and taskbar, then when you stop/disable the Window Search the blinking will stop and you probably need to rebuild the search index.

    <snip>Note: You need to make sure that Windows Search startup type is set to manual, before doing the index repair (it can't be disabled). Use Windows Services to check it.
    <snip>
    OKay, I found it and have Stopped the Windows Search service (i.e., no longer listed with "Running" within the Status column). Will reboot now, and see if it has helped.

    On rebooting, the flashing continues. So, I have restarted the Windows Search service and changed back to Automatic (delayed).

    (While there, I placed a stop action on the Adobe Acrobat Update service.)

    Thank you Eagle for your assistance; if you have any other ideas, please let me know.
    Last edited by VinceB; 13 Oct 2018 at 10:34.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,471
    Win10 Home x64 - 1809
       #8

    OKay, I found it and have Stopped the Windows Search service (i.e., no longer listed with "Running" within the Status column). Will reboot now, and see if it has helped.
    On rebooting, the flashing continues. So, I have restarted the Windows Search service and changed back to Automatic (delayed).
    Ok, if you're sure the Windows Search was NOT running after you rebooted, then It's probably not a Search/Index issue and I'm not sure what the issue is, sorry
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 128
    Windows 10 Home x64 vers. 21H1; Build 19043.1889
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Eagle51 said:
    Ok, if you're sure the Windows Search was NOT running after you rebooted, then It's probably not a Search/Index issue and I'm not sure what the issue is, sorry

    I will try to recheck that Windows Search is not running and reboot PC.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 128
    Windows 10 Home x64 vers. 21H1; Build 19043.1889
    Thread Starter
       #10


    Today I stumbled onto something that leads me elsewhere to a different problem.

    What I observed today is that a USB3.0 (EXAR) thumb drive was not being recognized by my PC. After removing that USB drive, the icon blinking stopped. Two reboots, with that thumb drive disconnected from PC, resulted in no further icon blinking. However, one icon located in the taskbar, for Edge browser, remains as a dark box with a blue line at the bottom. I can live with that..... I will unpin from taskbar and then see what happens next.



    Thank you to all that have read replied to this thread..... I will start a new thread associated with that USB thumb drive.

    Regards,
    VinceB.




      My Computer


 

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