Flickering and blinking laptop screen

barndoor · 19 Mar 2017

I'm using a laptop with Windows 10 and an Intel HD Graphics 4600 display adaptor. A few days ago I attached a Dell D3000 dock to my laptop, and almost immediately my laptop screen started to flicker and repeatedly blink off and on again. I disconnected the dock, which did not resolve the problem, and since then I've tried various techniques to fix the problem, but none of them have worked. In order, this comprised of:

attempting system restore - but all five restore points were corrupted (?!);
updating the driver for the Intel display adaptor;
rolling back the driver for the Intel display adaptor;
uninstalling the driver for the Intel display adaptor;
downloading Windows 10 from the Microsoft site and re-installing it.

The problem has persisted even when I disconnected everything from my laptop, took it to my workplace, and switched it on there (using its battery for power); so the following possible reasons can be ruled out: its location in my house, any attached peripherals, a faulty power cable.

I am certain the problem is in some way connected to the Intel HD Graphics 4600 display adaptor:

after I completely uninstalled it - which reverted the graphics card to the standard Microsoft one - the screen didn't flicker or blink once afterwards (I left the laptop switched on for about an hour without incident, whereas previously I would experience as many as ten 'events' a minute). This rules out a possible damaged connection between the body of the laptop and its screen. However, when Windows auto-installs updates it reinstates the Intel one...
...and when the laptop is switched on the screen flickers and repeatedly blinks off and on again...
...although, strangely, connecting an external monitor to the laptop (HDMI to HDMI) results in neither the laptop screen nor the external monitor flickering or blinking. The problem returns when I disconnect the HDMI cable from the HDMI port on the laptop.

I now have the inescapable feeling that when I attached the dock I somehow fried the Intel display adaptor, and it isn't possible to fix it: I have read in the forums that replacing the graphics card on a laptop is well-nigh impossible. But if anyone else can suggest an approach I haven't yet tried I'd be very receptive!

As an aside, I contacted the retailer and they have sent me all of the drivers that are available for my system, but I don't know how to install them.

Caledon Ken · 19 Mar 2017

Hi barndoor. Welcome to the TenForums @barndoor

I think I would start with unplugging, removing battery, holding power switch down for 25 seconds, let sit for five minutes. The goal is to reset everything. This can work for a lot of issues.

Reassemble, disconnecting any USB devices and booting. If problem persists I would move on to BIOS.

Plenty of BIOS's have a "Load Defaults" or something to that effect. My preference would be to remove the CMOS battery (or like device) although I can't find manual to say how involved that would be.

Not sure if you customized anything in BIOS or if your vendor did, so before I did either I would document current settings. A lot of devices run on defaults but you want to know how to get back to where you were.

As a safety step I would also have my data securely backed up. Likely won't need but you never know.

As a plan B (really a plan A) for restore points please check out Macrium Reflect. Free, reliable and recommended. There is a tutorial within forum.

Ken

barndoor · 20 Mar 2017

Thanks for taking the time to post a response to my query, Ken. I received a response from the retailer, who advised me that as I had tried everything - even to the level of reinstalling the OS - they feel there is nothing that can be done, and that it is more than likely a hardware issue. Kind of what I didn't want to read, but there you go.

I've had a look at Macrium Reflect, looks promising - good recommendation.

bd

Caledon Ken · 20 Mar 2017

Did you reset BIOS?

barndoor · 20 Mar 2017

I hadn't, as I inititially thought it would be a bit beyond my skillset.

But then I found 3 Ways to Reset Your BIOS - wikiHow, and it looks fairly straightforward. When I bought my laptop its OS was Windows 8.1, would it revert it to that, though?

Caledon Ken · 20 Mar 2017

Nope. If you are in your BIOS it won't resurrect 8.x

Some machines have a factory recovery partition which in your case may still contain 8.x. That you invoke differently from entering BIOS.

The BIOS loads before OS.

I would document current settings.

Ken

bro67 · 20 Mar 2017

Did you follow Dell's instructions? Dell D3000 USB 3.0 Dock Installation Guide | Dell US Also the unit can be incompatible with your laptop and has nothing to do with Windows. The other is what you have the graphics settings set at that may be causing the problems with the monitor, along with not enough voltage for that hub. Wireless and USB dock troubleshooting (Dell D3000, Dell 5000 and Targus USB Docks) | Dell US

It has a known issue with Display Link, which a lot of laptops are incompatible with.

bro67 · 20 Mar 2017

Caledon Ken said:

Did you reset BIOS?

I am going with not enough power with the USB for that device is why they are getting those issues. It requires the power adapter plugged in. Also with some off brand laptops, they do not handle video through USB too well. It is also manufactured by Targus, just branded with Dell's name. Targus products have been going downhill for quite some time now. Not like they were when Targus actually cared about the product that consumers were buying.

ArazelEternal · 20 Mar 2017

Im going to go with some sort of hardware failure. The fact that the issue persisted after not only reinstalling drivers but after reinstalling Windows as well is pretty telling. That, on top of the fact that the issue seems to come back when the drivers are reinstalled. Without the drivers the issue doesnt show up because the hardware is only working at a basic level. With the drivers, all the features and power of the hardware become available so the issues with then show up.

Fixing the graphics hardware in that laptop would be next to impossible. The Intel HD Graphics are integrated right into the CPU so it would take a replacement of that CPU to do it. How old is the laptop? Is it still under warranty?

bro67 · 21 Mar 2017

ArazelEternal said:

Im going to go with some sort of hardware failure. The fact that the issue persisted after not only reinstalling drivers but after reinstalling Windows as well is pretty telling. That, on top of the fact that the issue seems to come back when the drivers are reinstalled. Without the drivers the issue doesnt show up because the hardware is only working at a basic level. With the drivers, all the features and power of the hardware become available so the issues with then show up.
Fixing the graphics hardware in that laptop would be next to impossible. The Intel HD Graphics are integrated right into the CPU so it would take a replacement of that CPU to do it. How old is the laptop? Is it still under warranty?

The hardware failure is using an incompatible device not their computer. If the computer is not working right and does not use DisplayLink, they need to stop using that hub. There really is no need for it if all that they want to do is expand USB ports. If they only have USB 2.0, it will not work with that hub, since it is doing Ethernet, Display, USB, Supplying power.