Screen flickers & then explorer closes

On a Dell Vostro 3550 laptop, there were a few issues with Windows 7, so I erased the drive, did a fresh install of Windows 7 Pro, downloaded and installed all of the drivers from Dell. Then did a Windows 10 upgrade. When Windows 10 would first boot, it kept giving a 0x error. I did all of the Windows 10 updates and that error went away. But it would boot to a black screen. I plugged an external monitor into the laptop and updated the BIOS to A12 and I have video on the laptop again. The main problem I have now is every minute or so, the screen will flicker and explorer restarts. As soon as it flickers, the task bar is gone for a second and then reappears. I have uninstalled the video and sound drivers but this didn't change anything. Is there something else to try to get Windows 10 to work correctly on this laptop? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Your Dell vostro 3350 has Intel HD 3000 and a AMD 6000 m series gpu.
Both these gpu needs so called Legacy drivers.
But the problem is probably that your laptop has Dell has customized Dell drivers. And that probably Dell has no windows 10 "legacy"drivers avaliable.
What versions of your Gpu drivers is installed on your laptop.

Maybe the customized windows 8.1 Dell drivers for your laptop will work.

I had downloaded the newest one that was on Dell's web page (for 8.1 I think) but I did all of the Windows updates in Windows 10 and it showed it was downloading an update for the video driver.

buddyclm said:

I had downloaded the newest one that was on Dell's web page (for 8.1 I think) but I did all of the Windows updates in Windows 10 and it showed it was downloading an update for the video driver.

Then windows has probably installed the latest "generic" intel driver and that could be the source of your problem.

Could you look in Device manager for the exact version that is installed now.

buddyclm said:

I had downloaded the newest one that was on Dell's web page (for 8.1 I think) but I did all of the Windows updates in Windows 10 and it showed it was downloading an update for the video driver.

Then windows has probably installed the latest "generic" Intel driver and this could be the source of your problem.
What version number do you have in Device Manager.
Rollback or reinstall the latest Dell driver.

If you want to use your own drivers on your system use this tutorial
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...dows-10-a.html
.

the current video driver that is on the laptop is:
Driver Provider: Intel Corporation
Driver Date: 5-27-15
Driver Version: 9.17.10.4229

Yes this is a generic Intel driver for windows 7/8 see https://downloadcenter.intel.com/dow...ows-7-8-64-bit
But like a said you will need a customized Dell driver.

Note: These software drivers are generic versions and can be used for general purposes. However, computer original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) may have altered the features, incorporated customizations, or made other changes to the software or software packaging they provide. To avoid any potential installation incompatibilities on your OEM system, Intel recommends that you check with your OEM and use the software provided by your system manufacturer. Intel and the computer original equipment manufacturer (OEM) may not provide technical support for some or all issues that could arise from the usage of this generic version of software drivers.

All of the Intel drivers on Dell's web page for this laptop are only for Windows 7/8, if they don't update for Windows 10 am I not going to be able to use Windows 10 on the laptop?

buddyclm said:

All of the Intel drivers on Dell's web page for this laptop are only for Windows 7/8, if they don't update for Windows 10 am I not going to be able to use Windows 10 on the laptop?

Yes, it seems running windows 10 on your laptop will be a difficult matter.

I found this on the Dell website and your Dell Vostro 3550 laptop will get no support for windows 10

Vostro Notebook

The table below lists Dell Vostro notebook computers that have been tested for upgrade to Windows 10 and tested for Windows 10 November update. If your computer model is not listed, Dell is not testing the device, drivers have not been updated for that model, and Dell does not recommended an upgrade to Windows 10. If you wish to proceed with an upgrade to Windows 10 on an untested system, Microsoft provides information and support for upgrade through their upgrade website.

Model
Vostro 2420
Vostro 2421
Vostro 2520
Vostro 2521
Vostro 3360
Vostro N3445
Vostro N3446 *
Vostro N3449
Vostro 3458
Vostro 3460
Vostro 3546 *
Vostro 3549
Vostro 3558
Vostro 3560
Vostro 5460
Vostro 5470
Vostro 5480

And Intel also has no support in windows 10 for your Intel 2d generation with hd 3000 and will not release a windows 10 driver.

What you could try is remove/uninstall this latest "generic" Intel driver and install the latest Dell driver http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/...drivers?rvps=y
And if this one will work on your windows 10 system. Disable the automatic device driver installation to prevent Windows Update to install another driver again. Use the tutorial as posted a few post above.

buddyclm said:

On a Dell Vostro 3550 laptop, there were a few issues with Windows 7, so I erased the drive, did a fresh install of Windows 7 Pro, downloaded and installed all of the drivers from Dell. Then did a Windows 10 upgrade. When Windows 10 would first boot, it kept giving a 0x error. I did all of the Windows 10 updates and that error went away. But it would boot to a black screen. I plugged an external monitor into the laptop and updated the BIOS to A12 and I have video on the laptop again. The main problem I have now is every minute or so, the screen will flicker and explorer restarts. As soon as it flickers, the task bar is gone for a second and then reappears. I have uninstalled the video and sound drivers but this didn't change anything. Is there something else to try to get Windows 10 to work correctly on this laptop? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Try to remove the IDT Audio program. We've have couple of these roll into the shop lately with the same exact problems. This has been effective in resolving it. Incompatible program that craps out every 30-60 seconds.


So to run Windows 10 on these:
Upgrade to BIOS A12
Upgrade the video driver - may not be necessary but why not
Remove IDT Audio software (not audio driver, in Add or Remove Programs)


Oh and the unknown device that won't get installed in the beginning is the Free Fall Sensor.