Question Black screens spaced weeks apart ?

[harmony44]

I am having black screens for a few seconds issue on Windows 10 that I’ve seen many other posts about on Tom’s Hardware. My black screens happen very far apart from each other, the last one that happened was 4 weeks ago, and the most frequently they happened together was in February when one week, it happened every day (twice a day) for 4 days straight. I’m confused because everyone else’s black screens happen much more frequently, i.e. every 20 minutes or at least once a day. Mine used to happen around once a week or two weeks. I’ve already read maybe 10 threads on this site but still can’t figure out my problem – please help? I work in a technical field but I’m not a computer expert so apologies in advance if I do the specs wrong.

My PC Laptop is as follows:
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2 in 1, purchased around 2018
i7-8550U
NVIDIA GeForce MX130
Dell Inc. 0PRWJ1
Installed RAM 16Gb
Philips 325E1C 32" Super-Curved Frameless Monitor, Quad HD 2K, 123% sRGB, 75Hz FreeSync, VESA (2 of these)
Keyboard: Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Gaming Keyboard
Mouse: Logitech MX Master 3
OS: Windows 10

All Windows updates up to date
CPU Temperature 33 degrees Celsius
GPU Temperature – can provide if helpful, was having some issues with MSI Afterburner, I don’t usually game
All drivers are up to date
Monitors were 5 months old when problems started happening
Not a cables problem – unplugged them, plugged them back in, swapped them out with new ones, no behavior change
Had an IT expert check that my startup application settings are good

 

[Johnwmel]

What is Reliabilty Monitor showing? Upload an SS ( screenshot )
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/75294-view-reliability-history-windows-10-a.html

 

[harmony44]

Here are my two Reliability Monitor Reports, one for Days, the other for Weeks. 1. Feb through June 2021 and 2. Last 3 weeks. Sorry, I tried Image Upload but it wouldn't accept it from ImgBB. I thank you greatly for your time and help.

 

[Johnwmel]

1: Left or right click on the first 2 items. Post SS of any new pages.
https://ibb.co/Cb5rqny

2: If your browser or AV complain about Farbar, it is a false positive.
Please download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it onto your <b>Desktop.</b> If your default download location is not your <b>Desktop</b>, drag it out of it's location onto the <b>Desktop.</b>

Download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

Farbar Recovery Scan Tool, or FRST, is a portable application designed to run on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 in normal or safe mode to diagnose malware issues.

www.bleepingcomputer.com

If we have to run Farbar more than once, refer this SS.

https://imgur.com/yUxNw0j

View: http://i.imgur.com/yUxNw0j.gif

<b>Note:</b> You need to run the version compatible with your system. If you are not sure which version applies to your system download both of them and try to run them. Only one of them will run on your system, that will be the right version.
Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
Press Scan button.
It will make a log <b>(FRST.txt)</b> on the <b>Desktop</b>.
The first time the tool is run, it makes also another log <b>(Addition.txt)</b> on the <b>Desktop</b>.
The logs are large, upload them using this. No time delays/Captcha-I'm not a Robot/account/registration needed. Give us the links please.

Free file sharing without registration and size limits

Upload and share easily very large files with your friends. Registration is not required. Upload your files and send the retrieval link to your friends. This sharing service is FREE

www.fileconvoy.com

https://imgur.com/7UiiqWr

View: https://i.imgur.com/7UiiqWr.gif

https://imgur.com/6N1gfOj

View: https://i.imgur.com/6N1gfOj.gif

 

[harmony44]

Hi,
I am attaching 2 screen shots and 2 log files.
1st screenshot for ServiceHub.Power event: https://ibb.co/qFM1cfh; I used Cold Turkey to block Facebook and Instagram for productivity purposes.
2nd screenshot for Windows Biometric Service event: https://ibb.co/W6WcVZ2
You can retrieve both files for Farbar with this one link: http://www.fileconvoy.com/dfl.php?id=g1b55a5c40ae5cc751000356753226d79d74b12d669
Thank you for the help and your time greatly!

 

[Johnwmel]

Uninstall Cold Turkey using Geek & test.

Geek Uninstaller
https://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/Geek-Uninstaller.shtml

Geek Uninstaller 1.4.8.145 Free Download - FreewareFiles.com

GeekUninstaller - A fast, efficient, portable program uninstaller that includes a force removal feature for hard to remove software.

www.freewarefiles.com

http://www.freewarefiles.com/screenshot.php?programid=85466

Geek Uninstaller - the best FREE uninstaller

Efficient and Fast, Small and Portable. 100% Free

www.geekuninstaller.com

Just Double click on the program in Geek, that you want to uninstall. If it opens a web page, close the web page & then wait for Geek to present the 2nd step.

 

[harmony44]

Hi,
I uninstalled Cold Turkey using Geek Uninstall as you recommended. I don't think Cold Turkey was the main culprit though as many of my black screens happened before I installed Cold Turkey for the first time. Any other pointers for paths to go down?

 

[Johnwmel]

"I don't think Cold Turkey was the main culprit "
Fair enough.
https://s20.directupload.net/images/210625/9z3cp4yy.png

Next step, there will be more steps after this.
You have too many AV's installed, they are fighting each other. Use their uninstaller. I use Windows Defender.

How can I fully remove Norton Antivirus from my system?
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/kb20080710133834EN_EndUserProfile_en_us

How can I fully remove Norton Antivirus from my system?

I've been having various problems working with chat boards and other sites, and a couple of people recommended to me that I remove Symantec's Norton Antivirus from my PC. That's fine, but I don't know exactly how to do that. Can you help me out?

www.askdavetaylor.com

http://www.pchell.com/virus/uninstallnorton.shtml
Norton Remove and Reinstall
https://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/Norton-Removal-Tool.shtml

McAfee Consumer Products Removal tool
http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS101331

Download McAfee Removal Tool (mcpr) 10.4.103.0

Download McAfee Removal Tool (mcpr) - Completely remove McAfee applications installed on your computer, including leftover files and folders by following several steps

www.softpedia.com

Download McAfee Consumer Products Removal tool

The McAfee Consumer Products Removal tool allows you to remove McAfee consumer products in the event that they become damaged or are unable to uninstall properly through the Windows control panel.

www.bleepingcomputer.com

 

[Johnwmel]

Once you have finished uninstalling the AV's.

Upload an SS of what this finds. Don't update any drivers.
Driver Booster. Just stick to the FREE version, ignore all the hints to buy.
https://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Miscellaneous/IObit-Driver-Booster.shtml
Extract from this link
"All downloaded drivers come from the official manufacturers’ websites and have passed both the Microsoft WHQL test"
https://www.iobit.com/en/driver-booster.php?AFF=700&__c=1
Users are advised to pay attention while installing this ad-supported application:
Offers to change the homepage for web browsers installed in the system
Offers to change the default search engine for web browsers installed in the system
Offers to download or install software or components (such as browser toolbars) that the program does not require to fully function
SS of how to avoid extras during install.

https://imgur.com/1Q7BbCY

View: https://i.imgur.com/1Q7BbCY.gif
or https://s18.directupload.net/images/190722/3hqr95e5.gif

https://imgur.com/nQJ2VhS

View: https://i.imgur.com/nQJ2VhS.gif
or https://s18.directupload.net/images/190722/q4p2js6s.gif

https://imgur.com/TwZqkzq

View: https://i.imgur.com/TwZqkzq.gif
or https://s18.directupload.net/images/190722/k2h9q93f.gif

https://imgur.com/Bc1zlR5

View: https://i.imgur.com/Bc1zlR5.gif
or https://s18.directupload.net/images/190722/ufu7fyig.gif

 

[harmony44]

I uninstalled McAfee like you suggested. My Windows Defender is already disabled (see below). So now it's only Norton I think. The below copy paste is from the initial Farbar "Addition" log file:

"
==================== Security Center ========================

(If an entry is included in the fixlist, it will be removed.)

AV: Windows Defender (Disabled - Up to date) {D68DDC3A-831F-4fae-9E44-DA132C1ACF46}
AV: Norton AntiVirus (Enabled - Up to date) {9E3FD331-C4C2-7AC4-0537-131EEF1B1F8A}
AS: McAfee VirusScan (Enabled - Up to date) {4DE344F8-6897-65B4-CED0-82B3AF2591B4}
AS: Windows Defender (Disabled - Up to date) {D68DDC3A-831F-4fae-9E44-DA132C1ACF46}
FW: Norton AntiVirus (Enabled) {A6045214-8EAD-7B9C-2E68-BA2B11C858F1}"

 

[Johnwmel]

Yep, once Norton is uninstalled, Windows Defender will take over.

 

[harmony44]

Here are the Driver Booster images:
https://ibb.co/BHhnDmc

Driver3 hosted at ImgBB

Image Driver3 in Adam Chu's images album

ibb.co

https://ibb.co/H7xkBjL

Driver5 hosted at ImgBB

Image Driver5 in Adam Chu's images album

ibb.co

https://ibb.co/t2WxJDq

2 of these have images, the other 3 are just links. I saw my GEForce needs to be updated. I accidentally installed iTopVPN and iFunScreenRecorder, will get rid of those later.

 

[Johnwmel]

"I accidentally installed iTopVPN and iFunScreenRecorder, will get rid of those later."
Uninstall using geek, then update those 27 drivers.

Test, then we do some more work.

 

[Johnwmel]

Just to be clear what we are testing for, it's this.
"Black Screens Spaced Weeks Apart"

 

[harmony44]

Yes. My first black screen (since I purchased the laptop in 2018) happened in February 2021. It first happened once, standalone. Then, one week later, it happened for a stretch of a week, each day, sometimes three times a day. Then it became less frequent but still several times a week through early March. After March, it would happen once a week or less. But it would still happen at least once every 2 weeks. The last black screen that happened happened a week ago (5 days ago).

 

[Johnwmel]

Now I will wait for you to report back, whether it's 1 week or 6.

 

[harmony44]

All drivers updated: https://ibb.co/2NfZ33X.

 

[harmony44]

What's next?

 

[Johnwmel]

You test.

 

[harmony44]

You mean I wait for several weeks to see if I get a black screen?

 

[Johnwmel]

Yes, everything we have done, is addressing that problem. You are the only one who can tell us if you still have it.

 

[harmony44]

OK, then I will patiently - by patiently, I mean hoping this never comes back - wait and report back if there are any occurrences of the black screens.

 

[Johnwmel]

Once you are 100% happy, let me know & I will finish off.

 

[harmony44]

So far, no black screens . Fingers crossed...

 

[Johnwmel]

As you have been using Malwarebytes, don't run it again, just upload all the old logs.