Why does a white/black window pop up then disappear instantly?

[Xxsilentshot546]

This just started the other day, and I don't know what's causeing it. A small white window(sometimes it is black, it looks like the command prompt box) will appear in the upper left corner of my screen for a second then disappear. It happens randomly, and it's too fast to snap a picture of it. It can happen when I'm surfing the web or playing games(when I'm playing a game, this window will put me on my desktop, like I tabbed out). Does anyone know why this is happening?

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

It's gonna be difficult to trace/troubleshoot if it only appears for second.

I would start with a full scan for any malware with your AV and anti-malware software.

 

[Xxsilentshot546]

It's gonna be difficult to trace/troubleshoot if it only appears for second.

I would start with a full scan for any malware with your AV and anti-malware software.

I ran a full system scan using Norton, and it said that there was not threat/ virus found.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Don't know then.

 

[gardenman]

Hi, like Phillip said, these are difficult to trace.

See if my answer here helps any:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3401922/cmd-flashes-randomly-hour-slightly.html

 

[SublimelyGreen]

This just started the other day, and I don't know what's causeing it. A small white window(sometimes it is black, it looks like the command prompt box) will appear in the upper left corner of my screen for a second then disappear. It happens randomly, and it's too fast to snap a picture of it. It can happen when I'm surfing the web or playing games(when I'm playing a game, this window will put me on my desktop, like I tabbed out). Does anyone know why this is happening?

Yeah, the same thing is happening to me too. Started about a few days ago for me.

 

[gardenman]

Hi SublimelyGreen, [start a new thread] and you'll get better help. Fully explain what you are seeing (describe the popup window) and how often it happens.

 

[NULL_SIGNAL]

Did you recently install/upgrade Microsoft Office? There is an automated process in the newest version that runs every hour and cause this symptom. More detail on that issue is available at the link below if you'd like to compare further.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/6dnsb4/today_i_noticed_that_a_random_cmdexe_window_keeps/

Short answer is go to Task Scheduler > Microsoft > Office > Right click "OfficeBackgroundTaskHandlerRegistration" > Disable and then see if that solves your issue.

 

[aquielisunari]

Hi, like Phillip said, these are difficult to trace.

See if my answer here helps any:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3401922/cmd-flashes-randomly-hour-slightly.html

Colif made a short tutorial over here http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-3426393/fix-hourly-cmd-window-pop-appearing.html

 

[jakeddog]

This just started the other day, and I don't know what's causeing it. A small white window(sometimes it is black, it looks like the command prompt box) will appear in the upper left corner of my screen for a second then disappear. It happens randomly, and it's too fast to snap a picture of it. It can happen when I'm surfing the web or playing games(when I'm playing a game, this window will put me on my desktop, like I tabbed out). Does anyone know why this is happening?

Exact same thing is happening to me! i dont know what it is

 

[jakeddog]

This just started the other day, and I don't know what's causeing it. A small white window(sometimes it is black, it looks like the command prompt box) will appear in the upper left corner of my screen for a second then disappear. It happens randomly, and it's too fast to snap a picture of it. It can happen when I'm surfing the web or playing games(when I'm playing a game, this window will put me on my desktop, like I tabbed out). Does anyone know why this is happening?

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-3426393/fix-hourly-cmd-window-pop-appearing.html

thats a thread that solved it for me, this seems to be a popular problem

 

[Colif]

its popular because every win 10 PC has the app that is causing the behavior

MY faq is getting around I see

 

[pascal.alain.servant]

This just started the other day, and I don't know what's causeing it. A small white window(sometimes it is black, it looks like the command prompt box) will appear in the upper left corner of my screen for a second then disappear. It happens randomly, and it's too fast to snap a picture of it. It can happen when I'm surfing the web or playing games(when I'm playing a game, this window will put me on my desktop, like I tabbed out). Does anyone know why this is happening?

I have the same issue since some weeks, at the beginning when I was gaming, I switches randomly into desktop like a tab, sometime so often that it was impossible to play, but still impossible to see anything. Now (oct 06, 2017) I can see it, it's like a black dos prompt box, a dozen of lines written inside, but disappear at a glance. Impossible to screenshot, I will try a video recording of my screen.

 

[Colif]

I would make a new thread as unless you just got an old version of win 10, the problem you have may not be related to the others in thread. The other problem was fixed in a subsequent patch by Microsoft.

which version of win 10 are you on?
right click start
choose run... type winver and press enter
current version is 1703, build 15063.608.

If your version is older than that, I would go here and click the 1st button - update now - this will download the upgrade assistant. Run it and it will install latest version

Try running a clean boot and see if same things happen - https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/929135/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows