Windows 8.1 flickering display (bad update)

[h2_studio]

need anyone to help me on my issue
my display flickers continuously after i updated the PC from windows 8 to windows 8.1. the flickering also happened in safe mode so do not think it is video driver issue (but please correct me if i'm wrong). disk usage in task manager shoots up to 100%
PC - Dell Optiplex 7010, Windows 8 OEM
i do not have a windows disk/dvd with me

video on the simptom : http://youtu.be/yxma6TAshgE

PC - Dell Optiplex 7010, Windows 8 OEM

explorer.exe crashed

repeated list on task manager :
1. thumbnail handler extraction...

2. windows problem reporting

 

[Darkbreeze]

Try this http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/correct-monitor-flicker-refresh-rate#1TC=windows-7 , if that doesn't help let me know we can try other solutions and go from there.

 

[h2_studio]

sorry, that doesn't work. i have updated some pictures for reference

 

[MightyBoyGaming]

probably is the drivers though 😉

 

[Darkbreeze]

probably is the drivers though 😉

+1

 

[h2_studio]

probably is the drivers though 😉

+1

which driver, may i know? please note that this issue also happened when i went to safe mode

 

[Darkbreeze]

That doesn't matter. Windows often has display issues in safe mode as it generally uses minimal and generic drivers along with very low resolution and color display modes. To start with, your hardware was never intended for windows 8.1 so that can be an issue. That being said, it should be ok with the right drivers. We need specs on your system as the 7010 has a plethora of possible hardware configurations including lots of different processors, several different graphics packages. Intel HD 2000/3000, 2500/4000, AMD discrete 7550 and AMD discrete 7470 are among the graphics packages that could be in there plus a basic HD package for the Celeron/Pentium configuration. These will likely all require a different driver and one may not work for another. Let us know what YOU have, especially if maybe you've added something different. Thanks.

 

[MightyBoyGaming]

Totes your GPU or your graphics driver. +1 on windows 8 providing a generic graphic driver that will cause flickering.

What you need to do is figure out what your gpu is and update the driver for it. You can also research the oem provider you have and the particular type of computer you have to see if the oem has their own driver set that is compatible with your computer.

 

[h2_studio]

That doesn't matter. Windows often has display issues in safe mode as it generally uses minimal and generic drivers along with very low resolution and color display modes. To start with, your hardware was never intended for windows 8.1 so that can be an issue. That being said, it should be ok with the right drivers. We need specs on your system as the 7010 has a plethora of possible hardware configurations including lots of different processors, several different graphics packages. Intel HD 2000/3000, 2500/4000, AMD discrete 7550 and AMD discrete 7470 are among the graphics packages that could be in there plus a basic HD package for the Celeron/Pentium configuration. These will likely all require a different driver and one may not work for another. Let us know what YOU have, especially if maybe you've added something different. Thanks.

i will repost the PC's configuration when i get in touch with it. just some additional info (dont know if needed/not)
this PC is actually used in my office and we got few units. all PCs were updated successfully except this one.
due to slow internet connection, i had to start the update/download (win8 to win8.1 from the windows store) before i go back home, leave it overnight and continue the next step the next morning. and i update 1-2 PCs per night.
i'm setting these PCs for manual update also because of the slow internet connection

 

[h2_studio]

PC spec (DELL Optiplex 7010) :
Intel i7 3770
4GB DDR3 RAM
Intel HD Graphics 4000
500GB HDD

 

[Darkbreeze]

Are you running a 32 or 64 bit system?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Since it's probably 64 bit, the most recent driver is here: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=23885 . Try that if it's 64 bit and if it doesn't help we'll move forward. Or if you know that's the same version you have (Check the driver info) then probably skip this step.

 

[h2_studio]

Are you running a 32 or 64 bit system?

its on windows 8.1 32bit
i've just installed the Intel HD4000 driver and the problemis still there

 

[Darkbreeze]

God dammit! Just kidding. I was really hoping that would cure the problem. Ok, let me investigate this a bit as it's obviously not any of the common issues. Check your display frequency one more time and tell me what it's set at. Right click the desktop, screen resolution, advanced settings, monitor tab. Make sure the box that says hide modes this monitor cannot display is checked. What's your frequency set at and what is the model of your monitor? Any chance it's the monitor? I know it's probably not as you said it was working fine in Windows 8 and didn't start until you upgraded to 8.1 but I'm just trying to cover all the possibilities. I'm almost out of ideas here but I'll get back to you asap if I come across any answers. Sorry.

 

[h2_studio]

God dammit! Just kidding. I was really hoping that would cure the problem. Ok, let me investigate this a bit as it's obviously not any of the common issues. Check your display frequency one more time and tell me what it's set at. Right click the desktop, screen resolution, advanced settings, monitor tab. Make sure the box that says hide modes this monitor cannot display is checked. What's your frequency set at and what is the model of your monitor? Any chance it's the monitor? I know it's probably not as you said it was working fine in Windows 8 and didn't start until you upgraded to 8.1 but I'm just trying to cover all the possibilities. I'm almost out of ideas here but I'll get back to you asap if I come across any answers. Sorry.

new observation : the flickering stoppped when the error message on explorer.exe crashed (1st pic in my 1st post) come out. if i leave it, everything seems fine, but when i click ok the flickering goes again.
i think it has something to do with "something" that makes the explorer.exe crash

 

[chudapati09]

Did you ever find a solution to this. I have a laptop with this same problem and the laptop also recently just upgraded from 8.1. I know that it has to do something with explore.exe, because when I end the process the screen will stop flickering. I've reinstalled the video drivers also, and that didn't work either.

 

[sparkikuss]

God dammit! Just kidding. I was really hoping that would cure the problem. Ok, let me investigate this a bit as it's obviously not any of the common issues. Check your display frequency one more time and tell me what it's set at. Right click the desktop, screen resolution, advanced settings, monitor tab. Make sure the box that says hide modes this monitor cannot display is checked. What's your frequency set at and what is the model of your monitor? Any chance it's the monitor? I know it's probably not as you said it was working fine in Windows 8 and didn't start until you upgraded to 8.1 but I'm just trying to cover all the possibilities. I'm almost out of ideas here but I'll get back to you asap if I come across any answers. Sorry.

new observation : the flickering stoppped when the error message on explorer.exe crashed (1st pic in my 1st post) come out. if i leave it, everything seems fine, but when i click ok the flickering goes again.
i think it has something to do with "something" that makes the explorer.exe crash

This, my explorer was turning off on the desktop but still running on task manager. I did a system refresh and reinstalled windows 8.. After the windows 8.1 update the screen instantly started flicking between desktop and start screen with a disk usage of 100%... Disabled graphics driver, reinstalled, safe mode, clean boot, nothing works for me. Will reinstall windows 8 again later and leave it at that, the problem is within 8.1

 

[sparkikuss]

Everything works fine for me in Windows 8. The 8.1 update causes the flickering and disk usage problems.

I wouldn't mind sticking with 8 but the new AMD drivers and omega suite only run on 8.1..

Anyone found a fix yet?

 

[mark7online]

I have the same issue with an HP laptop. Started happening out of the blue.
Tried a different account logon: same problem
Tried safe mode: same problem
Antivirus scan: none found
Refresh PC: no fix
Reset PC: no fix.
Works fine until I apply the Windows 8.1 update from Microsoft.

 

[sparkikus]

Just had the 8.1 update forced onto my system and have the problem again.

Having to refresh back to the test form of windows 8 to reinstall it all over again and wipe my programmes in the process.

All I have left to try is replace the HDD (which came with the shop bought hp build) and buy windows 8 yet again and try a fresh install.

So, windows 8.1 and hp have major relationship issues.

Just get a divorce already and let people know!

 

[sparkikuss]

New HDD and Windows 8.1 dvd... everything works fine.

Definitely HP and Windows incompatibility my end

 

[brighteyedash]

Here I am at the edge of my flipping seat REALLY hoping for a solution and nothing? :sigh:

Is there ANY way to get back to 8 without backing up and deleting everything? :grumble: :blank stare: Three days. Three days of updating drivers in between short bouts when I could even get it to stay on long enough and perform well enough to do anything. AUGH. :glare:

:sigh: :exhale: :eye roll: (Yes, I'm frustrated, but I'm totally doing good because I have maintained the wits to remember that I DO love my computer and it DOESN'T belong through the second story window on the lawn. It is not that old, it should not be having issues like this. For goodness sake. I am really...really...annoyed right now.

 

[Lyrad Nanayac]

hello...
im also facing same problem...
currently running on 8.1 x32...
monitor is HP L1706 ... it says ... non pnp on its driver
the thing is, when i plug the monitor on XP x32 ; its working fine
but on 8.1... i got some sort of shaking artifacts on screen...

is it because they are not compatible??
is it hardware issue?
GPU inno3d gt240
mobo ECS A55F2-M3
any help is appreciated ....