Vista - Strange issue w/ flashing windows and disappearing Start menu

Greetings,
I'm running Vista Ultimate (RTM) on my Thinkpad T43. I'm encountering a
strange problem that shows itself in 4 ways:

1. Text in some input fields (IE address input bar, dialog boxes) is flashing
2. When I try to click below 2 levels in the Start menu, e.g Start-All
Programs-
Accessories, the entire start menu disappears. I only get as far as All
Programs,
clicking on any subfolder in All Programs makes the Start menu disappear.
Only way to get to programs in e.g. Accessories is to right click and
"Open".
Right click and "Expand" again makes the whole Start menu go away.
Same thing if I navigate the Start menu by using the keyboard. Almost as
if the
mouse click generates an Escape.
3. The shadow outline on Explorer and application windows flashes on and off.
4. Sometimes when dragging a window using the mouse, the window will
just jump back to its original position when I release the mouse key.

This all happens with both the built in keyboard/mouse and with a USB
mouse/keyboard connected so I've ruled out a keyboard/mouse hardware fault.
But I still suspect it has something to do with input devices rather than,
say, the display driver.

I can't find a reference to this issue anywhere in these newsgroups.

Any ideas?

thanks

Politby--

I would try anther driver or reinstalling your driver and see if there is a
behavior change. There may or may not be a choice of drivers for your video
card, but just reinstalling it might help. Also, and you may have already
done this, do what you can to stop services and processes that are default
on in Vista that you may not need or even have applications that require
them. Finally run SFC/ and I know you won't think this is related, but it
could be so make sure you're doing a couple current Spyware scans like
Defender and Adaware. Finally, and instructions are at the bottom of this
post, you can try running Startup Repair which can fix a wide gamut of
problems in Vista even when you do not have a "no start Vista" problem.

1) Trim processes you don't need in TM. Google them or "search engine of
your choice them" if you have to.

2) Go to

services.msc in run box and turn off services not needed and there are some.

*Vista Services*

Part One
http://www.tweakvista.com/article38662.aspx

Part Two
http://www.tweakvista.com/article38664.aspx

Windows Vista Services Tweak Guide v1.0
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=87443

Vista RTM Tweak Guide (Tweaks to Improve Performances)
http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...tm+tweak+guide


3) Run System File Checker.

SFC: http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

In Vista run it from an elevated command prompt. Right click command on
start and run as administrator.

You also could try a startup repair, even though you are not in a no boot
situation and it could fix this:

***STARTUP REPAIR IN WINDOWS VISTA***

1) You run the startup repair tool this way:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

Note The computer must be configured to start from a CD or from a DVD. For
information about how to configure the computer to start from a CD or from a
DVD, see the information that came with the computer.

2) Restart the computer. To do this, click Start, click the arrow next to
the Lock button, and then click Restart.

This usually means that you enter bios setup by whatever key or keys
(sometimes there is more than one key that will do it for your model--go to
pc manufacturer site) and configure CD to be first in the boot order.

See for ref:
Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

Note If you cannot restart the computer by using this method, use the power
button to turn off the computer. Then, turn the computer back on.

3) Set your language preference, and then click Next.

Note In most cases, the startup repair process starts automatically, and you
do not have the option to select it in the System Recovery Options menu.

4) Click Repair your computer.

5) In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click the operating system
that you want to repair, and then click Next.

6) In the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair to start the
repair process.

7) When the repair process is complete, click Finish.

Additional References for Startup Repair With Screenshots:

How to Use Startup Repair:

***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***

1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)

2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in the
lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***

Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link)
http://blogs.itecn.net/photos/liuhui...4/500x375.aspx

Screenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair"
http://www.leedesmond.com/images/img...SysRecOpt2.bmp

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

3) Select your OS for repair.

4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from
theWin RE feature:

You'll have a choice there of using:

1) Startup Repair
2) System Restore
3) Complete PC Restore

Good luck,

CH



"politby" <politby@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FB9CFACF-C21D-4765-8624-CA68B34F3C69@microsoft.com...
> Greetings,
> I'm running Vista Ultimate (RTM) on my Thinkpad T43. I'm encountering a
> strange problem that shows itself in 4 ways:
>
> 1. Text in some input fields (IE address input bar, dialog boxes) is
> flashing
> 2. When I try to click below 2 levels in the Start menu, e.g Start-All
> Programs-
> Accessories, the entire start menu disappears. I only get as far as All
> Programs,
> clicking on any subfolder in All Programs makes the Start menu
> disappear.
> Only way to get to programs in e.g. Accessories is to right click and
> "Open".
> Right click and "Expand" again makes the whole Start menu go away.
> Same thing if I navigate the Start menu by using the keyboard. Almost as
> if the
> mouse click generates an Escape.
> 3. The shadow outline on Explorer and application windows flashes on and
> off.
> 4. Sometimes when dragging a window using the mouse, the window will
> just jump back to its original position when I release the mouse key.
>
> This all happens with both the built in keyboard/mouse and with a USB
> mouse/keyboard connected so I've ruled out a keyboard/mouse hardware
> fault.
> But I still suspect it has something to do with input devices rather than,
> say, the display driver.
>
> I can't find a reference to this issue anywhere in these newsgroups.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> thanks

I have exactly the same problem on a brand new core 2 duo desktop, with
virtually nothing else installed. Only ocurrs on Explorer or system windows,
not on IE or any 3rd party apps. So I dont think it's related to display card
(nvidia 7600GT). Also, theres a window that appears and disappears instantly
(so I cant see what it is)....I dont know if this is related to the problem.
I'll try to submit this to MS also and see if I get any joy...

"politby" wrote:

> Greetings,
> I'm running Vista Ultimate (RTM) on my Thinkpad T43. I'm encountering a
> strange problem that shows itself in 4 ways:
>
> 1. Text in some input fields (IE address input bar, dialog boxes) is flashing
> 2. When I try to click below 2 levels in the Start menu, e.g Start-All
> Programs-
> Accessories, the entire start menu disappears. I only get as far as All
> Programs,
> clicking on any subfolder in All Programs makes the Start menu disappear.
> Only way to get to programs in e.g. Accessories is to right click and
> "Open".
> Right click and "Expand" again makes the whole Start menu go away.
> Same thing if I navigate the Start menu by using the keyboard. Almost as
> if the
> mouse click generates an Escape.
> 3. The shadow outline on Explorer and application windows flashes on and off.
> 4. Sometimes when dragging a window using the mouse, the window will
> just jump back to its original position when I release the mouse key.
>
> This all happens with both the built in keyboard/mouse and with a USB
> mouse/keyboard connected so I've ruled out a keyboard/mouse hardware fault.
> But I still suspect it has something to do with input devices rather than,
> say, the display driver.
>
> I can't find a reference to this issue anywhere in these newsgroups.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> thanks

After using a video camera and then stepping-through the footage
frame-by-frame in order to capture the mystery transient screen (my 13yr old
son's plan), we found it was AutoPlay.

Disabling AutoPlay in Vista, subsequently fixed the problem that politby
described in the first post. I dont know what i'm missing by not having
AutoPlay, but I guess I'll find out later.

"Fareed" wrote:

> I have exactly the same problem on a brand new core 2 duo desktop, with
> virtually nothing else installed. Only ocurrs on Explorer or system windows,
> not on IE or any 3rd party apps. So I dont think it's related to display card
> (nvidia 7600GT). Also, theres a window that appears and disappears instantly
> (so I cant see what it is)....I dont know if this is related to the problem.
> I'll try to submit this to MS also and see if I get any joy...
>
> "politby" wrote:
>
> > Greetings,
> > I'm running Vista Ultimate (RTM) on my Thinkpad T43. I'm encountering a
> > strange problem that shows itself in 4 ways:
> >
> > 1. Text in some input fields (IE address input bar, dialog boxes) is flashing
> > 2. When I try to click below 2 levels in the Start menu, e.g Start-All
> > Programs-
> > Accessories, the entire start menu disappears. I only get as far as All
> > Programs,
> > clicking on any subfolder in All Programs makes the Start menu disappear.
> > Only way to get to programs in e.g. Accessories is to right click and
> > "Open".
> > Right click and "Expand" again makes the whole Start menu go away.
> > Same thing if I navigate the Start menu by using the keyboard. Almost as
> > if the
> > mouse click generates an Escape.
> > 3. The shadow outline on Explorer and application windows flashes on and off.
> > 4. Sometimes when dragging a window using the mouse, the window will
> > just jump back to its original position when I release the mouse key.
> >
> > This all happens with both the built in keyboard/mouse and with a USB
> > mouse/keyboard connected so I've ruled out a keyboard/mouse hardware fault.
> > But I still suspect it has something to do with input devices rather than,
> > say, the display driver.
> >
> > I can't find a reference to this issue anywhere in these newsgroups.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> > thanks

On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 09:48:00 -0700, Fareed
<Fareed@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I have exactly the same problem on a brand new core 2 duo desktop, with
>virtually nothing else installed. Only ocurrs on Explorer or system windows,
>not on IE or any 3rd party apps. So I dont think it's related to display card
>(nvidia 7600GT). Also, theres a window that appears and disappears instantly
>(so I cant see what it is)....I dont know if this is related to the problem.
>I'll try to submit this to MS also and see if I get any joy...

It sort of does sound like a video card driver issue. Try changing the
resolution and see if it still happens, is made worse, stuff like
that.

For example, as I've said many times I use Vegas for video editing. It
is a rock solid application that never crashes. Well, since installing
Vista, one function, using the eye dropper tool to sample an area of
color no longer works correctly. Instead of causing the color
corrector filter to jump on the appropriate color wheel to apply the
correct offset to correct a black or white set point, now drawing a
small area with the eye dropper tool instead of selecting that area,
simply darkens the selected pixels in the preview window and has no
effect at all on what I'm trying to sample. Yet if I select a single
pixel, it still works correctly.

Conclusion: The video driver isn't properly reading the selected
pixels since this function worked flawlessly under Windows XP with the
same video card.

If this was a specific bug in Vista itself more likely it would show
up in other applications that have a similar feature, such as
Photoshop. So I ruled that out as unlikely by using Photoshop's eye
droper tool to again sample an area of pixels and that worked as
expected either applying new colors or simply reporting the RGB values
as it can as you move over a area.