dave_ecosse

Join Date 01/0001

Display flickering/ flashing when changing backgrounds

SOLVED

I am having issues with DeskScapes v11 Beta 5, I only have 5 dreams installed and it was working flawlessly for months but starting 3 days ago the display started to flash & flicker when changing backgrounds.
It’s difficult to describe but it almost seems as though the application is trying to display 2 animated backgrounds at the same time. Rebooting makes no difference nor does CPU/GPU Load.

Even more interesting if I remove a dream from a playlist, then pause DeskScapes the removed dream pops back up and it’s still animated, even although it’s not even shown on the playlist.

I’ve tried removing playlists, then adding new ones and get the same result. I am most puzzled.

Is there a later beta version as I note it is dated 2021 or perhaps an older stable version?

For reference my PC details are as follows….

OS is Windows 11 Pro 22H2, build 22622.601, Insider Beta Channel
Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22634.1000.0

CPU is AMD Ryzen 7 2700 Eight-Core Processor 3.20 Ghz slightly overclocked to 3400-3450 depending on load.
2x 16Gb Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200Mhz
GPU is Gigabyte RTX3060 Gaming OC 12Gb DDR6
Display is 50” SmartTv running at 3840x2160 @60Hz HDR enabled

TIA

deskscapes

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basj

Join Date 03/2001

+1684

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Thank you for your report. But, do know that Stardock does not support Windows Inside build. However, I forwarded your finding to Support for their review. Appreciate your feedback.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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It was working perfectly using Insider build..... my laptop also has an Insider build and it has had no issues what so ever and is on the same build.
I did email support and they said to use the forums (which I have) as they wouldn't respond otherwise (which is fair enough).

Cheers

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UPDATE:

My graphic drivers were up to date (nVidia 517.48) and I discovered that wasn’t what was causing the issue I was facing.

I was actually encrypting an external 4Tb HDD using Bitlocker which took slightly over 3 days to complete (!).

That drive was only used for storage and why a dream which was removed from a playlist stored on the main C:\ drive would still show up on DeskScapes was puzzling me.

After the Bitlocker encryption was completed I rebooted and the deleted dream was still showing up on the display but not on the playlist which was a bit strange.

I ended up just removing the whole playlist, rebooted then made a new playlist.

As of now everything is working properly after many reboots and am pleased to say that I think the issue has been resolved.

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I too have reported this issue with Deskscapes11. I found that Restarting Explorer from my Start11 Taskbar options page will solve the problem all-be-it temporarily.

A Windows restart will also temporarily fix this.

Cheers.

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It still happens to me, usually every few days but I have found another workaround that works every time.

Open up your playlist, go to Settings then check the box that says "Automatically change when videos end" then apply it. It will usually stutter through 2 dreams and then it's fine. I then go back into Settings and uncheck that box.

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This info may be of no consequence but, I had an issue with my AMD drivers for my video card. After installing the driver update from AMD I noticed that, after a period of time, the Adrenalin software home page would stop showing driver version info among other things.

AMD suggested that, possibly, Windows Update was updating the drivers and interfering with the Adrenalin software. One of their suggestions, which I'm now testing, is to prevent Windows Update from updating drivers.

Windows Update had indeed updated the AMD video drivers shortly after I had installed my update from AMD. The problem is that Windows Update doesn't update the whole driver package.

Using 'gpedit.msc' I made the following change:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Update>Double-click the 'Do not include drivers with Windows Updates' policy on your right. Select the Enabled option—Hit Apply followed by OK.

I'm suggesting that it is possible that driver imbalance caused by Windows Update interference in driver updates may be causing the Deskscapes 11 wallpaper change glitches.

I'm a full day into this test and I've had no changes to my Adrenalin software nor any glitches when my wallpaper changes 🤞🤞.

Driver faults can drive you batty.😂

Edition:    Windows 11 Pro
Version:    22H2
Installed on:    ‎06/‎14/‎22
OS build:    22621.963
Experience:    Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22638.1000.0

AMD Radeon RX 5300 Driver Package 22.11.2

Deskscapes 11 Beta 5

Cheers.

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I was still getting the error, even though I have switched to an Odessey G7 instead of the TV I was using before.

Edition Windows 11 Pro Insider Preview
Version 22H2
Installed on ‎30/‎12/‎2022
OS build 25267.1000
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.25267.1000.0

I also keep my gfx drivers up to date, from nVidia not ones via MS Updates.

As I said before, the only thing that "solves" it for me is to leave the playlist set to change dreams when "Automatically change when videos end" is checked.

Nice of Stardock to tell you they don't support Insider Builds until you have an issue.
You'd think they would welcome the feedback.

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Hi,

I was keeping my AMD drivers updated regularly as well. If you haven't made the change that I have, you should check your windows Update history, the drivers section, to see if there are any updates there.

On day two of my test. No problems so far.

I should note that my computer is running 24/7 with the monitor turned off after 20 minutes. I run research science programs when my computer is idle.

Cheers.

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Thanks for the response but I've never experienced Windows Update messing with gfx drivers.
Even when this system was new, it correctly identified my RTX3060 and installed nVidia drivers, not generic Microsoft ones.
They weren't the newest drivers that were available from nVidia but they worked.
I normally manually check about once a month, usually by GeForce Experience.
(I've had Deskscapes issues since I 1st installed OfficeDesktop)

Anyway, I did check my Update History and found nothing relating to gfx drivers in there.
I also keep my PC running 24/7 also, I just turn the monitor off manually.

Since my last post about setting the dreams to change (December 15th) when the animation finishes I have had no further issues.

Cheers.

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This is an update on my testing that was mentioned previously. It has been 7 days since I made the change I mentioned above. During this time I've had only one wallpaper change flickering gitch occurance.

My AMD Adrenalin program has maintained its integrity and I have updated some Alienware drivers via the Alienware Update program. Windows Update no longer updates my drivers.

I still think that there is a problem with Deskscapes 11 that was exacerbated by the AMD driver issue. But, it's not nearly as bad as it was before I made the change to Windows Update.

It's possible that this issue only affects those with AMD Adrenalin drivers installed as dave_ecosse has no problems with nVidia drivers.

Cheers.

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Here's an update.

I recently updated Start11 to V1.38beta. I also run Fences V4 along with Deskscapes 11beta.

Since updating to Start11 V1.38beta I have had no flashing screens upon wallpaper changes. That's none, nada not a one.

I don't know how Start11 and Deskscapes interact; just that, Deskscapes 11beta seems more stable when using Start11 v1.38beta.

Cheers.

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I have had no flickering issues for a while now but have a slightly different issue in that a dream will be "stuck", for want of a better word.

It can be working flawlessly but for example say I watch a movie or watch YouTube videos in full screen when I come out of whatever media player I am using or exiting Edge/Edge Dev the dream that was currently playing is acting like it has been paused. However when I right click on desktop, then more options you can see that Dreamscapes is showing that it is still running as the link to pause it is showing up & not greyed out.

Again, I have to open the playlist, take automatically change when animation finishes off then apply, then go back into the playlist and check that box again and is ok again for a while.

I have just discovered that my subscription expired end of Jan so I have literally just renewed it.
I also changed Insider Channels to:

Edition Windows 11 Pro Insider Preview Version 22H2
Installed on ‎28/‎01/‎2023
OS build 25284.1000
Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.25284.1000.0

(Yeah I know Stardock doesn't support Insider Builds, but they don't tell you that until you have an issue Grrr)

This is probably irrelevant but my machine runs 24/7 and only gets rebooted for updates.
The only time it shuts down by itself is when it does an automatic restart and just after the BIOS kicks in BitLocker asks for key and if it doesn't get it then the PC turns itself off.

Cheers

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