SOLUTION for Black Screen Flash After Windows Loads

[NinjaNoodles]

UPDATE: You can now download the attached file to perform this fix automatically!
BIGGER UPDATE: Although unconfirmed, it seems Microsoft has fixed this in SP1. I sent the bug to them and they mentioned "Improved reliability when working with external displays on a laptop" in the SP1 press release.

Many users here have a problem of their screens flashing (or flickering, or blinking) black after Windows loads. I've seen people blame everything from audio drivers to integrated graphics for this issue, however these are not the causes.

Microsoft has a service called Transient Multimon Manager (TMM). This (supposedly) makes it easier to run multiple displays. It also causes the annoying flash we all hate so much. It took me hours to pinpoint the exact process (which happened to be the Task Scheduler Engine), and even more time to pinpoint the exact task, so enjoy.

Here's how to fix that annoying black flicker on boot:

1. Click on the Start button (pearl? ball? orb?).
2. Type "Task Scheduler" and hit Enter.
3. On the left-hand side, click "Task Scheduler Local" (you should already be there, but just in case).
4. Expand "Task Scheduler Library," then "Microsoft," then "Windows," then click "MobilePC."
5. Up top, you'll see a task called "TMM." Click it, and on the right-hand side, click "Disable."
6. You're done.

There are slight drawbacks to the aforementioned solution:

Originally Posted by Valkyrie

I just tried this fix for my laptop, and the auto detection of the second monitor no longer worked. But you can still switch around to the external monitors manually though, and it seemed to work.

Since this is probably the only fix for this problem (as there are no other methods recorded), the choice must be made by the user based on his needs.

Some have reported the same problem on XP, however this is a different issue. See this reply for a fix.

EDIT: If this works for you, please bump the thread so other users can enjoy the solution as well. Also, if you found this page on Google, please enter any search terms used in your post for the same reason. The above post may seem a bit redundant, but that's because I've tried to include most of the keywords one would use when searching for a solution to this problem. Thanks.

[dsg2003gt]

thanks alot that was driving me crazy!

[NinjaNoodles]

No problem. I know how you feel.

[baddogboxer]

I think I suffer from this, after "desktop screen" shows and things are still loading screen goes black for 1/2 second and comes back is that it? Is there a downside to doing what you have said? What if I want to use a 2nd monitor?

[NinjaNoodles]

Originally Posted by baddogboxer

I think I suffer from this, after "desktop screen" shows and things are still loading screen goes black for 1/2 second and comes back is that it? Is there a downside to doing what you have said? What if I want to use a 2nd monitor?

Yes, you have the problem I'm describing.

Also, I don't think it's necessary for a second monitor to work, and if worst comes to worst, you can always just enable it again. Perhaps I'll test it out with my desktop monitor when I have the time/motivation to do so.

EDIT: Just read this online:

The only downside to [disabling] the TMM task, is that if you have dual monitors, and you have some programs that are displaying on the secondary monitor. If you un-plug the external monitor, then Vista will NOT put those programs back into your main monitor. Which means that those programs are now displayed somewhere else that you can't see or access. A workaround this will be to manually put all of the programs back to the main monitor before un-docking your laptop.

Although the above quote doesn't take into account that you can just right click an item on the taskbar and select "Move."

[LoL Rick]

This is fantastic! Not only did it fix the flash on bootup, it also fixed the explorer crashes and DreamScene crashes every time I lock and unlock the computer. I had all but given up on DreamScene until this. Thank you so much for finding and posting it.

[NinjaNoodles]

I run Home Premium, so I wasn't even aware of DreamScene. Looks like a cool (albeit rather useless) application. Almost makes me want Ultimate.

[BorjaZD]

wow!!
you found the solution for that!

thank you very much

[ubercool]

Yes, this is totally awesome! I was always incredibly irritated by the flashing and thought it was merely sloppy Microsoft programming! Thanks again for posting this tip!

[NinjaNoodles]

I guess this issue is bigger than I thought. I actually discovered this a few weeks ago, but since not many threads existed I decided that the problem was unique, more or less, to me.