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Screen going black for a second repeatedly.

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gem7680

PCHF Member
Dec 8, 2022
11
1
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Hi, I'm hoping someone can help me, my laptop with external monitor is intimately going black for a second and then returning. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to the black outs, it seems random.

I have tried multiple monitors, it does it still. I've replaced the HDMI cord with a new one from it's packet, still does it.

I've taken it to my local repair place and they said they had it on multiple monitors for hours and it didn't do it. As soon as I got it home it started going black again.

I hooked it up to my TV yesterday and had it running for a few hours and it didn't black out once, I've tried it on a smaller TV today and after 10 mins or so it started blacking out.

The internal monitor needs to be replace as there is damage to it but it's needed to be replaced for quite a while and this has only just started happening in the past month or so.

Here are the specs for the laptop, if anything else is needed please let me know. I have tried to find the memory dump but can't seem to locate it. It's enabled but can't find the dump files.

Dell XPS 15 9570
Intel Core i7-8750H CPU @ 2.20GHz 2.21 GHz
16.0GB Ram
64-bit OS, x64-based processor
Windows 11 Home

I appreciate any advice I can get.
Thanks.
 
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I've taken it to my local repair place and they said they had it on multiple monitors for hours and it didn't do it
Were you shown this.

Is the laptop still under any warranty?

Have you also tried reinstalling the display drivers using the DDU?

Seeing that you are allowing Windows to update driver for you which can and does cause issues.
The internal monitor needs to be replace as there is damage to it but it's needed to be replaced for quite a while and this has only just started happening in the past month or so.
What caused this to happen may be having a domino effect.
 
Here are a few things you can do to improve performance on the computer.

Uninstall the following with Geek uninstaller.

AVG AntiVirus FREE - 22.11.3261
Bonjour - 3.0.0.10
Dell SupportAssist - 3.13.0.236
Dell Update for Windows 10 - 4.1.0

Run the AVG removal tool.

Then reboot your computer.


Reset your Hosts file.


  1. Click here to download RstHosts v2.0\
  2. Save the file to your desktop.
  3. Right Click and Run as Administrator.
  4. Click on Restaurer, then click OK at the prompt.
  5. This will restore the default host file.


Open a notepad and copy the content of the code box below, paste into open notepad and save it to your desktop as clean.bat then right click on clean.bat and run as admin.


Do not copy the word Code:

Code:
@echo off
wmic /Namespace:\\root\default Path SystemRestore Call Enable "%SystemDrive%"
WMIC /Namespace:\\root\default Path SystemRestore Call CreateRestorePoint "BatchRestorePoint", 100, 10
fsutil resource setautoreset true c:\&fsutil usn deletejournal /d /n c:
powercfg.exe /setactive 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e
powercfg -hibernate off
bitsadmin /reset /allusers
nbtstat -R
nbtstat -RR
netsh winsock reset all
netsh winsock reset catalog
netsh winhttp reset proxy
netsh int tcp set heuristics disabled
netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled
netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=normal
netsh interface httpstunnel reset all
netsh interface portproxy reset all
netsh interface ip delete arpcache
netsh advfirewall reset
netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state On
wmic nicconfig where (IPEnabled=TRUE) call SetDNSServerSearchOrder ("76.76.19.19", "8.8.4.4")
%WINDIR%\SYSTEM32\lodctr.exe /R
%WINDIR%\SysWOW64\lodctr.exe /R
C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\lodctr.exe /R
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\lodctr.exe /R
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
pause
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
pause
del /s /q C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\download\*.*
del /s /q "%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Cache\*.*"
del /s /q "%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache\*.*"
del /s /q "%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Opera Software\Opera Stable\Cache\Cache_Data\*.*"
del /s /q "%userprofile%\AppData\Local\temp\*.*"
del /f /s /q %systemdrive%\*.tmp
del /f /s /q %systemdrive%\*.log
del /f /s /q %systemdrive%\*.chk
del /f /s /q %systemdrive%\recycled\*.*
del /f /s /q %windir%\*.bak
del /f /s /q %windir%\prefetch\*.*
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
sc stop RasAuto
sc stop RasMan
sc stop SessionEnv
sc stop TermService
sc stop UmRdpService
sc stop RemoteAccess
sc config RasAuto start= disabled
sc config RasMan start= disabled
sc config SessionEnv start= disabled
sc config TermService start= disabled
sc config UmRdpService start= disabled
sc config RemoteAccess start= disabled
sc stop sysmain
sc config sysmain start= disabled
sc stop iphlpsvc
sc config iphlpsvc start= disabled
sc stop DiagTrack
sc config DiagTrack start= disabled
sc stop dmwappushservice
sc config dmwappushservice start= disabled
sc stop WSearch
sc config WSearch start= disabled
sc stop lfsvc
sc config lfsvc start= disabled
del /s /q %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Diagnosis\ETLLogs\AutoLogger\AutoLogger-Diagtrack-Listener.etl
REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection /v AllowTelemetry /d 0 /t REG_DWORD /f
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\SQMClient\parameters /v DisabledComponents /t REG_DWORD /d 0xFFFFFFFF
reg add hklm\system\currentcontrolset\services\tcpip6\parameters /v DisabledComponents /t REG_DWORD /d 0xFFFFFFFF
echo "" > %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Diagnosis\ETLLogs\AutoLogger\AutoLogger-Diagtrack-Listener.etl
sfc /scannow
pause
shutdown -r
Exit /B


Use O&O shutup ten with suggested and somewhat suggested settings enabled.

Disable windows update, and only enable it once a week to update on your terms not whenever microsoft feels you need an update.

Uninstall Useless to you windows apps with O&O App buster.

Completely remove all traces of old graphics driver wit DDU

The tool can be used in Normal mode but for absolute stability when using DDU, Safemode is always the best.


Boot up into normal mode, and use this tool.

Reboot your machine and see how things are.
 
Last edited:
Were you shown this.

Is the laptop still under any warranty?

Have you also tried reinstalling the display drivers using the DDU?

Seeing that you are allowing Windows to update driver for you which can and does cause issues.

What caused this to happen may be having a domino effect.
Not shown no.
Out of warranty.
I haven’t reinstalled the disp divers using the Dudu no.
Not sure what caused the monitor, I think it may have been smashed/damaged by some small people (neice and nephew).
 
Here are a few things you can do to improve performance on the computer.

Uninstall the following with Geek uninstaller.

AVG AntiVirus FREE - 22.11.3261
Bonjour - 3.0.0.10
Dell SupportAssist - 3.13.0.236
Dell Update for Windows 10 - 4.1.0

Run the AVG removal tool.

Then reboot your computer.


Reset your Hosts file.


  1. Click here to download RstHosts v2.0\
  2. Save the file to your desktop.
  3. Right Click and Run as Administrator.
  4. Click on Restaurer, then click OK at the prompt.
  5. This will restore the default host file.


Open a notepad and copy the content of the code box below, paste into open notepad and save it to your desktop as clean.bat then right click on clean.bat and run as admin.


Do not copy the word Code:

Code:
@echo off
wmic /Namespace:\\root\default Path SystemRestore Call Enable "%SystemDrive%"
WMIC /Namespace:\\root\default Path SystemRestore Call CreateRestorePoint "BatchRestorePoint", 100, 10
fsutil resource setautoreset true c:\&fsutil usn deletejournal /d /n c:
powercfg.exe /setactive 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e
powercfg -hibernate off
bitsadmin /reset /allusers
nbtstat -R
nbtstat -RR
netsh winsock reset all
netsh winsock reset catalog
netsh winhttp reset proxy
netsh int tcp set heuristics disabled
netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled
netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=normal
netsh interface httpstunnel reset all
netsh interface portproxy reset all
netsh interface ip delete arpcache
netsh advfirewall reset
netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state On
wmic nicconfig where (IPEnabled=TRUE) call SetDNSServerSearchOrder ("76.76.19.19", "8.8.4.4")
%WINDIR%\SYSTEM32\lodctr.exe /R
%WINDIR%\SysWOW64\lodctr.exe /R
C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\lodctr.exe /R
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\lodctr.exe /R
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
pause
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
pause
del /s /q C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\download\*.*
del /s /q "%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Cache\*.*"
del /s /q "%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache\*.*"
del /s /q "%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Opera Software\Opera Stable\Cache\Cache_Data\*.*"
del /s /q "%userprofile%\AppData\Local\temp\*.*"
del /f /s /q %systemdrive%\*.tmp
del /f /s /q %systemdrive%\*.log
del /f /s /q %systemdrive%\*.chk
del /f /s /q %systemdrive%\recycled\*.*
del /f /s /q %windir%\*.bak
del /f /s /q %windir%\prefetch\*.*
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
sc stop RasAuto
sc stop RasMan
sc stop SessionEnv
sc stop TermService
sc stop UmRdpService
sc stop RemoteAccess
sc config RasAuto start= disabled
sc config RasMan start= disabled
sc config SessionEnv start= disabled
sc config TermService start= disabled
sc config UmRdpService start= disabled
sc config RemoteAccess start= disabled
sc stop sysmain
sc config sysmain start= disabled
sc stop iphlpsvc
sc config iphlpsvc start= disabled
sc stop DiagTrack
sc config DiagTrack start= disabled
sc stop dmwappushservice
sc config dmwappushservice start= disabled
sc stop WSearch
sc config WSearch start= disabled
sc stop lfsvc
sc config lfsvc start= disabled
del /s /q %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Diagnosis\ETLLogs\AutoLogger\AutoLogger-Diagtrack-Listener.etl
REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection /v AllowTelemetry /d 0 /t REG_DWORD /f
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\SQMClient\parameters /v DisabledComponents /t REG_DWORD /d 0xFFFFFFFF
reg add hklm\system\currentcontrolset\services\tcpip6\parameters /v DisabledComponents /t REG_DWORD /d 0xFFFFFFFF
echo "" > %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Diagnosis\ETLLogs\AutoLogger\AutoLogger-Diagtrack-Listener.etl
sfc /scannow
pause
shutdown -r
Exit /B


Use O&O shutup ten with suggested and somewhat suggested settings enabled.

Disable windows update, and only enable it once a week to update on your terms not whenever microsoft feels you need an update.

Uninstall Useless to you windows apps with O&O App buster.

Completely remove all traces of old graphics driver wit DDU

The tool can be used in Normal mode but for absolute stability when using DDU, Safemode is always the best.


Boot up into normal mode, and use this tool.

Reboot your machine and see how things are.
Ok, will try these and see how I go.
 
Ok, let me know if it helps. Other than that, here is a link to the service manual (PDF). You could if you feel comfortable with it, open the thing up and make sure nothing is loose inside. No broken connections, or anything that needs to be soldered. Might as well clean the machine of any dust while you are in there, if you have never done that then for sure it's dusty in there.


Heat could be an issue here. That temp is a bit high....
1670573070855.png



Anything under 60 degrees C (140 degrees F) is perfect. Just above this temperature is okay, but as you creep above 70 degrees C (158 degrees F), you need to look at how to cool your PC down.



As for uninstalling AVG it's just crap software, you might wander why I am suggesting you remove it. I've helped on forums for many years and seen AVG cause a whole slew of issues on many many machines. The built in defender is sufficient and if you combine that with ublock origin and are not downloading random things, you should be fine.

Also, I suggest to disable these scheduled task...


MicrosoftEdgeUpdateTaskMachineUA
GoogleUpdateTaskMachineUA
GoogleUpdateTaskMachineCore
Adobe Acrobat Update Task
AdobeGCInvoker-1.0
MicrosoftEdgeUpdateTaskMachineCore
Dell SupportAssistAgent AutoUpdate


If you do not use One Drive, then click here to see how to disable/remove it.
 
Ok, let me know if it helps. Other than that, here is a link to the service manual (PDF). You could if you feel comfortable with it, open the thing up and make sure nothing is loose inside. No broken connections, or anything that needs to be soldered. Might as well clean the machine of any dust while you are in there, if you have never done that then for sure it's dusty in there.


Heat could be an issue here. That temp is a bit high.... View attachment 10976


Anything under 60 degrees C (140 degrees F) is perfect. Just above this temperature is okay, but as you creep above 70 degrees C (158 degrees F), you need to look at how to cool your PC down.



As for uninstalling AVG it's just crap software, you might wander why I am suggesting you remove it. I've helped on forums for many years and seen AVG cause a whole slew of issues on many many machines. The built in defender is sufficient and if you combine that with ublock origin and are not downloading random things, you should be fine.

Also, I suggest to disable these scheduled task...


MicrosoftEdgeUpdateTaskMachineUA
GoogleUpdateTaskMachineUA
GoogleUpdateTaskMachineCore
Adobe Acrobat Update Task
AdobeGCInvoker-1.0
MicrosoftEdgeUpdateTaskMachineCore
Dell SupportAssistAgent AutoUpdate


If you do not use One Drive, then click here to see how to disable/remove it.
Thanks so much for all your invaluable help. I’ll let you know what happens. I haven’t opened it up before so will give that a try too. I was surprised with the temp as it’s fairly quiet. I read somewhere that the thermal paste might need replacing on the cpu.
 
I’ve started to try a few of the suggestion, still going through them. I have to fit it in around kids and life. As of yet there hasn’t been much of a change, I’m plugging away.
 
What is the make and model of the 2nd monitor?
Acer G246HL

When you ran speccy you had it connected to a Kogan tv.
Correct. I was trying to see if a different monitor would work.
Can you see anything at all on the laptop screen?
I can see the desktop or what ever I’m using on the computer but it’s distorted, has some lines, ghosting etc.

If yes, does it go blank at the same time as the
No, it doesn’t go blank when the external monitor goes black.
 
Can you go here and download speed fan and install Click On Me .
Run speed fan then click on the Exotics tab > show the magic. Post a screen capture. To do a screen capture in Windows 10 press the windows key and the print screen button together. It will put the image in Pictures>Screenshots
 
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