SOLUTION for Black Screen Flash After Windows Loads

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:

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.

 

thanks alot that was driving me crazy!

 

No problem. I know how you feel.

 

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:

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

wow!!
you found the solution for that!

thank you very much

 

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!

 

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.

 

Bumping this just in case anyone else might find it useful.

 

Thanks a lot! Great find and your hard work is much appreciated. It was annoying but now I don't have to deal with it anymore.

Rep Up. +1!

 

Glad you found it useful. Thanks for the rep as well.

 

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.

 

I was afraid that that would be the case with this fix. As I use my external video port a LOT, either a second display or a projector, I guess I'll live with the occasional "blink" at startup.

Gary

 

Me too. I still prefer the automatic switch, and the flash only occurs once during start up for me anyway.

 

I guess you can't have it all. The flash bothered me because I lock the computer a lot and whenever I would log back on it would be there, taunting me.

I don't (and don't plan to) use external display devices very often, so the fix was perfect for me.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback.

-Peter

 

I use and external monitor all the time. If I do this fix how do I manually enable the external monitor?

Regards

 

Google it.

http://tech.yahoo.com/gd/using-an-external-monitor-with-a-laptop/200304

 

Nice find. Worked for me.

 

Some one with some real Power should REP you! this is good, I don't know how you found but you did. The only problem is with our reps 1 to the power of 3 is 1, 1 to the power of 50 is 1, talk about the lonelist #!

 

Glad it helped you out.

 

Thank you so much. This was bugging the hell out of me.

 

Nice find. +rep

 

Does this work in xp? cause i cant figure out how to do it.

 

Maybe a moderator wants to sticky this?

 

MyFavorite Vista Tweak!!! Do you know how many threads and postings there are on Yahoo from people trying to figure this out? Repped!!!

 

Thanks. Yeah, I've seen more and more of it, which why I hope a mod decides to sticky this thread.

 

Great solution! I spent half day trying to fix this issue on my new T61. Your solution fixed it! Thank you!

 

Wow very nice! I remember seeing this guide a while back and then when it just happened to me an hour ago I remembered this thread and looked it up... THANK YOU!!

 

Genius. I'm going to do this when I get home today.

+rep if it works

 

I was just browsing the forums and I came across this gem of a thread...

I always wondered what that quick black flash was and now that I can fix it, I will!

Thanks!! +rep!

 

Thanks guys. I'd like for a mod to sticky this, but either they haven't seen my request or don't think it merits a sticky.

 

Is there anything else in the task scheduler windows catagory that should be disabled?

 

yeah. anything else?

 

Unless you have another problem, I would leave it alone.

 

WORKED! Thanks a lot.

 

As mentioned earlier, has anyone found a fix for his in Win XP??

 

I want to re-iterate this question....as I have not find anything that works for XP yet....does anyone knopw how to do this for XP??? NinjaNoodles?? anyone?

great thread by the way I will be using it on my vista sstem when I receive it that is..

 

I never saw the problem on XP. You could try this, but I don't have access to an XP machine so I wouldn't be able to test it for you.

My guess is that your problem actually is a driver issue, or an issue with a program running at startup, rather than an issue with TMM.

 

Any luck yet?

 

wow bro you're my hero lol.... im on my 2nd vista laptop now thinking the first was defective so i ordered this one, then to find out it was an issue with vista... i thought it was just something i would have to live with... i signed up on the forum after reading your post just to say thanks

 

Thanks. I'm glad you found it useful.

In other news, I sent a PM to the moderator of this forum about making this thread a sticky. He never replied, so I'll take it as a "no." That said, it would be helpful for you guys to post to bump the thread (posts with actual content, please) just to keep it available to everyone.

Thanks,
Peter

 

what about flashing screen when SHUTTING DOWN.. ? anyone have that problem? I do :S and it sucks. Anyone know how to solve it?

 

I think that's normal?

 

UPDATE: Andrew has posted this fix in an article on the front page, so I guess exposure is no longer that big of an issue.

Thanks Andrew.

 

when you shut down... it is normal to have a flashing screen? well that sucks.

 

Hi.

Thank you for sharing this.
What if we delete this TMM ?

Thanks
Craig

 

I tried the steps but when trying to disable TMM (which is currently running) I get the following message:
"Task Scheduler service is not available. Task Scheduler will attempt to reconnect it." Then after hitting "OK" another dialog box message says: "This task could not be modified as requested."

Any suggestions? Please help. Thanks!

 

Craig, I wouldn't do that. You might want to turn it back on sometime, and even if you don't, it does you no harm just to disable it.

tangyi, I've never encountered that. Try searching Google for the error message. Maybe try to disable it in safe mode if all else fails?