Black flashing screen

So lm having a weird issue on my laptop, its only happened while playing FFXIV and on discord, of the times it happened so far the common thread between them is that l had been streaming something (first time l was asked to test to see if a friends twitch stream was working (l didnt use my browser originally l tested the embedded video in discord) and the second time l was listening to music via a bot in discord).

both times l was in game and out of the blue the screen goes black kind of flashing like its going on and off, l did come across a suggestion to set the preferred GPU to the Nvida card rather than the laptops integrated GFX on discord which l had thought resolved the issue but seeing as it happened again while in game lm kinda stumped because no one else l know who plays on a gaming laptop seems to have this issue especially seeing as its not happened at any other time and only while playing FFXIV.

Good morning and thank you for posting on the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

To prevent repeating previously attempted troubleshooting, what have you additionally tried to alleviate the problem? Also, could you provide a system report? Simply go to the 'Config' option on the Final Fantasy XIV launcher and to the right of 'System Information' click on 'Display.'

Thank you for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

not at the laptop right this second, however will provide these details as soon as lm able.

what l can tell you is that it was suggested to open up the nvida control panel and add discord to use the nvida GPU as the preferred GPU. as l said this only seems to happen when playing FFXIV and discord, the other common factor is something is being streamed. be it via a bot playing music on discord or having played a stream through twitch or youtube at some point while playing FFXIV. my guess is something isnt being pushed through the nvidia GPU and something doesnt like it but lm not sure what else l can do. either way l will provide the relevant information as soon as lm next at the laptop.

Good morning and thank you for the reply.

Does this issue occur if the discord overlay is disabled? Additionally, are you able to try a cleanboot? Open the task manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC) and select the 'Start up' Tab. Disable everything here and restart the PC.

Thank you for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums

the first time it happened the overlay was enabled, the last time it was disabled l believe (pretty sure l turned off the correct setting). the weird part is lve been on discord a few times no issue voice chatting, the only common factor is the first time l played an embedded video (direct through discord) and the second time l joined a channel where music was being streamed via a bot that links to youtube videos to play items.

l can have discord open and text chat with no issue but the moment lve joined voice chat and some form of streaming has happened (the only common factor between the times its happened).

as requested my system information

Quote:

---

-=-=-=-=-=-=- FFXIV Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

MyDocument C:\Users\amaen\Documents
FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn Language 1 Region 3
ProxyEnable 0
ProxyServer unspecified
ProxyOverride unspecified


-=-=-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

SYSTEM_OS Windows 10 Home 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (18362.19h1_release.190318-1202)
SYSTEM_CPU Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8300H CPU @ 2.30GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.3GHz
SYSTEM_CORE_NUM SYSTEM_CORE_LOGIC 8 SYSTEM_CORE_PHYSICS 4
SYSTEM_BIOS F.20
SYSTEM_LANGUAGE English (Regional Setting: English)
SYSTEM_MEMORY 8081.238MB
SYSTEM_VIRTUAL_MEMORY 134217727.875MB
SYSTEM_PAGE_FILE 13713.238MB
SYSTEM_STORAGE C:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 118.009GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 62.578GB
SYSTEM_STORAGE D:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 931.511GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 555.706GB
SYSTEM_DIRECTX_VERSION DirectX 12
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS Intel(R) UHD Graphics 630
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DEVICE \\.\DISPLAY1
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_CHIP Intel(R) UHD Graphics Family
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_MAKER Intel Corporation
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VRAM 4018.000 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM 4040.619 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DAC Internal
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iigd_dch.inf_amd64_b261b2ab559fdee8\igdumdim64.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iigd_dch.inf_amd64_b261b2ab559fdee8\igd10iumd64.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iigd_dch.inf_amd64_b261b2ab559fdee8\igd10iumd64.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iigd_dch.inf_amd64_b261b2ab559fdee8\igd12umd64.dll
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 26.20.0100.6911
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_DATE 5/28/2019 01:00:00
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_PIXEL_SHADER 3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE SYSTEM_SUPPORT
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DEVICE Unknown
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_CHIP GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_MAKER NVIDIA
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VRAM Unknown
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM SYSTEM_UNKNOWN
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DAC Integrated RAMDAC
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE Unknown
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvhmi.inf_amd64_16379c8f7b9eb106\nvldumdx.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvhmi.inf_amd64_16379c8f7b9eb106\nvldumdx.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvhmi.inf_amd64_16379c8f7b9eb106\nvldumdx.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvhmi.inf_amd64_16379c8f7b9eb106\nvldumdx.dll
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 26.21.0014.4575
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_DATE 3/17/2020 01:00:00
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English

SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_PIXEL_SHADER
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE
SYSTEM_SOUND Speaker/Headphone (2- Realtek High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {112D262C-0D13-46B7-BBF6-8721DADF9306}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME RTKVHD64.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 6.00.0001.8536
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 9/11/2018 00:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND Headphones (Oculus Virtual Audio Device)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {8787318E-167D-4DAE-A007-86C21474EAF4}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME oculusvad.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 10.00.10011.16384
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 2/11/2020 00:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND Speakers (USB Audio Device)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {8A162246-3AC6-41FA-B34E-CB533A009974}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME USBAUDIO.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 6.02.18362.0001
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 3/18/2019 00:00:00
SYSTEM_INPUT {6F1D2B60-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Mouse
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 8 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {6F1D2B61-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Keyboard
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 128 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {E73787D0-5B32-11EA-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Controller (XBOX 360 For Windows)
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 5 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 10 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 1
SYSTEM_INPUT {A7E9BAE0-63D8-11EA-8004444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB Audio Device
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 1 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 5 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {4B05DD20-670E-11EA-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB Gaming Mouse
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 4096 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {4B065250-670E-11EA-8002444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB Gaming Mouse
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {22194EF0-5B1B-11EA-8004444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME HP Wireless Button Driver
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 1 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0


-=-=-=-=-=-=- Application Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

FFXIVLauncher
Black flashing screen - Mozilla Firefox
Discord
Mail
Inbox - Gmail ‎- Mail
Settings
Settings
Microsoft Store
Microsoft Store


-=-=-=-=-=-=- Install Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

Disk SpeedUp 5.0.1.63
ImgBurn
Internet Download Manager
KeyTweak - Keyboard Remapper (remove only)
Origin
PureVPN
Rockstar Games Launcher
Rockstar Games Social Club
Steam
WinSCP 5.17.1
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (x64) - 12.0.30501
HP CoolSense
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 x86 Minimum Runtime - 12.0.21005
Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 X86 Minimum Runtime - 14.22.27821
FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (x86) - 11.0.61030
Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 X86 Additional Runtime - 14.22.27821
Yiffalicious version 1.0
PureVPN
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable (x86) - 14.22.27821
Grand Theft Auto V
Google Update Helper
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable (x64) - 14.22.27821
HP Customer Experience Enhancements
HP Connection Optimizer
STAR WARS™ Battlefront™ II
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.17
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 x86 Additional Runtime - 11.0.61030
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 x86 Minimum Runtime - 11.0.61030
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (x64) - 11.0.61030
REDRAGON IMPACT Gaming Mouse
HP Support Solutions Framework
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x86 Redistributable - 10.0.40219
Realtek High Definition Audio Driver
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (x86) - 12.0.30501
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 x86 Additional Runtime - 12.0.21005
Vortex
Bitdefender Total Security
Bitdefender Agent
Bitdefender Device Management
Bitdefender VPN
Mozilla Firefox 74.0 (x64 en-GB)
Mozilla Maintenance Service
Oculus
Plague Inc: Evolved
Fallout 4
Quarantine
Vulkan Run Time Libraries 1.0.65.1
WinRAR 5.50 beta 3 (64-bit)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 X64 Minimum Runtime - 14.22.27821
Backup and Sync from Google
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x64 Redistributable - 10.0.40219
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 x64 Additional Runtime - 11.0.61030
PuTTY release 0.73 (64-bit)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 X64 Additional Runtime - 14.22.27821
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 x64 Additional Runtime - 12.0.21005
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 x64 Minimum Runtime - 12.0.21005
NVIDIA Ansel
NVIDIA Control Panel 445.75
NVIDIA Graphics Driver 445.75
NVIDIA GeForce Experience 3.20.2.34
NVIDIA Optimus Update 38.0.4.0
NVIDIA PhysX System Software 9.19.0218
NVIDIA Update 38.0.4.0
NVIDIA SHIELD Streaming
NVIDIA HD Audio Driver 1.3.38.26
NVIDIA Install Application
NVIDIA ABHub
NVIDIA Backend
NVIDIA Container
NVIDIA TelemetryApi helper for NvContainer
NVIDIA LocalSystem Container
NVIDIA Message Bus for NvContainer
NVIDIA NetworkService Container
NVAPI Monitor plugin for NvContainer
NVIDIA Session Container
NVIDIA User Container
NVIDIA Display Container
NVIDIA Display Container LS
NVIDIA Display Watchdog Plugin
NVIDIA Display Session Container
NVIDIA NodeJS
NVIDIA Watchdog Plugin for NvContainer
NVIDIA Telemetry Client
NVIDIA Virtual Host Controller
Nvidia Share
NVIDIA ShadowPlay 3.20.2.34
NVIDIA SHIELD Wireless Controller Driver
NVIDIA Update Core
NVIDIA Virtual Audio 4.13.0.0
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 x64 Minimum Runtime - 11.0.61030


-=-=-=-=-=-=- Proccess Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\HP CoolSense\CoolSense.exe 00001A64
C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Download Manager\IDMan.exe 000038D4
C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Download Manager\IEMonitor.exe 00003634
C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\NvNode\NVIDIA Web Helper.exe 00003D24
C:\Program Files (x86)\REDRAGON IMPACT Gaming Mouse\hid.exe 000013AC
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\bin\cef\cef.win7x64\steamwebhelper.exe 00002D54
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam.exe 000042B4
C:\Program Files\Bitdefender\Bitdefender Security\bdagent.exe 00003644
C:\Program Files\Google\Drive\googledrivesync.exe 00001650
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe 00001B40
C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NvContainer\nvcontainer.exe 000003E4
C:\Program Files\Oculus\Support\oculus-runtime\OVRServer_x64.exe 00001284
C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA\RAVBg64.exe 00003704
C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA\RtkNGUI64.exe 00003884
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsStore_12003.1001.1.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\WinStore.App.exe 00003524
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.YourPhone_1.20022.82.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\YourPhone.exe 00000668
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.YourPhone_1.20022.82.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\YourPhoneServer\YourPhoneServer.exe 00003494
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16005.12624.20296.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\HxOutlook.exe 00000B0C
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16005.12624.20296.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\HxTsr.exe 00000D14
C:\Users\amaen\AppData\Local\Discord\app-0.0.306\Discord.exe 00002680
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE 000029F0
C:\Windows\ImmersiveControlPanel\SystemSettings.exe 00003C5C
C:\Windows\System32\CompPkgSrv.exe 00003840
C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\cui_dch.inf_amd64_92cf9d9d84f1d3db\igfxEM.exe 00004274
C:\Windows\System32\RuntimeBroker.exe 00003A94
C:\Windows\System32\SecurityHealthSystray.exe 00001408
C:\Windows\System32\smartscreen.exe 000038C4
C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe 000026DC
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchUI.exe 00000F08
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe 00001590
C:\Windows\SystemApps\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\ShellExperienceHost.exe 00000AD4
C:\Windows\system32\ApplicationFrameHost.exe 00003B58
C:\Windows\system32\DllHost.exe 00002E98
C:\Windows\system32\ETDCtrl.exe 00003968
C:\Windows\system32\ETDTouch.exe 00003B24
C:\Windows\system32\SearchProtocolHost.exe 00003EB0
C:\Windows\system32\SettingSyncHost.exe 00002BC8
C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 000024CC
C:\Windows\system32\sihost.exe 00003BC0
C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe 000030A4
C:\Windows\system32\taskhostw.exe 000013A0
D:\Program Files\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn\boot\ffxivlauncher.exe 000047B0
D:\Program Files\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn\boot\ffxivsysinfo64.exe 00002668

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Good afternoon and thank you for the reply.

Do you experience this issue only with Final Fantasy XIV? Or does the screen flash with a different program? Additionally are you able to update your graphics drivers as a more recent one is available.

Thank you for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

l thought l was using the latest drivers, lm using the Geforce experience program and been updating as soon as a new one came out.. but l will look into that.

and lve only experienced this issue with XIV, that said lve only played XIV so far while on discord, havent gotten around to trying other games at the same time. as for what happens while its happening l'll be on XIV minding my own business and suddenly my screen would start flashing, l can still hear sound etc, usually l close my laptop lid a couple of times and things come back at which point l'll reboot as the first time it happened it did it twice, but its only happened when lve been using discord at the same time and something has been streamed in some way or another via discord but from what lve read from some of the random information lve searched up on problems similar to my own that there was an issue with GPU elevations where one app was trying to use my onboard and another using the Nvida card.

=========
Edit

lve upgraded my drivers to the latest, the Geforce Experience app kept on telling me everything was up to date but the Nvida website checker said there was a new version which l updated to.

Good morning and thank you for posting on the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

We would like to recommend trying to play with Windows and FINAL FANTASY XIV installed onto the same drive, preferably the C drive. Unfortunately, the device information in the provided System Report does indicate that the laptop being used does not meet the minimum specifications required to play FINAL FANTASY XIV most notably the Intel(R) HD Graphics Family chipset. We do not support Intel graphics cards for FINAL FANTASY XIV. However, I did notice there is an NVIDIA device that is not listed as the primary graphics card. This suggests that you may be running NVIDIA Optimus which controls whether your system utilizes the base Intel card or the NVIDIA card to conserve battery power. Please try disabling NVIDIA Optimus and see if the error persists. For instructions on how to force the NVIDIA card to be enabled or to disable Optimus, please contact NVIDIA Support.

Thank you for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

0_o the Nvida should be set as the primary card, or at least thats what l assumed when l set the preferred GPU as in the Nvidia Control Panel.

sorry lm not at that laptop at the second but lve sourced an image that shows the options that l see.

the first shows the main page where instead of auto select lve set it to use the Nvida card:
https://i.ibb.co/hXQZxtj/image1.png

the second which l admit l havent done yet is add the FFXIV launcher to the app list and set it to use my preferred GPU:
https://i.ibb.co/0Dntk94/image2.png

in the example its showing steam (maybe l should add FFXIV there as well as l dont think its in there, however l do know that the Geforce Experience app lists FFXIV as a game its optimised for use with the card).


l did come across this link (https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Gaming-...0/ta-p/4189891) while l was looking for stock images for this post, lm guessing this would be another option for me to make sure things are running through the GPU properly, that said lm still wondering if this will solve my black screen issues, but l guess first things first is to make sure things are actually running through my GPU.

that being the case, lm assuming l should add the laucher to the options in the second image or is there another executable l should be adding? (either way l will be returning to the lenovo link later and enable the options that tell me if something is using the correct GPU (in my case the GeForce GTX 1050 TI), however l will check into your other recommendations.

Forgot to note that installing on c drive isn't possible due to space issues, I would have but as the ssd is only 128gb and end up with little more than 60gb on a clean install of windows it leaves very little space if any left, my problem with discord aside the game has ran very smooth on the laptop with no issues but I will be looking into the other recommendations as soon as I next hop on.


======
Edit

didnt want to triple post but l turned on the option on Nvida Control panel that shows whats using the Nvida GPU and it seems everything is going through it as it should be (even discord which l added) so lm stumped as to why l get the black flashing screen issue.

screen cap:
https://i.ibb.co/C2X2rqg/Untitled.jpg

Good afternoon and thank you for the reply.

If you have not done so already, could you try doing a cleanboot? Open the task manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC) and select the 'Start up' Tab. Disable everything here and restart the PC.

Thank you for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.