AN515-44 Screen Blinking Black or White at Random Time

AthleteExact8814
AthleteExact8814 Member Posts: 9

Tinkerer

My model is the 2020 Nitro 5, AN515-44 with the AMD R5. Just bought it for two weeks, right now is the third weeks with this laptop.

Starting from the second week I already got issue like screen blinking black or white (depending on the background color, for Google usually is black, for Whatsapp dark theme is white) at very random time for a split second. Usually it only happen when I'm on battery but now it also happens when charging too.

I already tried to search on Google, trying their solution but none of them works. I've been trying to:

  1. Update to the latest and reinstall GPU driver back to the driver version at Acer's website

  2. Update and downgrade AMD Radeon driver

  3. Setting screen to 60 Hz

  4. Turn off AMD FreeSync

  5. Uninstall applications that I install few days before the problem (Microsoft said app can be the problem if Task Manager is not flickering) -> This reduce the frequency but sometimes still happen. I'm still waiting for few days to see if it's gone, I already have one program to blame for, but let's see.

None of them work. It's a two weeks laptop and already having problem.

I'm thinking the other way around is to restore Windows back to its original version before it gets updated with Windows update. This might be one that causes the issue but I don't really sure.

Any idea how to fix this or should I just send it for repair?

Answers

  • AnhEZ28
    AnhEZ28 ACE, Member Posts: 4,626 Pathfinder
    Did you also try to update GPU driver from AMD website?
    Please remember to include @AnhEZ28 when you want to reply back to my comment so that I can check your response.
    Thank you and have a nice day!
  • AthleteExact8814
    AthleteExact8814 Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    Yep, I tried to update from AMD's website and issue still persist. Tried to update to the newest, downgrade to driver that Acer gave, and update it again, still the same.
  • Does the screen also flash when you access the bios? The same problem occurs when reinstalling windows, pressing alt + f10?
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  • AthleteExact8814
    AthleteExact8814 Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    Never access the BIOS. Will check and report later
    The same problem occurs when reinstalling windows, pressing alt + f10?
    What do u mean by this? Should I press ALT + F10 now or when reinstalling Windows? I haven't reinstall Windows yet.

    Appreciate your answer bro.
  • AthleteExact8814
    AthleteExact8814 Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    edited March 2021
    Uh I cannot edit post. After entering the BIOS, no flashing occurs. It works great. I believe this should be not related to hardware issue?
  • Commodore_1995#
    Commodore_1995# ACE Posts: 98,349 Trailblazer
    edited March 2021
    Yes, I think there may be some software problem. Try reinstalling windows:
    Oi! Eu não sou sou a cortana! Mas estou aqui para ajudar! Hi! I'm not the cortana! But I'm here to help!
    Se você gostou da minha resposta, marque como solução clicando em sim! If you liked my answer, mark it as a solution by clicking on yes!
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                                                     egydiocoelho Trailblazer
     
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  • AthleteExact8814
    AthleteExact8814 Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    Thanks, will try to reinstall Windows. I will report back again soon. Will this uninstall all of my Acer related software?
  • I advise you to back up the files.
    Oi! Eu não sou sou a cortana! Mas estou aqui para ajudar! Hi! I'm not the cortana! But I'm here to help!
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                                                     egydiocoelho Trailblazer
     
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  • AthleteExact8814
    AthleteExact8814 Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    Update: Reinstalling Windows currently solve the issue. I don't see any flicker in my Ms Word too (which previously flicker). Will try to observe and keep you guys updated in a few days. I hope this one is the way to solve the issue.
  • AthleteExact8814
    AthleteExact8814 Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    Update: Word now flickers after I install AMD Radeon Software (downloaded from AMD's website, somehow Acer's driver don't give me AMD Radeon software). I installed it at very last time and I checked Word pre-install and post-install. Let's see if it will affect my screen again.

    At least I know now how to fix it.
  • Try disabling vari bright on adrenalin!
    Oi! Eu não sou sou a cortana! Mas estou aqui para ajudar! Hi! I'm not the cortana! But I'm here to help!
    Se você gostou da minha resposta, marque como solução clicando em sim! If you liked my answer, mark it as a solution by clicking on yes!
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                                                     egydiocoelho Trailblazer
     
    ProductKey clique aqui para descobrir o serial do windows! click here to discover the windows serial!
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  • AthleteExact8814
    AthleteExact8814 Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    edited March 2021
    Vari bright is always off as I don't like how it changes my sceen.

    I think I know the problem. Since I'm using this laptop to code, I'm going to install WSL and upgraded it to WSL 2. Last night after reinstallation, I install WSL and upgrade it to WSL 2. When upgrading to WSL 2, Windows asks to activate Virtual Machine Platform in Windows features.

    Shortly after I reboot the laptop (otherwise the feature won't turn on), flickering/blinking starts again. I tried to search for this issue online and found out that the root cause is the Virtual Machine Problem.

    This causes issue too in other laptop, but not all laptop. I found the fix for this is to disable fast-boot (check https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/enabling-virtual-machine-platform-feature-causes/4a579e57-2de1-4cf6-8e3e-f7abc5b0cb04). I haven't tried it yet since I don't want to turn off my fast boot, but post poster and 3 other users find this helpful. So it might be the fix.

    Right now, I decide to just use WSL 1 until this issue has been fixed or WSL 1 is dead. If WSL 1 dead and issue still persist, I'm going to disable fast boot then.

    Many thanks to @egydiocoelho for helping me!
  • Commodore_1995#
    Commodore_1995# ACE Posts: 98,349 Trailblazer
    edited March 2021
    Are you referring to the fast startup located in the energy options? Or are you referring to the fast boot located in the bios? They are different functions. I think users in the microsoft community were referring to the fast startup. If your laptop has a ssd m2 2280 installed, there is no need to activate fast startup!
    Oi! Eu não sou sou a cortana! Mas estou aqui para ajudar! Hi! I'm not the cortana! But I'm here to help!
    Se você gostou da minha resposta, marque como solução clicando em sim! If you liked my answer, mark it as a solution by clicking on yes!
    Aceite somente a resposta que ajudou a solucionar o seu problema! Please accept only the response that helped to solve your problem!
    Detection tool click here to find the serial number or partnumber of your model!                                                          
                                                      
                                                     egydiocoelho Trailblazer
     
    ProductKey clique aqui para descobrir o serial do windows! click here to discover the windows serial!
    Para usuários da comunidade inglesa, espanhola, francesa e alemã, usarei o google tradutor! :)
    For users of the English, Spanish, French and German community, I will be using google translator! :)