Desktop keeps refreshing 3 May at 5:42PM edited 3 May at 5:43PM in Techie Stuff 12 replies 167 views

flyer

Help! All of a sudden my desktop keeps refreshing every 3/4 seconds. I can't even type in the search bar. I'm running Windows 10. Any ideas?

HereToday

A few here, but will you be able to execute any of them.... https://superuser.com/questions/1253687/windows-10-desktop-screen-and-taskbar-keep-refreshing-tried-many-ways-but-stil/1456024

pbartlett

did you google the problem and try any of the suggested fixes?

IvanOpinion

Do you use cloud storage?  I have seen something like this with some cloud storage that is doing a sync and causes the desktop or file manager to do a refresh.  

flyer

pbartlett said:

did you google the problem and try any of the suggested fixes?

Yes I did but they all required me to hit the start button or the search box neither of which were available!

flyer

IvanOpinion said:

Do you use cloud storage?  I have seen something like this with some cloud storage that is doing a sync and causes the desktop or file manager to do a refresh.  

NopeHereToday said:

A few here, but will you be able to execute any of them.... https://superuser.com/questions/1253687/windows-10-desktop-screen-and-taskbar-keep-refreshing-tried-many-ways-but-stil/1456024

I've seen that but can't access the start button or the search box!

Neil_Jones

flyer said:

IvanOpinion said:

Do you use cloud storage?  I have seen something like this with some cloud storage that is doing a sync and causes the desktop or file manager to do a refresh.  

NopeHereToday said:

A few here, but will you be able to execute any of them.... https://superuser.com/questions/1253687/windows-10-desktop-screen-and-taskbar-keep-refreshing-tried-many-ways-but-stil/1456024

I've seen that but can't access the start button or the search box!

Start button is for wimps.

See if you can do CTRL+ALT+DEL and go into Task Manager.  The File -> Run New Task is the same as the search bar (to an extent, only without the searching) and does the same job as Win Key+R would do in normal circumstances.

flyer

Neil_Jones said:

flyer said:

IvanOpinion said:

Do you use cloud storage?  I have seen something like this with some cloud storage that is doing a sync and causes the desktop or file manager to do a refresh.  

NopeHereToday said:

A few here, but will you be able to execute any of them.... https://superuser.com/questions/1253687/windows-10-desktop-screen-and-taskbar-keep-refreshing-tried-many-ways-but-stil/1456024

I've seen that but can't access the start button or the search box!

Start button is for wimps.

See if you can do CTRL+ALT+DEL and go into Task Manager.  The File -> Run New Task is the same as the search bar (to an extent, only without the searching) and does the same job as Win Key+R would do in normal circumstances.

I can get into the Task Manager but I'm unsure what to do next. Bizarrely the desktop has stopped refreshing but I still can't use the search box or the start button!

Neil_Jones

flyer said:

Neil_Jones said:

flyer said:

IvanOpinion said:

Do you use cloud storage?  I have seen something like this with some cloud storage that is doing a sync and causes the desktop or file manager to do a refresh.  

NopeHereToday said:

A few here, but will you be able to execute any of them.... https://superuser.com/questions/1253687/windows-10-desktop-screen-and-taskbar-keep-refreshing-tried-many-ways-but-stil/1456024

I've seen that but can't access the start button or the search box!

Start button is for wimps.

See if you can do CTRL+ALT+DEL and go into Task Manager.  The File -> Run New Task is the same as the search bar (to an extent, only without the searching) and does the same job as Win Key+R would do in normal circumstances.

I can get into the Task Manager but I'm unsure what to do next. Bizarrely the desktop has stopped refreshing but I still can't use the search box or the start button!

File and "Run new task" from Task Manager does the same job to an extent as the search bar.  So if you found a solution online you can still use that as a temporary workaround.

flyer

Right I can't get into command prompt and I get an alert "Windows cannot find command". Is it because I'm User, not Admin? If so, how do I change to Admin if I can't access the start button?

Neil_Jones

typing CMD into the run box brings up the Command Prompt, not typing "command".  That might work for the normal search box but for the run box, it doesn't.  Remember the "run new task" thing is the same to an extent as search - but not 100% the same.