Vista Premium help - active window blinking

[congenic]

I hope someone can help me with this. I've tried to google for the solution but i can't seem to find the right search terms to describe my problem.

The problem is, my active window (sometimes the background window) is blinking as if it's being selected and then unselected. So the border of internet explorer for instance would be alternating between the colour of being active and being inactive (in the background). The URL area also flashes too as if it's being selected and unselected as well.

When I click on the quck launch " >> ", the menu would appear and then disappear before i can select something from the extended menu. It's as if someone is presssing escape or pressing some other button.

I've removed the batteries from my keyboard and used my mouse to click on >> again but the problem still exist (so it's not a keyboard thing).

I've tried removing antivirus program, windows sidebar... i can't think of anything else. I've scanned for spyware with spybot and that hasn't helped (it found spyware, but it's removed and still the same problem exists).

This is not a video problem because the rest of my screen is fine (but to be sure i've updated to the latest video drivers.) THe flashing/blinking/alternating frequency is limited only to open windows.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated, thanks.

[congenic]

Anyone?

I've now discovered if i hover over a button, the pop-up description appears but that's blinking too.

[airplay]

I have the same problem when I sync my Pocket PC. The only "solution" I have is to unplug the USB connector after the initial sync...PITA.

[congenic]

I have the same problem when I sync my Pocket PC. The only "solution" I have is to unplug the USB connector after the initial sync...PITA.

Hmm unplugging usb devices...i never thought of that. I'll give that a try when I get home.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'm getting desperate...this is such a ridiculous problem.

[Kasakato]

I had the same problem. A quick restart got rid of it.

[congenic]

I had the same problem. A quick restart got rid of it.

Airplay's suggestion worked!! Thanks so much Airplay! I unplugged my usb hub and the flickering/flashing stopped. I gradually added all my devices back and discovered my kingston usb drive with u3 was the offending device.

THANKS Airplay!

Kasakato, thanks for your suggestion, unfortunately restarting never worked for me. But I am glad I'm not the only one experiencing this silly problem.

[airplay]

You're welcome, but of course it's not really a fix. So, if anyone has any ideas why this is happening...please jump in.

[spidermonkey2484]

Holy Crap! I had the same problem and didn't even think of unplugging the U3 thumb drive as I use a wireless keyboard/mouse and don't mess with my computer much. That was the problem! Like the first poster I was looking all over the web for an answer and the best I could come up with is reinstall windows - thank goodness I didn't waste my time doing that! After finding this thread I did find another discussing this problem and it looks like a bug in the way windows works with certain USB devices:

http://www.howtofixcomputers.com/for...ws-134417.html

I hope this helps other people out there :-)