Desktop Icons refresh when starting TC

[petermad]

2ghisler(Author)
Did you try if there is a difference when run as Administrator (disable UAC)

[ghisler(Author)]

I didn't try to disable UAC. But when I run TC as Administrator, there is no flickering, probably because the Desktop is running with normal user rights.

[petermad]

The UAC suggestion was just disable the screen darkening and the warning dialog to be able to see any flickering.

[ghisler(Author)]

That's not neccessary - TC only flickers once it shows a file or folder. Just create an empty directory, go inside on both sides, then close and re-open TC (normal or as admin). There is no desktop flickering. Then go to a directory containing files and/or folders to see the flickering (there is none in elevated TC).

[petermad]

Just create an empty directory, go inside on both sides, then close and re-open TC (normal or as admin). There is no desktop flickering.

That is only correct under Windows 10. Under Windows 7 there iis still flickering when opening with two empty directories in the panels.

And, as I wrote before: Under Windows 10 the flickering occurs AFTER TC shows up on the screen, but under Windows 7 the flickering occurs BEFORE TC shows up - that is why I suggested to turn off the UAC, otherwise the flickering - if there had been any - would not be seen because of the darkening of the screen when the UAC promt shows up.

[polle452]

Win10Pro 1804,

Portable version of Opera v52.0.? causes the same kind of flicker of desktop icons at startup.
Opera did a quick auto update to v.53.0.2907.37(portable) - no flicker.

[polle452]

Win10Pro 1804,

Found an ancient v44.0.2510.857 of portable Opera - does not cause the flicker.

[petermad]

I see flicker from:

Opera .53.0.2907.37
Safari 5.1.7 (7543.57.2)
Skype 7.40.0.104
Quick Time Player 7.7.9 (1680.95.84
MPC Home Cinema 1.7.13
Google Earth 7.3.1.4507
XnView 2.44

All under Windows 7

[HerbieH]

I myself haven't had this problem with any of the Windows 7, 8 and 10 Computers/Servers that I have admin access to.

But at least one homepage suggests, that 'Windows Error Reporting' service might be the cause of an icon-refresh culprit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXUMGlSE3Fo

The above link is about a constant icon refresh, but it is a small thing to disble the service temporary to see, if it helps on this problem too.

If it does, it might be, that some programs tries to send error messages to Microsoft, and that triggers an icon refresh 'bug'.

Just a thought.

[Dalai]

Ah, that might explain why I never have had any such issue on any of the systems I install for clients or work on. My unattended Windows installation automatically disables Windows Error Reporting right after the system is installed (because I think it's a useless service).

Regards
Dalai

[petermad]

I tried disabeling "Windows Error Reporting" under WIndows 7 and Windows 10 - it made no difference - still flickering.

[ghisler(Author)]

I don't think that there is an error causing a Windows error report. A simple call to GetOverlayIconIndex causes the flickering.

I have created a small test tool which demonstrates the problems with shell icons (drive t:), and the flickering:
https://www.totalcommander.ch/win/testiconproblems.zip
Source code:
https://www.totalcommander.ch/win/testiconproblems_src.zip

To test the flickering problem, just run the tool and then click on its window. The function causing the flickering is located in
File: testfunctions.cpp
Function: getOverlayIcon()
Function call causing the flickering: psio->GetOverlayIconIndex(childidlist,&nOverlay);

To reproduce the error, the folder C:\Users\All Users needs to exist. It doesn't need to have an overlay icon.

[petermad]

Hmm, I get different results running testIconProblems.exe under Windows 7 and Windows 10:

Under Windows 7 I get flickering when I launch testIconProblems.exe - but clicking the programs window does NOT cause any flickering

Under Widows 10 I do NOT get flickering when I launch testIconProblems.exe - but clicking the programs window DOES cause flickering - but only ONE time - any later clicks on the window does not cause flickering.

C:\Users\All Users\ in both cases exists as a SymlinkD to C:\ProgramData

[Dalai]

The only thing that flickers with the test program is the icon of drive T: in the test program itself. This is regardless of whether or not a drive T: exists, and it only does this when the program gets the focus again, but it doesn't happen everytime either. The icons on my desktop don't flicker at all.

So, there must be some other factors necessary to trigger this issue. Maybe the number of icons is relevant? I only have 18 on my desktop, including the system icons (Computer, Network and Recycle Bin).

Is anyone able to record this issue and upload a video somewhere? Or is there already any video that shows the issue? I haven't been able to find any, only videos claiming to fix it by disabling WER.

Regards
Dalai

[polle452]

Win10Pro-1804+TC9.20B3+TestIconProblems.exe

3 short video files (zipped) can be found here:
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AiGhuZL1yn2DgzshzNMrcqQZ7DPU

showing the reaction to the TestIcon, TC with Overlay Icon Disabled and TC with Overlay Icon Enabled.

All 3 scenarios are consistently reproduceable (TestIcon need to be restarted for each test).