Windows 11 flashing after startup

Hey guys,
Today after restarting computer, windows is not starting properly. All i can see is my wallpaper and flashing taskbar. I can enter task manager but thats it. Task manager is not flashing itself. I think its something with explorer. I cannot eneter safe mode cos its asking me for a code but when i log in to my Microsoft account from smarthphone there is none. Thanks in advance

Hi elmariano85 welcome to 11F.
If you can, go back into taskmgr details page, scroll down to explorer.exe. Then in the upper right corner click on restart task, your display will go blank but it should come back to your dsktp.

For the flashing it could be a graphics driver.

Hi, thank You for a quick answer
Unfortunately restarting explorer is not helping.
If its any help, the explorer.exe in Task Manager keeps changing places and "jumping all over the place".
Is there anyway to reinstall explorer or my graphic driver from the Task Manager? Cos its the only thing that opens( also i can run a new task). There is no icons, nothing. Just flashing taskbar.
Ps maybe a picture will help a little, i tried to catch the flashing. It happens every second
Edit: last thing a installed before it happened was Elite Dangerous from Epic Games and i installed some directx files with it.

elmariano85 said:

Edit: last thing a installed before it happened was Elite Dangerous from Epic Games and i installed some directx files with it.

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That's your problem right there. You don't go installing 'custom' directx files until you know they're compatible with your system. It's called research.

As far as the "jumpin' around" that's normal as different tasks will move depending on what system resources are being used when the task(s) kicks in.

Can you open a cmd prompt? I'm goin' to chk if you can from the task mgr.

Yes, cmd works fine.
My bad with installing directx that was with the game, i never do that until today i just pressed ok.

You should be able to get into safe mode if your have access to task manager. Select 'run new task' type msconfig.exe

Also, from msconfiig, you can get into a clean boot. Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts Tutorial

Btw . . .

elmariano85 said:

thank You for a quick answer

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You're welcome.

elmariano85 said:

Yes, cmd works fine.
My bad with installing directx that was with the game, i never do that until today i just pressed ok.

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Great!
No worries, we all do dumb stuff occasionally.

Now what we need to do is figure out how to remove the game usin' the cmd prompt and I'm goin' to have to research how to do that with the cmd prompt, I know it can be done but I'm rusty with the syntax.

Maybe one of the viewers of the thread can pitch in with that.

You'll need to use an elevated cmd and know where on your drive you installed the game.

I see glasskuter is here, follow him for now s/he knows more of the in's an out's than I do.

Anak said:

s/he knows more of the in's an out's than I do.

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Thanks for the compliment but no. SHE's flying by the seat of her pants just like everyone else.
@elmariano85 Please report back that you are able to get into safe mode using the above method and whether or not your system is working as expected in safe mode..

elmariano85 said:

I cannot eneter safe mode cos its asking me for a code

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Also indicate what kind of code it is asking for. If it is a bootlocker key, you bootlocked your drive. If that is the case, you would have been told to keep this code at the time you set up bootlocker. This key can be found by logging into your MS account. Finding your BitLocker recovery key in Windows - Microsoft Support

glasskuter said:

Thanks for the compliment but no. SHE's flying by the seat of her pants just like everyone else.

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You're welcome.

I was able to start in safe mode - same flashing, even with clean boot same story.
Good thing at least i recovered my Bitlocker recovery keys( turns out it was on different account). Im gonna try now to reset my pc completely with those codes and im gonna let You know guys if that helped.
I reallly appreciate all Your help, i dont feel alone with this s@#t thanks to You

Edit: Succes, i did reset windows and it looks like he reinstalled it completly cos i missing browser, antivirus, drivers ect. but thats no problem.
Its not flashing anymore.
Maybe i was too hasty with the reset but i started to worry that its the problem with hardware.
Thank You again for all Your help Guys.

elmariano85 said:

Edit: Succes

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Good job. You have not listed your system specs so we know nothing about your system. I suggest you get drivers ONLY from the manufacturer, not through windows update as WU sometimes installs old drivers. If you have Intel, you can also use Intel Driver and support Assistant.

You can disable driver updates through windows update using a reg file found here. Enable or Disable Include Drivers with Windows Updates in Windows 11 Tutorial

elmariano85 said:

Edit: Succes, i did reset windows and it looks like he reinstalled it completly cos i missing browser, antivirus, drivers ect. but thats no problem.

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Fantastic!
If there's stuff missing and no flashing I suspect that game is also gone, be very careful if you really want it on your machine. Check reviews on the game if others have had problems with it or those directx files. Research!

@glasskuter Thank you for your help!

Yes, definitely im gonna be more careful next time. Now to reinstall everything :-/ step by step, its gonna be fun(not) but im happy its working.
Yet again, thanks a million Anak and glasskuter.

You're most welcome, now go and have fun!

Heads up, instead of wiping and reloading windows you can use the Advanced Startup Menu to remove the latest quality update. I had this same issue earlier today with the March Cumulative Update for Windows 11, my taskbar was going haywire and I could only access task manager.

TurtleOnline said:

my taskbar was going haywire and I could only access task manager.

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Known issue.It's most likely due to you running a 3rd party app that alters the gui. Update the app and then WU will not cause a problem.

glasskuter said:

3rd party app that alters the gui.

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Different Directx files?