GE66 - weird screen freeze issue, windows still working in background
I already post this in MSI sub but also writing here for broader audiences.
I have bought a new GE66 (best buy one with 6-core, 2070 super) and having a strange problem. Every now and then the screen is freezing, and it's only freezing the display, windows is still working in background.
I can start program by pressing WINDOWS key and type calc and press enter, which opens calculator but I cannot see it in the screen. I can move mouse or open notepad and type something, screen doesn't refresh. It's simply stuck.
Once I put the laptop in to sleep mode and then bring the laptop back on, it is in lock screen and if I login, then I can see calculator is opened or notepad is opened and whatever was typed, it was there.
Yes, all the drivers are updated using MSI app as well as going through the device manager method.
This is getting in the frustrated region now. I am on the verge of returning the laptop, but I thought to check with the sub if anybody faced this weird issue before?
TLDR:
Screen freezing happening once in every 10 minutes almost. Only way to recover is to go to sleep mode (using power button or lid close), then come back from sleep and put password to re-login. Things I have already did -
- Reformat and clean install Win10. (may 2020 build)
- Updated all the drivers using MSI app, then device manager, then force update latest nvidia/intel drivers.
- Currently no third-party apps except windows & MSI apps. Still happening.
Solution that worked for me (thanks to advice in other sub).
I turned off Panel Self Refresh in the Intel Graphics Utility and screen freezing has stopped, tested for 2+ hr as of now, evening of 7/05.
Posted Jul 5, 2020, 6:16 PM UTC · edited
Next time you get frozen, try this temporary fix: Press this keys combination: Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B. The screen should flash or turn black for a few seconds before it turns back on.
Sure. What it does, if may I ask?
Update: This worked! I just had a screen freeze and this trick fixed the frozen screen. I googled and found this key combo restart GPU driver. But this is definitely doesn't happen to all, so something in hardware could be problematic. I'd rather exchange it and get a better one.
Well, from Microsoft website, this keys combination wakes your PC from blank or black screen. But searching on google, some say the combination restart your GPU, others say it discards the desktop surface buffer and re-create the allocation from DWM. It worked for me with my 6-year-old laptop xD, so I think it may save you from the process of putting the laptop to sleep and start it again to make your screen work again.
However, like I said, it's just a temporary fix. I believe return it for an exchange is what you should do, we all want a properly working device.
Thanks for coming back and reply. The issue actually fixed after turning off "Panel Self Refresh" option in Intel Graphics Utility. No more screen freeze. Looks like a buggy Intel driver problem, which frequent in many laptops.
I will still keep any eye in the issue for next 1 or 2 weeks. As an Elite Plus Best Buy member, I have 45 days return period, so I will use the time.