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Screen flicker when dragging documents

Does anyone experince screen flicker when dragging files from the Finder to the Desktop?


Here's a short video showing the problem.


User uploaded file

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3), AMD Radeon HD 6490M 256 MB

Posted on Feb 18, 2012 7:22 AM

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20 replies

Feb 27, 2012 3:31 PM in response to FishNYC22

I think I figured out what the problem is here.


If I unplug my external monitor from the Thunderbolt port via HDMI adapter, the flicker goes away. I also booted my computer in safe mode with external monitor connected, and still no flicker. I'm going to have to double-check that.


So I thinnk this could be an Apple issue.


What do you guys think?

Mar 20, 2012 3:01 AM in response to papamiller

Yes I've also seen the same kind of flicker since upgrading to Lion.

Only started using Lion 10.7.3 recently booting from a separate internal disk. Never saw this happen using 10.6.x on the same machine:

  • Mac Pro
  • 2.66 GHx Quad-Core Intel Xeon
  • NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 512 MB


That is some weird flickering - like a graphics card memory is getting filled with some random garbage.

Wondering if having VMWare Fusion 4.1.1 installed has anything to do with it

Apr 3, 2012 8:20 AM in response to papamiller

Changing the background under System Preferences -> Desktop and Screen Saver to a different background seems to have provided a remedy for the file dragging issue causing the flicker. Not sure if will solve the other issues, but it worked solidly on the file dragging to the desktop for me. I can even go back to the original pattern where I was experiencing the problem after I make the change. So I'd agree with FishNYC22 that it is likely a configuration issue (possibly some left over bad config from the Lion upgrade? -- no telling; but this appears to solve the issue).

May 3, 2012 7:13 PM in response to papamiller

This is a power supply issue. Consider this: no one with an air has the issue. Most of you probably have stronger 15" systems.


I just unpackaged the 8GB, 2.4 processor, 1GB video card 15" pro and began experiencing this with both file transfers/ attached storage and DVD burning.


Attaching the power supply that came with my mackbook resolved the issue and now all is nearly well; only I the issure returns if I want to use the pwer supply from the display as intended.


This is a sad oversight by Apple that adds a power cable to clutter my desk and reders the design intentions obsolete. Hopefully it can be fixed. I ordered 9 27" displays for my team and macbooks for each as well...

Jul 5, 2012 11:54 AM in response to DizzyDown

I too just bought a new mac-mini and the same flash happens when moving files around from the Finder to the Desktop. Looking at the videos that displayed the problem they all had the same 'tell'...they had icons on the lower left/right of the screen. So I just moved my icons that too were in the corners to be above the dock and no more problem.


Hope that helps.


David

Jul 26, 2012 7:43 AM in response to papamiller

I'm on the phone with Apple Support as I type this...


The problem appears to be caused by the applications that do NOT have focus (the apps you are not working in) to constantly redraw themselves. For example, leaving Mail open on one of the external displays, while you are working in a separate app, causes the tool bar to constantly enable and disable the buttons. Some other apps (Safar, Chrome, etc.) cause the entire app to redraw itself.

Screen flicker when dragging documents

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