Computer Screen Blinking Back to Desktop
 

While reading email or information on a web page, my computer blinks showing my desktop and then goes back to the page I am viewing. Anyone know why this keeps happening? Thanks.

Have you checked the power cord that connects to the monitor? It's easy for them to become loose. Just a thought. Hope it is something easy like that.

To me, it almost sounds like some type of memory issue.

Are you using Windows 7? If so, I found this, which describes something similar:

"Windows 7 may occasionally display a symptom where the screen flashes after user optimizes the computer shutdown speed. The symptom happens whenever user selects a folder or browses to new web page, the desktop which supposed to be in the background will jump or bring to front – flash out for a while, and the “Not Responding” error message will display on the top left corner.

The problem is probably due to optimization to increase PC shutdown speed and decrease time required to shut down the computer. The change can be used by Windows optimization utility or technical user who modifies the registry manually. When the setting is changed, Windows 7 may encounter lack of buffer time or other slowness.

To fix the screen flashing issue, follow steps below.

Run Registry Editor, and then delete the following registry keys:

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop\HungAppTimeOut
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop\WaitToKillAppTimeOut
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\HungAppTimeOut
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WaitToKillAppTimeOut
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WaitToKillServiceTimeOut

Restart the computer after deletion, and the screen flashing issue on Windows 7 should be fixed."

Might be "Visual Sound" option is set
 

Windows has options to use text or visual alternatives to sound. One of the options is to blink the desktop. I would check your setting.

Checkout this microsoft link:
Use text or visual alternatives to sounds

I get it ocassionally. It happens when I move my cursor to the right edge of the screen. I think a bit of the desktop is showing and when the cursor hits it the screen flips to the desktop and when you move the cursor back it flips back to where you were.

If it consistent, check and see if that is happening.

Z

happens to me too for the same reason-bet thats it

Thanks for the info. Another situation that has happened over the last 2 days. In the middle of typing an e-mail, my screen flips to my centurylink homepage and stays there. When I go back into my e-mail, the e-mail I was typing is in my draft folder, not on the screen. Any ideas why? Thanks.